by Quinn Loftis
“Yes, that was the elder’s magic, but it’s gone now. I’m free of it, praise the Great Luna.” Myanin sighed. “As for the rain, doesn’t it feel good to be washed?” She turned and looked at Tenia. The rain had slowed, and she could see the fae’s face clearly. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks a little flushed, and she honestly looked like she didn’t have the slightest idea how to answer Myanin’s question.
“I prefer my showers in an actual shower,” Tenia said after several beats of silence. “Just, a, uh, personal preference I guess.” She paused as she wiped the water out of her eyes and then asked again, “Are you really all right?”
Myanin took a quick evaluation of her faculties, her emotions, her person. The foreign magic was gone, and she wasn’t burning from the inside out. There was still much she needed to work through as far as the encounters that she’d had with the goddess and the changes she could feel still transforming inside of her. A new heart, the Great Luna had told her. Myanin pressed her hand to her chest and took a deep breath. “I am,” she finally said. “I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m moving forward. Change is hard, Tenia.”
Tenia’s smile was so genuine as she looked at her. “It is,” she said, nodding. “But then nothing worth doing is ever easy.”
Myanin chuckled and her smile widened. “Speaking of doing, I know where we’re going next.”
Tenia narrowed her eyes on Myanin as her lips pursed. “Why do I get the feeling it’s not Romania?”
“Because you’ve got good instincts. We’re going to pay the newly crowned warlock queen a visit. It seems like she needs motivation to move from being the grieving widow to the conquering queen. She’s going to have to be a lot stronger if she’s going to stand against the shit-storm the Order is planning to rain down on her.”
“You’re really picking up on the human profanity,” Tenia pointed out, not for the first time.
Myanin grinned, feeling lighter than she had in months. “I know. Who knew it was so fun to curse?”
Tenia frowned. “Don’t smile like that, ever. It makes you look creepy.”
“Creepy’s bad?”
“Yes, always bad.”
Myanin shrugged. “I’ll remember that. Now, flash us to Cypher’s stronghold. We have a queen to attack.”
“I’m sorry. What?” Tenia’s eyes widened. “I thought you were moving forward. Away from the direction of murder and mayhem.”
Myanin rolled her eyes. “Trust me.”
“Says the creepy, smiling djinn who’s addicted to cotton candy and likes to shower in a downpour of rain,” Tenia muttered before holding out her arm.
Myanin laughed, a genuine throaty chuckle, as she placed her hand on the fae’s arm. It probably was creepy that she was looking forward to attacking the warlock queen. The emotions rolling around inside of her were almost foreign. There was no foreboding magic attempting to crawl out of her. And though she knew she still had to face the consequences of her actions, in that moment, she was a warrior again. Not a fugitive, not a murderer, not a thief. A finely honed weapon, and it had been so long since she’d been in battle. She missed the adrenaline rush. And she knew the queen would rise up to defend herself … hopefully. If she wasn’t a completely lost cause—and Myanin didn’t think she was—her protective nature would take over. Then, perhaps, they could come to an arrangement that would benefit them both. While Myanin had felt the need to help the woman—and obviously, the Great Luna wanted her to because she’d been the one to tell her that she’d use Lyra’s magic one last time—she wasn’t entirely altruistic. Change was a slow thing after all. She suspected the warlock queen could be her ticket out of the Order. And who knows? She might even be able to get Tenia and her son out as well.
“I really hope you know what you’re doing,” the fae said just before they flashed.
Chapter 10
“Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a fae warrior and a djinn with cotton candy magically appear in your room.” ~Lilly
* * *
Lilly felt the air shift a split second before two women materialized in front of her. She leaped to her feet, lightning springing to life in the palms of both hands.
“Who are you and how did you get in here?” she asked. One woman was clearly a fae, not just because of the slightly pointed ears, but because they’d apparently just flashed into her mountain. The woman had pale yellow hair that hung past her waist, with eyes the color of Spanish moss. The other was tall, especially for a woman, with long, thick brown hair and bright green eyes, which were currently staring at Lilly as if she was the most fascinating creature she’d ever seen. That one, Lilly was certain, was not a fae.
