Myanin’s brow rose. “More interesting than your blade at my throat?”
“Possibly,” the high fae smirked. “You are only alive because Lilly says we can trust you. The second I have a single doubt about that, your flesh will know the sting of my blade, and it will be the last thing you ever feel.”
Myanin lowered her eyes. “I appreciate the opportunity to prove Queen Lilly correct.” She said the words calmly, but her magic was attempting to crawl from her body.What the ever-loving hell?Myanin’s magic was her own now as the Great Luna had removed all traces of Lyra, for which Myanin was grateful. Why was it behaving so strangely?
Peri’s words helped Myanin refocus on the blade at her throat and not on her magic, which seemed to be acting crazier than her for once. “For Lilly’s sake, I hope you do. It would break her heart if she realized she put her faith in the wrong person and brought a wolf in sheep’s clothing among her people.”
“Interesting choice of words, considering,” Myanin said as she clenched her fist at her sides in an attempt to keep her power from dripping from her fingers. Whoever had entered the room and was wrestling with Peri’s mate, Myanin’s power wanted him. Badly.
Perizada smirked and finally pulled her blade away. “The Great Luna seems to have a sense of humor when passing out mates. She deemed it only fitting that I have a wolf for a mate, considering how much they get on my nerves.”
As she stepped back, an enormous male appeared at her side. “I love you too, mate,” the hulking man said.
“I am Perizada. You may call me Peri, unless there comes a day when you no longer have the right. This is my mate, Lucian.” She motioned to the big werewolf.
Myanin bowed her head to both of them. “I am Myanin. And I understand why you distrust me.”
“Thadrick and I have never really gotten along,” Peri said. “He’s an ass. But he’s become a member of the pack that stands as one against the Order. Hurt one of us, you hurt us all.”
Myanin’s heart squeezed tightly in her chest, but it wasn’t because of pain related to Thadrick, at least not because she had wanted him and didn’t get him. This time there was an ache so deep that it threatened to take her breath because he was a part of a group that genuinely cared about him and what happened to him. They would miss him if he was lost, especially if he died fighting against what the Order stood for. They would celebrate his life even as they mourned his death. Who cared if Myanin or Tenia died? No one in the Order, that was for sure. They were simply tools for the Order to use.
“I am glad he has people who care for him,” Myanin said, as she struggled to keep her voice strong. She wanted them to accept her, to be a part of something good. The djinn also really wanted to know what the hell was up with her power because it felt like a ticking time bomb about to go off inside of her. She didn’t need to appear crazier than she already came across, which, according to Tenia, was pretty freaking crazy.
“Really?” Peri asked. “Because your actions would suggest otherwise.”
“Peri.” Lilly sighed. “Must we really go through all of this again?”
“She has a right to ask,” Myanin said, forcing herself to focus on only Peri. This woman was who she needed to convince. Myanin had to make Peri see she was changed, not by her own strength, but by the Great Luna’s. This time her voice wavered. She felt the sheen of tears that wanted to fall. There was something terrifying about bearing your sins before others, but also freeing, as if you’d been holding your breath, hoping no one would find out. But once you’d confessed, you could suddenly suck in a breath of life-giving air.
“Damn right I do,” Peri snapped. “If you were aCanis lupusand pulled the shit you did, they’d have killed you on sight.”
Myanin nodded as the first tear fell. “And rightfully so.”
“Why shouldn’t I kill you?” Peri’s voice was full of challenge, but she would get none from Myanin.
“I have no reason. And I won’t stop you if you try.” The resolve in her voice might have made it sound like Myanin wanted to die, but she didn’t. She’d accepted that it was most likely her future because her actions had led her to this end. The djinn didn’t know if she could truly be okay with herself, even if others could forgive her. She wasn’t sure if she could ever forgive herself.
Suddenly Tenia stood between Peri and Myanin. She must have flashed because one second she wasn’t there and the next she was. “You’ll have to kill me first, Perizada,” Tenia said, even as she bowed her head. “I’m sorry, but Myanin is my friend.” Her voice wavered a bit as if she was on the verge of tears, though Myanin couldn’t see the fae’s face. “I don’t agree with what she’s done. But she is remorseful, and she wants to make amends for her actions. She’s a little creepy and says weird things, but I’ve known you a long time, Peri, and you are kind of similar. Nobody’s killed you yet.”
“Not for lack of trying,” Lilly muttered.
“Queenie.” Peri’s voice dripped with warning.
There was a long pause. Then Peri spoke again. “It is good to see you, Tenia.” The high fae’s voice was much gentler as she spoke to Tenia. “You look a little worse for wear, but otherwise all right.”
“It is good to see you as well. But I still cannot let you kill Myanin,” Tenia said, her voice firm.
Myanin swallowed as another tear fell. She didn’t deserve Tenia’s loyalty, and yet, the fae was standing up for her. Once upon a time, she’d had friends that cared for her, but would they have stood up for her the way this fae was, knowing what she knew? “Tenia, it’s all right,” she mumbled.
“No, it’s not.” Tenia shook her head, vehemence in both her action and words. “You’re my friend. The Great Luna has given you a chance to prove yourself. Perizada, powerful though she may be, does not get to challenge the goddess’s decision.”
“As much as it irks me,” Peri said through gritted teeth. “Tenia is right. Stand down, Tenia. I won’t hurt her.”
Tenia didn’t move.
“I give you my word. Unless Myanin does something that proves she isn’t working with us, I will not harm her,” Peri promised.
Myanin tried not to give herself even the slightest bit of hope, but she desired it desperately. She wanted a chance to prove herself. Her hands fisted at her sides, and her nails dug into her palms. Sweat dripped down her back beneath her clothes as she let Peri’s words play on repeat in her mind.“I won’t harm her.”The high fae had every right, as an upholder of the supernatural law, to run her blade across Myanin’s throat. Yet she’d stayed her hand. After several tense minutes, Tenia finally moved to the side. But then Lucian stepped forward, and the fae froze.
