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“Wait,” she said. “I want to give you time to consider your options. You have family and a future, human. This will not be an easy decision for you. You will have until the coronation ceremony to decide. I can’t tell you exactly when that will be. It may be soon, or it may be weeks from now. Until then, you must promise me that you will tell no one of what you’ve seen and what you know. If you do, I will know. My offer will be withdrawn, and your fate will be sealed, as will theirs.”
I swallowed.
“Do you agree to these terms?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said.
She smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. “I am not yet queen, human. That honor still belongs to another.” She stood and turned to leave. “I will let the others know that you are ready to receive visitors. I know they are anxious to see you.”
“Wait!” I called after her. “What about Aunt Vivian and Uncle Oscar? What will happen to them?”
“Oscar is a direct descendent of Edric and Godda. He was already aware of our existence, but you will not speak openly of this with him. Do you understand?”
I nodded. I wasn’t entirely sure that I did understand, but I was too stunned by this new information about my uncle to clarify. Fiona had her hand on the doorknob, about to leave the room, when I thought of another question.
“Does Liam know about the offer you’ve made me?”
She turned to face me. “I told him I would consider his plea on your behalf. But he does not yet know about this offer. It must be your decision. I’ll not have him influencing you.”
I nodded. “Thank you,” I said.
“You needn’t thank me, human. I should be the one thanking you.” She bowed her head to me. “You have my thanks, and my offer. I’ll leave you now.” She turned and slipped out of the room.
I sighed back on the pillows. Sworn and immortal. Or I could return to my normal life with no memories of this other world. I didn’t owe them anything. I’d spent enough time in their world to know that it was dangerous. But then again, so was my world. I wanted to ask Aunt Vivian for advice, but I’d just promised not to do that. I frowned. Fiona had said it must be my decision.
My phone began to ring, and I jumped at the sound. When I reached over to the bedside table to grab it, Angie’s face filled my screen. I swiped to take the call.
“Angie?” Seeing her reminded me of what I’d be giving up if I accepted Fiona’s offer.
“Hey, girl! Where have you been? I’ve been texting and calling. I left you so many messages. I was beginning to get worried about you. Are you okay?”
I considered how to respond to that, given my current state and the events of the past few days. “I’m fine,” I said. “I’ve just been busy.” Which was true. I had been busy. The rest I would have to keep secret, possibly forever, or at least until the memories had been erased.
“Too busy to call your best friend?”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I just wanted to see how things are going. Have you decided when are you coming home?”
“I…” I hadn’t planned that far ahead, and now I faced an even bigger decision. If I chose to become Sworn would I even be able to continue working with my uncle and going to graduate school? If I chose to forget would I be compelled to leave? “I don’t know. I don’t have a return ticket yet.”
“Well, figure it out and let me know. I’m back next week.”
“Okay. I will.” I paused, considering what else to say, my mind still stuck on the decision that loomed before me, and the questions I hadn’t thought to ask.
“Hey, Evie?”
“Yeah?”
“Whatever it is that you’re not telling me? It’s gonna be okay, girl.”
I cringed. Keeping secrets from Angie was hard enough without her knowing I wasn’t telling her everything. “Thanks, Ang. I’ve missed you.”
“Miss you, too. And if I don’t hear from you in a few days, I’m flying out there to see for myself what’s up with you.”
I laughed. “Bye, Ang.”
“Bye, girl!”
