Page 6 of Oath-Maker

That was Lucius’s solution, actually, but Ian didn’t need to know that. So I nodded. “Yes, to unite his people. Because there are plenty, I’m sure, who are also struggling with the idea of working with paladins. Once everyone has a common rallying point, we can act. I’d like you both by my side while we do this. Jessa, I’d love for you to find out if there’s more information coming from the Order right now. Then we can go to the Singing Hills after the ceremony. We can collect an army. We can find a cure.”

“And in that cure, close the tear,” Jessa said.

“Exactly,” I said, grateful for her quiet mediation between Ian and me. “Please, Ian. Trust me. Stick with me on this.”

Ian chuckled dryly again. “I’ve always been with you, Ayla. Even when I questioned you, I’d still have followed you into a fight.”

Could’ve fooled me.Our encounter on the bridge yesterday morning had been intense.Gods. How could that have been just yesterday morning?

“Good,” I said as I approached him. “Then follow me one last time.”

Ian held my gaze for a while before nodding. “Of course.”

I just hoped I wasn’t leading what remained of my friends and paladins, and maybe all of Alastia, toward their deaths.

CHAPTER4

It wasn’t long before Nesta appeared, as she often had, at the open door to my quarters. This was perhaps the first time, though, that a grim look didn’t accompany her. And it was definitely the first time in which I wasn’t a prisoner she had to escort to some location. Not that everything was right with the world—the truth was the exact opposite.

Nesta had a beautiful white-and-silver A-line gown with stunning embroidery and beadwork draped across her arms. Her glowing smile lit up her face. “I know it’s last-minute, but the court has been decorated for the ceremony. You will look gorgeous.”

Seeing her cheer softened the hard edges of my stress, but it didn’t smooth them completely. “Thank you, Nesta.” I joined her in the doorway and gently held her arms. “I know we’ve only known each other for a few days, but I appreciate you and your kindness greatly.” Even more so now that her fate didn’t rest on my actions.

Nesta’s smile faltered, as though she’d realized something in that moment, but she nodded. “The kindness has been reciprocated, believe me. How is he?”

“Lucius is fighting.”

Her smile finally grew tight until it disappeared completely. “I hope his fight continues. He’s always been good to me and to his people.”

I saw that now. I hadn’t always. I’d been raised and trained within the Order to hate and kill everything that he and every demon in this city was. But Lucius wasn’t evil. The true evil had been within my home all along: the Order, the Fallen. Me being a part of both.

When we’d first met, I’d felt a sort of pity for Nesta having been raised in Alastia under the Angel of Death’s iron-clad rule. I’d wanted to rescue her from this place and return with her to my home in Lightport because she seemed like the only human Icouldrescue from Alastia. But the truth was that she’d always been safer here.

At least until the Fallen had started opening tears in the Veil. Until they’d started attacking with more vitriol and determination than the Paladins Order ever had.

“Thank you, Nesta,” I said softly. I pulled her in for a hug I wasn’t aware I’d needed so badly until the stress melted away beneath her hold.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I pulled back. I wanted to do this because it was what Lucius wanted. To be wed, to be crowned. To have his city taken care of if he should die. But I was growing to think that Lucius had forgotten that just four days ago, I’d come here as a representative of the Paladins Order—as theirleader. Four days ago, the same court who’d be present today had cheered for my imminent execution.

I’d helped save Alastia. I might’ve even won over some members of the palace this morning and during the battle yesterday. But those acts wouldn’t erase years of bad blood between us all.

And then to add the prospect of Lucius’s death on top of it all, as well as the Guardian’s promise to take Alastia if I didn’t willingly go with him.

Or his promise to save Alastia if Idid.

The realization slammed into me. Merek had two plans with one similar goal. But how did he plan to useme?

“Here,” Nesta said, moving quickly with the gown past me and toward the bed. She laid it there and spun to face me. “Let’s get you ready and focused on the ceremonies. They won’t attack Alastia again so quickly.”

“The Guardian promised me a day to think.”The Guardian. So vague a term for someone I used to love. Someone to whom I’d been engaged and ready to spend the rest of my demon-killing life with.

Merek.

Nesta’s smile returned, but it was heavily forced. I appreciated her attempts to pull me back into the realm of positivity—or at least, to the fringe edges of it. “Good. Then there’s time for not only this, but to breathe.” She took my hands in hers. “Take today one thing at a time. You love Lucius, yes?”

How was that even a question?

Because you’re a paladin. Whatever that meant anymore.Because four days ago, we were enemies who didn’t know we were mates.

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