Page 27 of Oath-Maker

“What, you don’t want me to swap sides? Fall back in love with you?” I tried not to be sarcastic, but it was difficult. “What are we doing here?”

“I believe you’ve surmised the answer to your last question.” His sea-glass green gaze watched the celestials flying above the city’s skyline. “As for whether or not you fall back in love with me, I suppose we’ll see. I certainly have hope.”

That gave me pause. It seemed silly. Win back the girl, destroy the demons, save the world—a boy’s wish to play hero. But I could see in Merek’s expression—the hardening of his jaw, the tightening of his eyes—that this really did bother him. That hewantedit. And gods, as stupid as it sounded, a few days ago, I might have wanted it, too. Ihadwanted it. I’d allowed myself to be captured by Lucius’s demonic guards to, yes, save Jessa, but also to willingly subject myself to a chance at death to be reunited with Merek.

And while, yes, there was alotwrong with that train of thought, the truth remained: Had I never met Lucius, this conversation would have been going entirely differently. I’d have marveled at Merek’s return. I’d have joined the Guardian’s side and not only have aided him in welcoming more celestials to Serenia, but I’d have willingly helped him destroy the demons within Serenia’s borders.

That was the Order’s oath, after all.

“Everything’s changed, Merek,” I said. “Within days, the world’s been turned upside down.”

Merek shook his head. “It’s the same as it ever was.”

“No.”

“Yes,” he hissed. He stopped walking and sharply turned toward me. “Everything is exactly the same. The Light gave us power to take out the demons. That is what I’m doing. Fulfilling my oath and the Light’s directive, both of which are things you alsousedto swear by.”

I stopped walking so I could match him and yanked up the sleeve of my shirt, revealing the red markings on my arm that Merek had seen a hundred times before. “Thisis not of the Order. We used to think these were demonic, for fuck’s sake, Merek. Your magic, the red hue. Jessa’s magic.Mymagic. It’s Fallen celestial. It evenfeelsevil.”

Merek rolled his head back and forth, cracking it loudly. “It’sprophecy, Ayla. It’s our future, our destiny.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised Merek knew about this prophecy when Basara did. But it shocked me to hear him say it all the same. “No.”

No, because I didn’t want to kill Lucius or destroy Alastia. No, because I refused to be an ancient seer’s pawn. No, because I didn’t want Merek to be right.

“You, me, even Jessa—we all fit the description,” Merek continued with rage churning in his eyes. It set my nerves on edge. Made my heart beat just a little bit faster with caution and panic. “A paladin of light and dark. We will end evil, those demons who tore into our world and destroyed it.”

My eyes narrowed on him. “Do you hear yourself? You do remember thattheirwar was two-sided, right? The celestials contributed to the tearing of the Veil, too.”

Merek reached for the hilt of his sword. It made me retreat a step, which I hated. Showing this man any sign of weakness was a mistake. “They followed the demons here to end them.”

“And then what?” I spat despite the dangerous position I now stood in, alone in a city teeming with the enemy. “Theydidn’t rid our world of demons. They had to create the Order to keep up.Wedo their dirty work, Merek. And now you’re the lead pawn. Do you really think they’re going to make you or me the hero of the day, too?”

Merek snarled. “Shut your fucking mouth.”

“Why?” I cocked my hip. Confidence surged within me, a desperate need to make a point and screw the consequences. “Because the truth is scary and sad? You know what other truth was, too? Your death. Your sudden and tragic death, which the rest of us had to live with while you were resurrected as a king amongst pawns, Merek.”

Something inside me snapped as my mind whirred back to that fateful day. Merek’s death. The aftermath. The heartbreak and fear andanger. So much anger and I’d had no place to put it. I’d almost risked entering a demonic fighting ring with Jessa just for an outlet and screw the Order’s rules.

“You abandoned us,” I snapped. “You were alive and you didn’t return.Youallowedallof this to escalate, and for what? So you could be the celestials’ hero?”

I closed the distance between us and stared right into his burning, jade eyes. “I’ve mourned you, Merek. My heart broke and I rebuilt it, piece by jagged piece, with anger and revenge. And now I will use that to fulfill this prophecy. I willendthe evil of the Fallen celestials, will rid Serenia and this world of them with the strength of my mate bond, and when it’s all over, when the world knows peace once more, I will shed one last tear for you. Over the fact that you could never be saved. Because I loved you once so very deeply.” I wanted to reach up and touch his face—a face I knew as well as my own—but I managed to stop myself from doing so. Only just. “You’re on the wrong side of this.”

Merek’s reaction was a confusing mix. His face relaxing from anger into something softer. His eyes softening along with the tightness of his jaw. But just as quickly as that had all come on, it returned again. He grabbed my wrist and sprawled out his celestial wings before dragging me up into the sky.

“Merek!” I called, beating against his chest. “Put me down!”

“No.” His voice was monotone. Hard.

“Where are we going?” Windwhooshedpast us, sending my hair flying as my words were nearly drowned out.

Merek didn’t respond. He just kept soaring above the rooftops of Lightport. I managed to turn my head toward where we were going. The Order’s tower… and the light at the top. My stomach dropped.

“Merek,” I begged again.

“You will see the truth one way or another,” he said, shouting to be heard over the force of the wind. “Even if you must have it burned into your mind.” His wings beat faster and before I could argue against anything else, we were back at the top of the Order’s tower.

Merek threw me to the ground in front of the radiant sphere. My knees slammed painfully into the stone. I fell forward on my palms, which stung with the impact.

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