Neither woman responded. Instead, the tall woman threw a bolt of red magic at her. The queen brought up her hands just in time to keep from getting slammed in the face. She ground out several curses, then fired back with a bolt of lightning at each of them. The fae drew a short sword and blocked it, the metal sizzling as it absorbed the power. The tall woman simply smirked, raised a hand, and pulled the lightning into her body. What the ever loving… Lilly braced herself for another attack. To her surprise, the fae put away her sword. Good to know I’m so weak as to not even be a threat to them.
“My name is Myanin,” the tall woman said. “This is Tenia.” She motioned to the fae.
Myanin? The name sounded familiar to Lilly, but she couldn’t place it. “I would like to say it’s nice to meet you,” said the queen, “but I prefer guests come in through the front door, rather than appearing out of nowhere and attacking without warning.” Lilly frowned. So much for Andora’s ward.
“Understandable. I, too, detest unwanted intrusions into my personal life.” Myanin snapped her fingers and then smiled. “No one will pop in on you now, queen. Not unless I let them.”
“You’re too kind,” Lilly said dryly, her hands still lit up like mini-lightning storms as she watched the two women. “Intrusions do suck. So, why then, did you just shoot a lovely ball of power at me?”
Myanin narrowed her eyes on Lilly. “You’re not as broken as I thought. That is good. I wanted to see if you would defend yourself. Your sense of self- preservation is still working. That’s a good sign.”
Confusion and anger warred for supremacy in Lilly’s mind. She might be broken, but she didn’t need a complete stranger pointing it out to her. “As you thought?” Lilly asked. “We’ve never met before.”
“You’ve never met us,” Myanin agreed.
“If it helps,” Tenia, the other woman spoke up, “I’m just as confused as you are … your highness,” she tacked on a moment later.
“Does Perizada know you’re here?” Lilly asked Tenia, hoping to gauge whether the female was in league with Peri and, as such, someone who could be trusted.
The sadness that Tenia’s eyes held was not what Lilly had been expecting. The fae shook her head. “It has been a long time since I’ve seen Perizada.”
It sounded as if Tenia thought Peri would not be happy to see her. Lilly stayed crouched in a fighting stance, but the other two females stood across from her, tall and relaxed, as if they expected no more conflict. She shook her hands, willing the power out of them, and stood up straight. “It sounds like you and Peri have a history.”
The fae dropped her eyes momentarily, and when she looked back up, they were filled with a vulnerability that caused Lilly's gut to clench in sympathy. “I am ashamed of what I’ve had to do. Regardless of the reason, betraying your race is not something that can be forgiven.”
Myanin’s head tilted slightly, like a wolf’s when it was listening intently. Her eyes studied Lilly, as if she were curious how the queen would respond.
“I think there are only a few sins that can’t be forgiven, and it depends on the reason for betrayal,” Lilly said. Her mind drifted back to Cynthia and what she’d gone through. She’d betrayed the wolves, but in the end, she’d more than made up for it.
“That’s not a sentiment most supernaturals share,” Mya
nin said. “I’m certain my people will not see it that way.”
Lilly’s brow rose. “I am somewhat familiar with the fae and their politics. As to your race, I wouldn’t know, as I have no idea what you are.”
“I am a djinn.”
As soon as the words left Myanin’s mouth, Lilly realized who was standing in her room. Her power surged forward again, and this time she held balls of light in both hands, ready to attack again. The woman before her was a cold-blooded killer.
“I will not cooperate with the Order,” Lilly said. “I don’t care what you do to me.” There was a part of her that hoped they did attack now and fight her to the death. Maybe she wouldn’t win. Maybe she wouldn’t try to win.
Myanin clucked her tongue at Lilly. “That sort of mindset is unacceptable.”
Lilly frowned. “Did I just say that out loud?” It had become a bad habit, speaking out loud, and probably a sign that she had jumped on the crazy train.
