“A bitch,” Lilly finished for her.
A tear ran down Myanin’s cheek. “It was.”
Lilly sighed. “Why did you come here to tell me this, Myanin?”
“Because I’ve seen your past,” she admitted. “If anyone can understand, it’s you.”
Lilly snorted a laugh, though it was humorless. “Oh, I do understand. You’re certainly right about that.”
“You also killed someone because of jealousy?” Tenia asked Lilly, her eyes wide.
Lilly coughed and shook her head vehemently. “Um, no. But I loved a man who would never be able to love me, not the way I needed him to, and he had to leave me for another woman.” Lilly stared at Myanin, the djinn who’d just poured out every ugly detail of what she’d done. She’d also said she regretted her actions, and Lilly believed her. If she didn’t regret her actions, she wouldn’t be sitting here opening herself up to a total stranger, hoping for her to understand. “I take it the Order doesn’t know you’re paying me a visit?”
“No,” Myanin said. “I do not wish to put you in danger. But I’m conflicted. They have Tenia’s young, which I am not okay with. Children should never be hurt for any reason. Also, I do not agree that the humans should be enslaved, even though I think them dim-witted and unoriginal. I’ll admit to feeling slightly superior to them … in every way possible. But I’m working on that.” She paused. “Sort of. I mean, I’m working through my past prejudice.”
“Slightly superior?” Lilly challenged. “Past prejudices?”
Myanin rolled her eyes. “All of their buildings are square, and they have no security in their territories whatsoever. They don’t stand a chance against the likes of the Order. And they walk around so clueless.”
“Humans don’t know there is a supernatural threat,” Lilly said. “They’re prepared for war from their own kind, even if you cannot see their warriors.” Myanin didn’t look convinced. “You still haven’t told me what you want, Myanin. In fact, I’m not exactly sure what I can do for you.”
“I think we can help each other.” She motioned to the fae. “Tenia and I are supposed to be spying on the wolves. We must report back to Alston and Ludcarab. Obviously, we’re going to give them false information. But we can be actual spies for you against the Order if you’d like. And I can personally help you.”
Lilly’s lips pursed. “Help me how?”
“You need to regain your strength. Your warriors need to be prepared for battle. I saw the death of your king. I’ve seen what it’s doing to your people. They must be united, Lilly, and the only way to do that is to show them you are strong and have a plan. I have been a warrior for a very long time. I can get you and your warriors into fighting shape.”
“I have a general who is more than capable,” Lilly challenged.
“He’s not a djinn,” Myanin said. She didn’t sound superior this time, just stating a fact.
“Only the fae rival the djinn in fighting ability,” Tenia added. “They’re old and powerful, so powerful that the Great Luna does not permit them to use all of their power. Myanin can offer much wisdom to help your people, and you, ready themselves.”
Lilly stood as she considered Myanin’s offer. “What do you want?”
“Absolution, if that’s possible,” Myanin whispered. “To make some sort of amends for what I’ve done. Maybe by doing this, I will show my people that I haven’t lost all of my honor.”
“They won’t spare you, Myanin,” Lilly said, knowing the truth might be unwelcome. “Thadrick and the elders, they think you’re in complete league with the Order. It’s the last thing he saw before you jacked with his abilities.”
Myanin bowed her head. “I know, but maybe I can die with honor. There are worse fates.”
“I believe you’re remorseful for what you’ve done,” Lilly said. She walked over to the djinn and knelt down. The warrior before her might be much older than her, but she suddenly looked very young. Lilly tilted the woman’s chin so that Myanin looked her in the face. “You said the Great Luna spoke to you.”
Myanin nodded.
“She knows your heart, better than even you do,” Lilly said. “She’s seen all your broken pieces, and yet you know she loves you still.”
“I do.”
Lilly pressed her palm to the woman’s cheek. “Then she has forgiven you, and that is all you should need.”
“I still have to stand before my people and the consequences,” Myanin said. “I feel I could face them better with no more blood on my hands.”
“We all have blood on our hands, Myanin, whether we’ve taken a life or not,” Lilly said. “None of us is truly innocent. But what we do after our transgressions, how we continue to live our lives as we screw up and have to confess all over, that’s what shows our true character. ”
“The Great Luna spoke to me about my future,” Myanin said.
Lilly rocked back on her heels and let her hand fall. “I bet that was interesting. What did the goddess have to say?”
“She said I was not yet lost. And she asked me if I had considered whether she had somebody better for me.” The djinn looked confused.
“You don’t think there could be someone better for you than Thadrick?” Lilly asked.
“Did you think there could be someone better for you than Dillon?” Lilly didn’t miss the hope in Myanin’s question.
“At the time, no.” She shook her head. “And I didn’t date anyone after. I raised my daughter, a result of mine and Dillon’s relationship—the best result,” she added, “and I lived my life. I had accepted that I would never love someone the way I loved him.” She paused, and then a small smile tilted her lips up. “I was wrong.”
“The warlock king is your soul mate,” Tenia said.
Lilly’s heart twisted. “He is.” She didn’t say “was.” because though he was gone, he
