Lilly’s brow rose. “She has you quoting the Holy Bible?”
Peri sniffled. “Grief will turn your eyes to strange places, especially when you’re staring into the face of someone who is being murdered in battle and doesn’t seem to think the enemy is winning.”
Lilly didn’t see Alina die. It was bad enough seeing her mate, and she hadn’t been staring at his eyes when death had struck him. She couldn’t imagine the emotions Peri must have felt at that moment, as her friend was killed while still raising the battle cry.
The two women stood in silence, looking at one another as if hoping the other would come up with a profound solution to their grief, but there was none. There was just pain and loss. And they both knew only time would begin to dim the sting, though Lilly doubted it would ever be gone completely.
“Is it just me, or was it really weird for my ex and his mate to show up here?” Lilly finally said when she couldn’t stand the silence any longer.
“Yeah, that was crazy,” Peri said. She walked over to the couch and slumped down onto it. “I totally told them it was a bad idea, but St. Tanya was determined.”
Lilly sat down next to her and tilted her head. “Why do I have a very strong suspicion that you said nothing of the sort?”
Peri touched her nose. “Because you’re a queen, and queens can smell lies.”
“No, that’s moms. And I’m most definitely a mom.”
“I told you, Lil, they’re one in the same. And you’ve made one hell of a mom. I’ve no doubt you’re going to make one hell of a queen.”
Chapter 8
“I’ve learned many lessons in the human realm. First, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, every realm should have cotton candy. Its mere presence would likely cease all wars and hostilities within a matter of days. Second, after you’ve stolen the magic of another, you can’t expect it to be as loyal to you as it was to its first owner. Third, kidnapping prisoners out of a human prison, when accompanied by a fae with mind-control abilities, is not even a little fun. I didn’t get to blow anything up, knock anyone out, or cause the slightest bit of mayhem.” ~Myanin
“If we can snag ten more prisoners here, that will make an even hundred,” Tenia said. She and Myanin stood outside of yet another human prison. The djinn was nauseous. The evil that permeated the air of these buildings disgusted her. Why do you find it so offensive? asked the soft voice that seemed ever-present and had been nagging her continually—asleep or awake, it didn’t matter. If you were human, this is where you would be for the crime you have committed. Myanin took a slow deep breath and then let it out just as slowly. She was losing her damn mind. She’d thought there’d been a hole inside of her when Thad had rejected her. But she was beginning to realize that was simply the tiny end of a needle. The void growing in her since she’d left her realm seemed to be the size of her fist, and it was getting larger every second.
What surprised her was that as Lyra’s power continually bombarded her with the reminder that it didn’t belong to her, she was also realizing that their djinn power wasn’t just to keep history. It also served as a moral compass. Or at least that seemed to be how it was affecting her. Maybe it was because she’d used magic that had been intended for good for her own gain? All beings, supernatural or not, are capable of evil. Our race is no different, but because we preserve history and we see what corruption does, we have been able to keep from repeating others’ mistakes, Lyra’s voice explained. For once it wasn’t condemning or questioning. Why? Why was the woman she’d killed speaking to her kindly, as if she were simply a pupil and not a murderer?
Do you not see the grace you received from us? Lyra asked. You stand before the human prison and yet you lived in my home, despite the century of pain you caused two people. Was your anger righteous in its wrath?
She didn’t want to answer the question. The answer would only confirm her deserved condemnation. Myanin didn’t want that. She wanted—she needed—something.
“Myanin?” Tenia’s voice reached out to her.
“I’m sorry, what?” Myanin said, shaking herself out of her own mind.
“You ready?”
Myanin nodded. “Let’s get this over with. These places make me sick.”
“They’re like black holes,” Tenia said, not realizing her words were an adequate description of what was currently growing inside of Myanin.
Nine prisoners had been walked, quite effortlessly thanks to Tenia’s unique ability, out
