Yazmin waved her hand. “As the Crown, I will protect you. I will always defend our people.” Stepping down from the dais, she approached a glowing circle etched with ruins from their ancient language. Pulsing, muddy-red symbols pushed faint light into the space around her. The same putrid shade of red as the red haze in my mind. As the color of her tainted Charmer’s emblem.
At the very center of the circle sat an empty pewter basin. She stared at it as she retrieved a vial of blood from her cloak. My blood. A small price to pay to finally be able to deal with this oath.
Yazmin returned her gaze to the crowd. “I fear the worst is yet to come. The remaining Council members have fled. At Leena’s behest, they’ve joined ranks with Wilheim. They intend to run us out of our home.”
Angry shouts of confusion rose in a clamor.
Yazmin only raised her voice and spoke over them, ushering in more shocked silence. “I cannot pretend to understand why they would do such a thing; I only know it’s coming. And so, we must stand up for ourselves. We must fight for our home.”
A man in the front row frowned. “But we’ve never gone to war. Many of us don’t even have beasts with that kind of power.”
Yazmin’s lips thinned. “Wemustgo to war.”
She was met with stifled silence. This was taking too long. The shadows flared around me, responding to my impatience. Their war meant nothing to me. I had a job to do, and the burn of the oath wouldn’t subside until I took care of it. The people I loved wouldn’t be at peace.
“War is inevitable,” Yazmin said, voice level. “But the goddess is on our side. She has shown me a way to summon Ocnolog and use his cleansing fire to restore balance to our world.”
She turned then, facing the beautiful statue of the goddess and her beast. “Charmers were once revered across Lendria. Powerful and kind beings who welcomed all life with a smile.” Snapping back to face the crowd, she scowled. “And then the Wilheimians lied to us. They were greedy and wanted the power our goddess granted us. Ocnolog can right their wrong.”
The same man from before dared to speak again. “Crown, that was centuries ago. We have no desire to relive the past for a war that could harm so many of our beasts. And Ocnolog…” His gaze slanted to the giant statue. “If there really is a way to awaken him… He was a danger to all. He cannot be controlled.”
Her smile was tight. “You’re wrong. I can revive him. I cantamehim. He will be our protector.” She gestured widely to include the entire congregation. “By channeling our collective power, I will bless this ingredient, making him amiable to our cause.” A swell of energy followed her words. Invisible, yet tangible. Stunned Charmers looked to one another as the air thickened.
Uncapping the vial in her hand, Yazmin poured my blood into the waiting basin. It swirled down an invisible drain, until the last droplet disappeared, leaving the bowl clean. The energy in the room evaporated with it, and the Charmers went stock-still, eyes wide. Horrified. All the while, Yazmin’s symbol continued to darken. The red haze dominating my vision throbbed.
“Wonderful.” Yazmin beamed.
“That kind of dark magiccan’tbe condoned by the goddess,” the brave Charmer said.
“Drastic measures must be taken if we are to protect ourselves from the Wilheimians. They’re already moving against us.” She placed a heavy hand over her heart. “I’ve seen what they’ve done. What they’re still doing in their bid to control us.”
“That’s enough, Yazmin. No more lies.” A strong feminine voice rose from the back of the throne room. All eyes turned to the entrance, and a collective gasp rushed through the audience. They pressed against one another, creating an open path that ended with a woman flanked by three assassins and two Charmers.
A woman with rich brown hair like an oak tree. Hazel eyes fiery. Full lips pulled tight in a grimace. She was stunning in her fury, and the sharp rosewood glow around her hand pulsed with palpable energy.
Leena.
Leena.My lips peeled back in a snarl, and I crouched into my heels.
The time to answer the oath’s call had come.
Thirty
Leena
Startled Charmers gaped at us with mixed expressions of fear and anger. We’d overheard most of Yazmin’s speech as we rushed to intercede, and one thing was abundantly clear: she’d painted us as the villains. Unspoken accusations weighed down the room. Some Charmers were clearly injured. Others, crying. I didn’t even want to think about how many were no longer with us. As I went to walk down the now-open path, Kost grabbed my wrist and brought me to a halt.
“Something’s not right.” His gaze scoured the room. “I can sense Noc’s presence, but I can’t see him anywhere. Be careful.” Slowly, he released me and fell into line with Calem and Oz. They covered the entrance to the hall, tension rolling off them in waves. Gaige and Raven had moved to the sides of the room. Symbols glowing from the backs of their hands, they were poised to summon beasts in case Yazmin struck. In case we needed to protect the Charmers. We had already called forth our Asura, and they trailed behind us, arms extended in all directions to keep their shields activated. Quilla looked up at me, her ten white eyes wide and unblinking, and I prayed Yazmin would prove us wrong. That we wouldn’t be attacked, and that there’d be no need for my beast’s powers.
“Leena,” Yazmin called from the head of the room. Her brow twitched. “How nice of you to join us. You as well, Gaige and Raven.” She gestured to both of them lingering on the fringe of the crowd. “Back to survey the aftermath of your brutal attack?”
Gaige glowered. “We didn’t do that.”
“What you did to Kaori. To Tristan. ToEilan. How could you?” Hurt and fury made Raven’s eyes blaze. “Explain yourself.”
Yazmin ignored her, instead turning to the crowd of Charmers. “Do you see how they’re trying to poison you against me? I’m the only one who’s trying to protect you. I am yourCrown.”
Frenzied murmurs of support rose from the crowd. They had no reason to doubt her. No reason to believe she had lied to them. Memories of my own exile flooded my mind. How I’d begged the Council to listen to me, to see my side of things, but they’d been incapable of doing so. A beast had told them what I’d done, and that beast’s words were proof enough.
