Fae and elves crafted new weapons in order to replace all they’d lost in the destruction she’d caused. There was an area that the elves had turned into a forge for making new iron and steel weapons. All the weapons would likely be endowed with a spell that made them fly true to their mark. Once released, they would hit their target no matter how fast the person dodged. Peri would have to keep that from happening.
She didn’t see any guards. No archers stood above the area, monitoring the entrance to the mountain. But that didn’t mean they weren’t there. Alston probably knew by now that some of his fae were missing, likely taken as prisoners. He would adjust his security accordingly.
When she’d gleaned all the information she could, she did the same to the other two fae, just in case one of them had seen something the others hadn’t. But there was nothing new. She left the cell and turned back to look at the males. “Get comfortable. This will be your new home until the alpha decides when your sentence will be executed.”
Peri had to give them props for not begging for their lives, though their fear was practically palpable in the air. Perspiration dripped down their faces, and their hands trembled, though each of them attempted in vain to hide it by clenching their fists.
Lucian growled as the middle idiot walked to the bars and glared at her. “You are no better than us, Perizada.” His voice was full of hatred, and his eyes dark with the evil that lived inside of him. “You think we will be the only ones who face the judgement of the Great Luna, but you will stand before her, too, and you will have to answer for the hundreds you murdered.”
Peri nodded. “You’re right. I will. But the difference between you and me”—she motioned between them—“is our motivation. And remorse.” Peri shook her head. “You take pleasure in the pain you’ve caused. I felt it in your mind. You stink of the wickedness that has blackened your soul. I would like to say that I hope our Creator shows you mercy, because that’s the way Ishouldfeel. But right now, more than anything, I want you to reap the punishment you deserve for the evil you have sown.”
She turned without another word. Lucian took her hand and led her from the room. Peering inside the captors’ heads had permeated evil into the places that had yet to heal from her self-judgment. She let Lucian’s love flow into her and chase the evil away.
“You are nothing like them, Peri,”he told her.“We have all done things we regret. But it is the state of our heart during and after our actions that determines the path we will take. I will not let you go down the wrong path. I will hold you to my side and guide you on the narrow road that requires us to be selfless when we want to be selfish and calls us to do the will of our Creator, instead of what our wicked hearts desire.”
Peri held tight to his hand as they walked through the corridors, heading to meet with the group that would stand against Alston. She allowed his confidence to comfort her, although she still had doubts that their goddess could forgive her transgressions. It might be something she had to hand over daily to the Great Luna, because Peri had a feeling it was a guilt she would pick back up every morning. Peri, once upon a time, had been so sure of herself and of the side on which she stood. Now she felt as if she would forever wonder if there would come another time in her life that she would choose wrongly. And that her choice would cause even more pain.
“Let it lie, mate.” The voice of both the human and the wolf filled his words. “Set it down, and later, we will face it together. Always together.”
Chapter 9
“There are moments like this that I wish you were here to hold my hand. To remind me that I am not in this alone. Each day I think it will get easier. That the pain will lessen. But I’m beginning to think that it will only grow stronger with time. That the hole left inside of me will never close.” ~Lilly
“Tell me again why I can’t go completely stabby on that serpent-tongued, vile waste of space?” Myanin stomped back and forth in front of Lilly. Gerrick stood off to the side, leaning against a wall of the throne room in the warlock mountain. It was a space Lilly rarely used. The room filled her mind with memories of her dead mate.
“Because I have a different mission for you and Gerrick. That’s why. And as long as you live here, you are under my rule. Considering you’re mated to my general, I don’t see that changing anytime soon. So I suggest you get used to it.”
Myanin paused and looked at Lilly. “Wow.” The djinn smiled. “You’re really owning this whole queen thing.”
Lilly rolled her eyes. “Thank you for your vote of confidence.”
Myanin’s brow rose. “I never said you had my vote. I’m simply pointing out you don’t act like the other cotton-candy-spined humans.” She huffed. “And I dislike the choice you are making at the moment.”
Lilly looked over at Gerrick and folded her arms in front of her. “Is she going to be a problem?”
“Um”—Myanin snapped her fingers at Lilly—“I am not an obediently trained dog.”
The warlock queen ignored the djinn and kept her focus on Gerrick, who said, “I will ensure she sees reason and focuses on the task you have for us.”
“Traitor,” Myanin muttered under her breath.
“Would you like to hear your assignment before you throw a tantrum like a four-year-old?” Lilly tilted her head at Myanin and tapped her foot.
The information Lilly had given Fane—that she had no recent premonitions—was no longer accurate. Upon her return to the mountain, Lilly had nearly fallen to the ground with the force that hit her mind. They were just images, but they were vivid enough to show that something very serious was happening—something that would change their world drastically if Fane didn’t act. Lilly had called the alpha immediately.
Fane requested she send some of her people with Dillon to the location she’d seen in her mind. Because Gerrick and Myanin wouldn’t be joining the assault on Alston’s compound, and because Myanin clearly needed something to occupy her dangerous mind, Lilly decided that Gerrick and his mate would be perfect for the task.
“Fine,” Myanin grumbled. Lilly had to stifle a laugh. The djinn sounded very much like Jacque had during her adolescent years, especially when she’d been given chores she didn’t want to do, which was pretty much all the time in those days. “What is this so-calledvery important taskthat most likely means I don’t get to kill anyone?”
Gerrick chuckled but tried to disguise it as a cough when his female shot him a death glare.
“I need you two to accompany members of the Colorado pack to Nevada,” Lilly explained. “I’ve had a vision I don’t really understand, but it feels urgent.” She dropped her hands and shook them out as if she could shake off the unease that accompanied the premonition.
“What did you see?” Gerrick looked at her gravely.
“I saw vampires—lots of vampires. And I also saw many humans laying on what looked like hospital beds lined up in rows.”
Myanin pulled a sword from the sheath that hung on her back and spun it expertly in her hand. The smile that stretched across her face was bone-chilling even to Lilly, who had plenty of power to stand against the djinn, especially since Myanin had been stripped of her magic. “So, Idoget to kill some evil rat bastards and bitches.”