“You did. According to Tenia, I don’t have a filter either so you’re in good company,” Myanin said, with a smile that Lilly figured the female thought would be comforting. It wasn’t.
“If you wish to defeat ones as old and as cunning as Alston and Ludcarab,” Myanin continued, “then you cannot sit around wishing for death. But I do understand what it feels like to be so heartbroken that death seems like a retreat. Now, however, we need you to fight.”
Lilly frowned. Okay, I am thoroughly confused. “You murdered one of your own elders.”
“I did,” Myanin replied, and Lilly heard true remorse in her tone and saw anguish in the djinn’s eyes.
Maybe not as cold-blooded as I thought? Lilly said, “You messed up the way Thadrick can record and see history.”
The djinn flinched at the mention of the male’s name. “I have. But I’m thinking that will be fixed soon.” There seemed to be knowledge in her eyes, as well as hope.
“You’ve been working for the Order.”
Myanin’s chin rose. “Not exactly.” Her tone was defiant, as if she wanted Lilly to challenge her. Lilly was not one to disappoint.
“Thadrick saw it.” Lilly narrowed her eyes on the two females.
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Myanin said.
“And what about you?” Lilly asked Tenia.
The fae glanced at Myanin, and Lilly saw her eyes held a question.
“I think you should tell her,” Myanin said.
Tenia seemed hesitant to share whatever it was the djinn wanted her to say but after a few heartbeats she spoke. “Alston has my young. He is using him to keep me in line.”
The wind rushed out of Lilly, though she didn’t drop her hands or the power held in them. “Okay, so you’re not a willing participant of their evil acts,” she said to the fae. “But what about you?” She turned back to Myanin. “What’s your reason?”
“That’s a bit of a longer story,” Myanin said.
“Well, tomorrow I’m expecting a visit from a temperamental high fae. If you’re still here by then, she is going to attack first and ask questions later. So, whatever you have to say better be good. From where I stand, you two still look like enemies.”
“If you know Thadrick, then you know the power of the djinn. I could level this entire castle if I wished, though poor Tenia here would likely go down with it. She’s been a most capable guide, leading me to all the cotton candy I could want. And I’m beginning to like her. I don’t have a lot of friends. It would be a shame to lose her.” Though the djinn tone was bland, there was true affection in her eyes when she glanced at Tenia. She did care for the fae, though she tried to remain aloof.
“Cotton candy?” Lilly wasn’t sure she heard the djinn correctly.
Tenia shook her head. “Don’t ask.”
“And so you know,” Myanin continued as if they hadn’t spoken, “even the great Perizada of the fae is no true threat to me. It would take more than one high fae to bring me down. Nor am I a threat to you, Queen Lilly. I’ve come to talk, not fight. The earlier demonstration was simply to determine if you were worth my time. Luckily, you responded appropriately.”
Lilly shrugged. The djinn wasn’t wrong. Why would they stand and have a conversation with her if they planned to kill her? Or maybe that was the plan. To tell her their secrets because it didn’t matter since they were planning on killing her anyway.
“I give you my word, your highness,” Myanin said. “We will not hurt you.”
“Forgive me, but your word doesn’t exactly mean all that much,” Lilly huffed.
“Then I give you my word on my son’s life.” Tenia sent a look to Myanin that made it clear she’d stab the djinn herself if she broke their promise.
Lilly stared at the pair for a moment longer and then willed the power away from her hands and the rest of her body. “Fine.” She crossed her arms in front of her and tried to look more like a queen and less like a tired middle-aged woman. It was a stretch, considering she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. “If you didn’t come here to attack the warlocks on behalf of the Order, why did you come?”
“A couple of reasons,” Myanin said and then motioned to the chairs and couch. “May we sit?”
“Why not?” Lilly laughed. “My life isn’t enough of a mess already. Might as well add ‘hanging with the enemy’ to my resume.”
“I recently had a vision of you,” Myanin said as she took one of the empty chairs and Tenia the other.
“Is that because you messed up Thad’s magic?” Lilly asked, taking a seat on the couch.
“Yes.”
