“All right, in the words of Jen, let’s do this,” Peri said and then flashed.
“Who’s this Jen person?” Tenia asked once they were alone.
Myanin looked at her and shrugged as she pulled out a small bag of cotton candy. “I have no clue, but I think I’m going to like her.”
Tenia glanced at the cotton candy and shook her head. Then she smiled.
“Nowyoulook creepy,” Myanin said slowly as she put a piece of her treat in her mouth.
“So …” Tenia said, ignoring the comment. “Gerick, huh?” She bounced her eyebrows up and down.
Myanin swallowed and then shook her head. “Never do that thing with the eyebrows again. And if we’re going to talk about mates, then be prepared to share.”
Tenia’s mouth snapped shut.
Myanin smirked. “Didn’t think so.”
Chapter 15
“A long time ago, I was an orphan. I was a child who was lost in a world in which I didn’t feel I belonged. Now, I’m the queen of a supernatural race, an orphan no longer. I have a family. There are people who love me and who I love. I’ll be damned if I let anyone take that away from me.” ~ Lilly, Queen of the Warlocks
Lilly felt his hand on her lower back and knew her mate stood at her side even though she couldn’t see him. She felt the heat of his lips next to her ear as he spoke. “You are the rightful leader of our people, beloved. Prove it to them.” The next moment his breath and hand disappeared, but she could feel that he was still with her.
“You’ve got this, Lilly,” Peri said as they stood in the grand foyer of the warlock mountain stronghold. Lysander and his clan were on the other side of the immense walls, waiting to see what she would do. No doubt he thought she would falter under his challenge. He had obviously not raised a teenage daughter. There would be no faltering.
“Lilly!”
Her head snapped around at the sound of Cindy Morgan’s voice.What the hell?
“Cindy?” Lilly said at the same time Peri muttered, “Bloody, meddling sprites.”
The woman hurried up to Lilly and threw her arms around the queen. “I wanted to come sooner, but Andora wouldn’t let me.”
“And just before Lilly is about to go stomp on a pompous ass’s head, she let you come for a visit?” Peri asked through narrowed eyes.
Cindy pulled back from Lilly and smiled sheepishly. “Not exactly.”
“I brought her,” Nissa, the high fae Lilly hadn’t noticed, stepped forward.
“Nissa, you’re becoming as bad as me when it comes to ignoring people’s wishes.” Peri folded her arms in front her.
The high fae smiled. “I learn from the best.”
Peri smirked.
“Cindy,” Lilly said, “what are you doing here?”
“Do you remember the first time we met?” Cindy asked.
Peri groaned. “This is not the best time for a trip down memory lane.”
Lilly ignored the high fae. She thought back to when she’d met her new neighbor. Lilly and Jacque, the newest members of the neighborhood, had been out for a walk. Cindy was working in her yard on a gorgeous spring day, just on the cusp of summer. The mornings weren’t cool for long, but the pollen had finally stopped falling, and Lilly’s allergies were no longer forcing her to stay inside.
“Yes,” the queen finally said. “You had dirt smudged all over your face because you kept wiping sweat away with your gardening glove,” she said with a grin.
“Youdorealize that you’re about to go fight for your life, right?” Peri said, attempting to regain the woman’s attention.
Cindy smiled back. “I didn’t even realize what a mess I looked. I was just so shocked to see you.” Cindy, of course, had known Lilly was a sprite, though the queen had been oblivious.
