“You are my child. I love you with an everlasting love as I do all of my children,” the Great Luna responded. “You are a new creation, Myanin. Your transgressions are cast as far as the west is from the east. My mercies are new every morning. Now is the chance to start fresh. Don’t look back. Keep your eyes on me.”
The light vanished, and Myanin leaned into Gerick’s body. He wrapped an arm around her, giving in to his need to hold her. He turned his head, pressing his lips to her hair. Tears fell as he gave into his emotions. She wasn’t being taken from him. Her life had been spared. “Thank you.” He sent up a prayer to the goddess.
“You are welcome, warrior. Love her, show her she is not her past. She can choose a different future.” The goddess’s voice filled his mind.
“Every day of my life, I will make sure she knows.”
“What the Great Luna has decreed, we will obey,” Synica said. “In addition, though we offer you our own mercy in accordance to the goddess’s will, we must also make our own judgment. We have no choice but to ban you from our realm for life.”
Myanin nodded her acceptance of their ruling. She glanced up one more time, her eyes roaming over those at the front of the room. Gerick watched her and could see that she was telling them goodbye and letting them see the regret in her eyes.
Peri walked over to them and took both of their arms, pulling them up from their kneeling position. Lilly placed a hand on Peri’s shoulder and then looked at the elders. “Thank you for your time. I am sure we will see you again soon. The mourning period ends in a month.”
“Until then,” one of the elders answered.
Peri flashed them from the room back to Lilly’s chambers. Myanin stood still as stone, but her breathing was heavy.
“That went better than expected,” Peri said before blowing out a sharp breath.
“Myanin,” Lilly said gently, “are you all right?”
Gerick’s mate raised her eyes to look at the queen. “No,” she said simply. “But I will be.” She turned to him and stepped closer. “Thank you,” her voice had dropped to a whisper.
“You never have to thank me, mate,” he told her. “It is a privilege to provide for you in any way I can.”
She stared at him, and all he could do was stare back. He didn’t want to blink for fear she would disappear and this would all be a dream.
“Not to interrupt what is obviously an emotional moment,” Peri said, sounding anything but bothered, “but Myanin must return to the Order if she and Tenia are to continue their mission.”
Gerick’s jaw tensed. “They will notice her power has disappeared.”
Peri’s lips turned up into a slow smile. “Then it’s a good thing you know a high fae who can make her appear to have power, isn’t it?”
He wanted to say no. He wanted to tell them she was not going back. But that was not his decision to make.
“She’s right, Gerick,” Myanin said. It was the first time she’d spoken his name. His gaze flashed to hers. He wanted to hear it again. He liked the way it rolled off of her tongue, as if she were tasting it and enjoyed the flavor.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. When will you return?”
“As soon as I can,” she said quickly. “As soon as it’s safe and doesn’t look suspicious.”
“Tell them about the coup that happened with Lilly and the idiot Lysander,” Peri suggested. “There’s no reason they can’t know about it. It might make them think there is some indecision among the warlocks and that there is a weakness there, but we know better. And it will appear to them you are supplying them with information as they requested.”
Lilly nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
“Where is Tenia?” Peri asked.
“She stayed with her son after we returned during the fight with Lysander,” Myanin said as she looked at Lilly. “Skender, her mate, has been true to his word and kept the boy safe. He has let no one else guard him. Apparently, there are quite a few fae who are not working for the Order of their own free will. Once they found out Alston was using a child to control Tenia, they have been eager to help in secret.”
Peri’s brow rose. “Skender doing something selfless for a change. Interesting.” She didn’t sound impressed or surprised. He was acting on behalf of his mate. A wolf would never betray his true mate.
Gerick pulled Myanin closer to him, his eyes latching on to hers. He heard Lilly mutter something about her and Peri needing to check on something, though the high fae disagreed. A second later, they were gone and he and Myanin were alone.
“You will stay safe,” he said, his voice stern.
Her eyes smiled at him, even though her lips didn’t turn up. “I’ve heard mates were bossy. Apparently warlocks are not an exception to that rule.”
“Promise me. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Even without my power, I am not defenseless,” she said, her voice firm.
“I don’t doubt that, but the leaders of the Order are unstable. They’re ruthless. They always have been.”
“Believe me, I know.”
Gerick pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “Put your information in so we can be in contact. I need to know you’re okay, even when I can’t see you.”
Myanin did as he asked and then handed the phone back.
Gerick stepped closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He rested his hand against her cheek, and without asking, he pressed his lips to hers. He didn’t push for more but simply let himself enjoy her mouth against his own. She pushed closer to him, and he gladly held her tighter.
“And the awkward moments just keep coming,” Peri said, obviously having flashed back into the room.
Gerick ignored her and