Lilly again saw a strange flicker of emotion in the djinn’s eyes at the mention of Thadrick’s name. Her curiosity was piqued. “Why do I get the feeling there is more to that story than the djinn history keeper shared with us?”
“Probably because he didn’t want to go into the sordid details of my longtime obsession with him,” Myanin said without blinking. She pulled something from her pocket and Lilly started to move, but Myanin shook her head. “We have no need of weapons, your highness. I am simply retrieving a recently discovered treat, something that keeps me calm.”
Lilly watched as the djinn pulled out a package of… “cotton candy?”
“I told you not to ask,” Tenia said. “She smiles when she talks about it. It’s usually a creepy smile.”
Myanin smiled, but it wasn’t creepy. The expression was so childlike it left Lilly speechless. “This is truly the best invention humans have ever had.” Myanin tore off a piece and put it in her mouth. There was a brief look of surprise on the djinn’s face, which seemed incongruent with her love of the candy. She seemed confused that it tasted so good. But she should have already known that, because of her self-admitted obsession with it.
“Oookaay,” Lilly said slowly, feeling even more confused and wishing she had some Valium to offer the cotton-candy-addicted weirdo.
“It’s an unhealthy habit I can’t seem to break her of,” Tenia said, sounding very ashamed of herself, as if she was personally responsible for the djinn’s addiction.
“You realize that stuff is full of sugar, right? It will rot your teeth if you don’t brush really well.” Lilly immediately felt ridiculous. She was telling a supernatural creature, who was no doubt hundreds of years old, that she might get cavities.
“I have a feeling rotten teeth are the least of our worries right now,” Myanin said as she tore off a chunk of the pink, fluffy confection and shoved it in her mouth, humming in appreciation. “We digress,” she said. “I need to tell you of the mess I have gotten myself into and perhaps then you will feel less…”—she paused, seeming to think of the word she wanted to use—“shitty about your situation.”
That’s one way to put it.
“Maybe we can help each other,” the djinn continued.
“Not to be rude, but I’m not usually into helping people who’ve killed their own leaders,” Lilly said. “It sort of sets a dangerous precedent, especially by a queen.”
“I fully app
reciate your position,” Myanin said, still eating her cotton candy as if it wasn’t weird for a chick who looked like a badass warrior to be chowing down on a children’s treat. “Just, please, hear me out?”
The words were so genuine Lilly found herself nodding. “Fine.” She motioned for the woman to continue.
Myanin licked her fingers and then tucked the empty bag into her pocket. She met Lilly’s stare as she began. “Thadrick and I have known each other for a very long time. He was a dear friend.”
The emotion in her voice didn’t convey that he was a dear friend. There was heartbreak, remorse, love, and regret all wrapped up in those two sentences. “You’re in love with him,” Lilly said. “Or at least you were.”
* * *
Myanin took a steadying breath. She’d felt a little off balance since putting that first bite of cotton candy in her mouth. She’d expected ash, and instead she’d gotten an explosion of flavor that melted on her tongue and made her mouth water for more. She really liked humans. In fact, she was going to be their biggest supporter from now on. Okay, maybe she wouldn’t go that far. Small steps. You’ve poured out your transgressions, begged forgiveness from the soul you killed, and given back the magic you stole, Myanin. Give yourself time to catch up before you go declaring yourself the protector of mankind.
Lilly cleared her throat, causing Myanin’s eyes to jump back to the queen. She’d lost herself in her thoughts while Lilly was waiting for her to respond to her comment about Myanin’s feelings toward Thadrick. Hmm. How to answer?
So much had changed in the past couple of days. She had changed, and not in just small, I broke this annoying habit kind of way. There was still shame. She didn’t know if that would ever fully go away. And sorrow because she’d lost her honor. There was still pain because she had truly loved Thadrick until it blinded her with evil jealousy. But, being at the Order, seeing what the other supernaturals were willing to do because they thought their cause was just, the Great Luna and her pursuit of Myanin, and Lyra forcing her to face what she’d done… It had all changed her.