Peri nodded.“And no, none of us were expectingthatturn of events.Sometimes it honestly feels like the Great Luna hates me, but in reality I know she’s just growing my character.”
“You’d think at some point she’d realize your character is simply stunted to that of a six-year-old,” Lilly offered, a small smirk on her face.
Gerick normally would have found their banter humorous, but at the moment, anything but trying to figure out a way to get Myanin back was simply wasting time.
“You’re not wrong, Warlock Queen,” Serapha agreed.“Now, tell me the rest.And do not leave anything out, Perizada.It seems every time you leave my realm, you cause even more chaos.I might need to trap you here again.”
Lucian crossed his arms, his wolf seeming to press just beneath his skin.“I honestly wouldn’t hate that.”
“Thanks, wolf,” Peri huffed at him.“I’ll remember your words the next time you want to snuggle.”
“No snuggling references in my presence,” Lilly sang.“Just get on with the events of what happened so we can keep my General from going postal.”
Silence followed.Not empty silence, but the kind filled with calculation.Finally, Peri explained all that had happened in the clearing, starting with Shade opening the book, all the way to Jewel and Dalton dying, Raja’s escape, and Fane’s orders to seek out help from other supernatural beings.When Peri was done, Serapha had laid down in front of them so that her head was closer to their level, her eyes bouncing from each of them and back again, as if she was measuring each of their emotions and reactions to the retelling of the events.
Serapha turned back to Gerick.“And your mate threw herself into this prison willingly?”
“Yes,” he said.“To save the healer.”
Serapha huffed softly.“ Sometimes I wonder if the healers aren’t the cause of all your problems, Peri.Perhaps the Great Luna really does think your character has some serious flaws.She did make you the ambassador of the gypsy healers, after all.”
There was no real mockery in it.It was more like the draheim’s weariness coming through.
“So, in order for Raja to be free,” Serapha continued, “someone had to take his place.Someone had to keep the balance that the djinn put in place when they trapped him.”
Gerick swallowed.“That’s what I’m afraid of.She will be bound to its will.”
Serapha studied him for a long moment, her massive head tilting just slightly.“You’re holding something back.”
He met her gaze evenly.“Obviously, we were all there when it happened.I heard the words spoken.The rules were twisted, intentionally.The healer was the key, not a sacrifice.When Myanin replaced her ..” His jaw tightened.“The prison didn’t close the way it was meant to.”
“And this is why Raja was able to escape,” Serapha said slowly.
“Yes.”
The draheim’s tail lashed once, cracking against stone.“Then the damage is already spreading.We have already felt the shift in balance.”
Perizada exhaled quietly.“It is.”
Serapha turned to her fully now, her tone sharpening.“You feel it, too.”
“Yes,” Perizada replied.“I imagine it’s moving across realms.Like rot in the roots.First in the human realm, and now here, in this realm.”
Serapha seemed to be thinking as her gaze drifted away from them, looking off into the distance.After a few minutes, her gaze shifted back to Gerick.“I feel a couple of things radiating off of you.First, there is power not your own.”
Gerick nodded.“I meant no disrespect to your kind, but I have the book in my possession.I will not give it to anyone else, not while my mate is trapped inside.”
Serapha’s large eyes narrowed.“Fair.There is also rage, laced with jealousy thick on your skin like oil.What is it that you are jealous of, warrior?”
“Shade, the djinn warrior who opened the book and a male who has history with my mate, is inside the book with her,” Gerick explained, feeling his ire rise with every word.He had no reason to be jealous.He trusted his mate completely, but that didn’t stop the possessiveness in him from rearing its ugly head.
Serapha seemed to consider his words.“If he’s inside the Nushtonia with your mate, then the book has two anchors instead of one.”
“I’m guessing, by your tone, that’s a bad thing?”Lilly asked.
The draheim nodded.“It gives the book twice the amount of power.”
“Myanin’s power has been bound,” Peri pointed out.“It shouldn’t be getting anything more from her than a bad attitude and strong addiction to cotton candy.”
