Peri closed her eyes and took several breaths before finally opening them and meeting Lilly’s gaze. “I can’t lose any more people I care about, Lilly. You understand that.”
“I do.”
“As an ambassador, I accept what you’re telling me. As your friend, I’m telling you that I will unleash hell if she hurts you or anyone in our pack.”
Lilly knew that the word “pack” no longer just meant the wolves. Peri was speaking about the combined supernatural forces who’d joined their cause, those who were willing to take a stand against the Order. Those willing to give their lives.
“I understand that as well.” Lilly stepped back. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Tension still filled the room, but she no longer felt in danger of being hit by a magical snowball or turned into a rug. At least for now.
“When are they returning?” Lucian asked. Peri had resumed her pacing while Gerick continued to hold his steady pose against the wall.
“I told them I would contact them via cell phone after I spoke with Peri and could be certain she wouldn’t kill Myanin on sight.”
“Already, you show wisdom as a queen,” Lucian said with a small smile.
“Do not praise her.” Peri huffed at her mate. “You’ll only encourage more of this rash behavior.”
Lilly didn’t bother to respond to Peri’s jab. She knew it was just the beginning of the crap the high fae would give her. It was one of Peri’s trademark moves when she was perturbed with someone’s actions. Lilly would just roll with it, unless Peri started passing out zappings like candy to kids on Halloween.
“Go ahead and send them a text,” Lucian said. “The sooner we can be sure they are really working with us, the better.”
Lilly picked her phone up from the coffee table and pulled up Myanin’s number. She typed out a quick, concise text. Peri knows. It’s safe to come back.
A few seconds later her phone buzzed. We will return tonight. Tenia says you’re in a different time zone. So, whatever night is here, I don’t know what time it will be there.
“She said they can return tonight, their time. So for us that would be?”
“We’re nine hours ahead of them,” Peri rattled off. “Depending on what ‘tonight’ means, for us it would probably mean early morning tomorrow.”
“What do we do until then?” Lilly asked. It was probably sad that she, the queen of a supernatural race, had to ask someone else what to do. Crazy card, people. She was using the crazy card.
“We need to discuss what Lysander has been planning.” Peri stopped pacing and turned to face Lilly.
Gerick pushed off from the wall. The lazy pose he’d held disappeared. Sharp eyes focused on Peri as he asked, “What do you know, fae?”
Chapter 13
“’Once upon a time, there was a single mom who fell in love with a warlock king, discovered she was a sprite, watched her warlock king be killed, took over as queen of his kingdom, made a blood oath with a murderer who might betray them, and then died a horrible death at the hands of one of her new subjects. The end.’ That’s what my tombstone will read if I get my ass kicked by Lysander. I really don’t want all that on my headstone.” ~Lilly
“We might as well sit down.” Peri and Lilly sat across from one another. Lucian sat next to his mate, while Gerick took one of the single chairs in between the two couches.
“As I mentioned to Lilly earlier,” Peri began, her eyes bouncing back and forth between Lilly and Gerick. Lucian most likely already knew everything his mate was about to divulge. “I’ve had some of my little pixie friends keeping an eye on the other warlock clans. So far, only one has shown any sign of seeking to challenge you.”
“Lysander,” Lilly said, remembering that Peri had mentioned him.
Peri nodded. “I took it upon myself to join them on one of their little scouting missions so I could hear for myself exactly what the rat betrayer was saying.” Peri stopped and tapped her foot as she pursed her lips.
Lilly waited, but when the high fae didn’t continue, the queen narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to build suspense?”
“No, I’m just giving you a taste of your own medicine.” Peri sniffed, raised her chin, and looked around the room as if anything would be more interesting than Lilly.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Lilly growled.
“It’s annoying when someone doesn’t tell you something you need to know, isn’t it, queenie?”
Lilly looked at Lucian. “You realize you’re mated to a psychopath, right?”
Lucian didn’t look offended or even a little bothered by Lilly’s words. “Anyone who lives as long as we do has to develop the ability to turn their emotions off. They won’t survive otherwise.”
Lilly blinked a few times as she stared at him. Okay, so they were a psychopathic couple. Lilly wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. With Lucian, she understood. He’d been trapped in the dark forest for hundreds
