“I’ve brought shame to my people,” Tenia said, wiping her eyes.
“I don’t think she will see it that way,” Lilly said. “I’ll explain the situation to her after you’ve gone.” She turned to Myanin “If she showed up now, I can’t guarantee she wouldn’t try to kill you straight away. So how do I get in touch with you after I’ve calmed her down?”
“I have a cell phone,” Myanin said, sounding proud of herself. “You can get in touch with me that way.”
Lilly blew out a quick breath and prayed she wasn’t making a huge mistake. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Myanin pulled a short blade from her boot. She spoke in a language Lilly didn’t recognize. The blade glowed a bright blue.
“I said, ‘with my blood, I promise all of my intentions are for the benefit of Queen Lilly and those she aides. If, at any point, I betray her or her comrades, my life will be forfeit. I will die without honor and be sent to the next life without the blessing of my people.’” Myanin then ran the blade across her palm. She looked at Lilly and held the blade out to her. “Do you accept the terms of my oath?”
Lilly took the blade. Her mind ran through all the potential outcomes, one of which meant a horrible end to Myanin. “What if you’re forced by the Order to betray us? What if they find out you’re helping us?” Could Lilly really condemn the djinn that way?
“This is my choice, Lilly,” Myanin said, looking into her eyes. “You will hold no responsibility for what happens to me. The only way for me to make sure you know my intentions are pure is to do this. I am willing to take the risk.”
Reminding herself that Myanin was a grown woman and could make her own decisions, Lilly ran the blade across her palm. The sting was instant. For some reason, it made Lilly feel alive for the first time in weeks. She took a deep breath as she looked across at Myanin. The desperation in the warriors eyes cried out to a part of Lilly’s soul that understood Myanin’s pain more than the djinn could possibly know. The need to prove yourself worthy. The need to show that you can do what you need to do, but that it would be nice to have one or two people on your side, a constant wish at the back of your mind. Maybe the emotions made her reckless or maybe they just made her do exactly what she knew she needed to do in order to let Myanin know she had one more person willing to believe in her.
Myanin held out her hand to Lilly, and she clasped it in her own. “With my blood, I promise all of my intentions are for the benefit of Myanin and those she aides. If, at any point, I betray her or her comrades,” Lilly glanced at Tenia, whose eyes looked ready to fall out of her head, letting her see the truth in her eyes, “my life will be forfeit. I will die without honor and be sent to the next life without the blessing of my people.” Their blood mingled, and suddenly there was a light so bright Lilly had to squint to keep from being blinded.
“This blood oath is one that I will bless and hold you both to.” The Great Luna’s voice filled the room. “Lilly, you have loved your mate with your whole heart. You have ached, and I have ached with you. I know your loss, and I have not forsaken you. You have much to do in this life. I have given you a purpose. And I will give you the tools you need to fulfill your task. It is up to you to move.
“Myanin, I promised you were not lost to me. There are consequences for your wrongs, but there is redemption in my love. Stay on the path I have set before you. Set one foot in front of the other and do not look right or left. Keep your eyes straight ahead, and I will not let your foot slip.
“Tenia, precious mother, you have a gift you have never abused. You have borne your burden with humility and honor.”
Lilly looked at the fae who was shaking her head as tears poured down her cheeks. She would have wrapped her arms around her if she wasn’t currently grasping arms with Myanin.
“I have taken the will of others,” the fae said, her voice breaking as the tears overwhelmed her.
The Great Luna’s power seemed to increase, the warmth of it filling every cold place inside Lilly. “Children are precious. They are innocent and should be protected. You have done what was needed to keep your child safe. He has not been alone. I have been with him. I have heard your cries to me and protected him. You will face much, but the child I have given you will return to you unscathed. Continue to fight the good fight. Do not lose hope. Do not give into the darkness that so easily entangles. Stand strong and know that I am with you always.”
As the light faded, Lilly released Myanin’s hand. The wound was completely healed, and the blood was gone. In its place, there was a pale crescent moon on her palm. She glanced over to Myanin’s hand and saw the djinn had the same mark on her palm.
“The Great Luna has sealed the oath,” Tenia said.
Lilly’s body trembled as her eyes met Myanin’s. The djinn looked just as shaken as Lilly felt. Tenia wiped away the tears that had been streaming down her face, composing herself. Lilly could see the relief in the fae’s eyes. Her son was going to be okay, even being in the clutches of the Order. The Great Luna had said she’d protect the boy, and she didn’t lie.
“That was unexpected,” Myanin said before clearing her throat. “And you weren’t supposed to add that second part. The blood oath wasn’t meant because your loyalty was in question,” she chastised.
“Well, now you know for sure that I see your life as worth protecting,” Lilly said with a small smile. “I will fight just as hard for you, Myanin, as you say you will fight for me.” She closed her palm, squeezing it tightly as she tried to figure out how she was going to explain all of this to Peri without the high fae flipping her lid.
Myanin and Tenia both stood, and Lilly joined them.
“Thank you, Queen Lilly.” Myanin bowed not only her head but completely from her waist. “I realize that I’ve added to your burden, but I hope I will prove to be an asset to you.”
“I don’t think you have a choice at this point,” Lilly said. “It’s pretty much fish or cut bait for you. And for me as well.”
Myanin frowned. “I do not know this saying.”
Lilly smiled. “I’m from Texas. We have many sayings outsiders don’t understand. What I mean is, you’ve made your choice—we all have—and now we have to follow through. If we don’t, the price we will pay is too great.”
“The price will bemylife no matter what,” Myanin said. “But I would rather die making amends than fighting alongside the evil that is Alston, Ludcarab, and the newly crowned vampire king, Cain.”
Lilly didn’t know what to say to that. She didn’t want Myanin to die. She liked her,evenif she’d flashed into her chambers and attacked her, even if she had an unhealthy obsession with cotton candy, and even though she was a tad eccentric. Lilly liked her and truly believed Myanin was broken over what she’d done,butthe djinn had purposely killed one of her own leaders. The consequences for that would be dire, and rightfully so.
“We need to come up with a lie to tell Ludcarab and Alston,” Myanin said. “Will two days be long enough to calm Perizada down?”
Lilly huffed out a laugh. “I don’t have a clue, but if we’re doing this, then we have to get started. You will need to meet Gerick, and I have no idea how he is going to handle you offering your help with our warriors. Two days will have to be enough time.”
