Lilly dropped her arms and stepped back. “Of course.” It bothered her that she also seemed to have lost her sense of southern hospitality.
“I just think this is a conversation best not had in the corridor,” he explained, stepping inside and closing the door. He made no move to advance further into the room.
“Yes.” She nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just not thinking very clearly.”
“It’s okay,” Gerick said. “You should mourn him. I saw how much you loved each other, so did everyone in our clan. It would be strange and concerning if you did not grieve his passing.”
“I feel weak,” she said and sighed. Somehow, admitting this deflated her, sucking away the strength she’d been trying to maintain.
“There is no weakness in showing emotion, Lilly. Great leaders love their people deeply. It allows them to make the best decisions for everyone, not just themselves or a few.”
Lilly knew what he said was true, but she didn’t feel strong enough to love an entire group of people. She wasn’t even strong enough to love herself, especially when she felt as if she’d lost half of her soul. She didn’t know how to respond so she simply nodded.
Gerick appeared to understand she didn’t want to speak further on the subject. “As for your question, they want to know what your plans are in regard to the alliance Cypher had established with the other races. They want to know how you plan to fight against the Order and what you expect of their clans. In short, they want to see if—”
“I’m capable of being queen,” she finished for him.
Gerick nodded. “But Cypher was king for a very long time. Change is difficult for long-lived races. They get stuck in their ways. Try not to take offense. They would ask the same thing of any new leader.”
“Easier said than done,” Lilly quipped. She chewed on her bottom lip as she considered her course of action.
“Can I offer some advice?” Gerick asked.
“Please,” Lilly said. Cypher had trusted his general completely. If she was going to do this, she would have to trust him as well.
“Meet with them tonight. We will serve them a meal. This will make the atmosphere less formal. But instead of answering their questions tonight, you do all the speaking. Explain that what they felt is true. You have Cypher’s memories and power. Then we need to declare a period of mourning for the warlocks. Regardless of the Great Luna’s decree for everyone. After that time you will let them know the plans for our clan and expectations of theirs. The most important thing tonight is for them to see you strong and in control. Do not let them lead the meeting. You are queen, Lilly. They answer to you.”
“But I also answer to them,” Lilly said. “They have to know that I have their best interests at heart, which I do.”
“They will see that in your eyes and in your demeanor. You can do this. If Cypher had not believed that, he would have passed his power to another.”
After several minutes, she nodded. “We will dine at six o’clock. I will sit last and serve my food last.”
Gerick’s brow rose and his eyes widened.
“It doesn’t weaken me to show them honor by being here,” she said.
A small smile appeared on his face. “Yes, your highness. Shall I escort you in?”
She lifted her chin. “You didn’t escort Cypher in.”
“No.”
“I will walk in on my own, not because I think I need to prove that a woman doesn’t need a man to stand at her side. If I had my choice”—her voice quivered so she collected herself before she continued—“my man would be standing at my side. But they must see that I am every bit the ruler that my mate was.” At least I hope I am.
“You can do this,” Gerick said, his voice firm, “of that I have no doubt.”
“Thank you, Gerick. I appreciate your words and your support.” Lilly straightened her spine and added, “I will see you in the great hall at six sharp.”
Gerick gave her a slight bow. “Yes, my queen.” He turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Lilly didn’t miss the way he slipped in and out of using her formal title. When they’d first met, she’d asked him to call her Lilly because it made her feel uncomfortable being called highness or queen. She supposed she was just going to have to get over her feelings and accept the title.
She went to her closet and began flipping through her immense wardrobe. Lilly’s hands froze as a memory hit her like a ton of bricks.
“Cypher, this is ridiculous,” Lilly said, her eyes wide as she stared at the yards and yards of luxurious fabric that filled the oversized closet and made up countless new outfits.
“You need them,” he said matter of fact.
“All of them?” she asked, her voice rising a bit as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
“You’re my queen, Lilly. There will be times you have to look the part. And I want you to have beautiful things. You deserve them.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” she teased.
Cypher took her chin in his hand and turned her to look at him. He waited until her eyes met his. The air whooshed from her lungs as she stared up into a face full of adoration.
“You have no idea what you mean to me, but I will spend the rest of my life showing you.”
When Lilly returned to the present, she was kneeling on the ground with no memory of how she got there. Her breaths came in rapid succession, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “You showed me,” she whispered through her sobs. “You adored me, and you made sure I knew. But it was too short, Cypher, much too short.” Lilly fell back onto her rear. She caught herself with her hand and felt something soft. She wrapped her fingers around it and lifted the object to see what
