"You did that," I said. "You took her memories."
"I protected her." Blight moved closer to the bed, reaching out to stroke Rhianelle's hair with small fingers. "She's special, our little Rhianelle. I'm creating possibilities for her."
"You mean manipulating her life."
"It doesn't matter." The Un waved dismissively. "We've found her perfect match. The fae commander. Can't you see how beautifully they fit? How the threads sing between them?"
"I don't care about your fucking threads."
"You should." Blight's voice hardened. "Because if you interfere, if you try to tell her who you are, if you attempt to break what I've created, there will be consequences."
"She is not your toy." I took a step toward her.
Blight stepped away from the bed. "I suppose it's not fair that I get to decide."
She waved her small hand.
We were no longer in the healing house. We stood in a vast darkness, empty and cold. Emerging from the shadows surrounding us were figures.
Eleven of them.
The rest of the Un. All here.
Most remained shrouded in darkness, but their presence was overwhelming. I could feel the weight of it like mountains pressing down on my shoulders.
Elli stepped forward into the light.
"This is excessive, Blight," the ancient Un chided.
"No, it's not. I want everyone to vote." The little goddess climbed onto a skeletal figure.
Mal. Guardian of the Hollow.
"We are here to decide." Blight's voice filled the emptiness around us. "The vampire has married our devoted one and claims her as his own."
The shadows trembled in uneasy ripples as the Un reacted to her words.
"But I had arranged a better match," Blight murmured, pleased with herself. "One who could give her everything this creature never could."
"She married me of her own free will," I snapped.
One of the shrouded figures emerged. Deanna the Huntress. Flames wreathed her form like living armor. "As I recall, circumstances pushed her toward you. The need to save her kingdom."
"That's not true—“
"We're not here to debate the past," Blight interrupted. "We're here to decide the future. The fae commander is her true mate. Their bond is healing her."
She looked at the assembled Un.
"All in favor of Landon as Rhianelle's mate."
Hands rose from the darkness. One. Two. Five. Ten.
Eleven agreed.
Only Elli remained still, her hands folded in front of her.
"Eleven against one," Blight said with satisfaction. She turned to the largest shadow, the one that seemed to swallow light itself. "It is decided, yes, Fate? Landon should be Rhianelle's mate?"
