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The ceremony was a blur, the officiant’s words a fuzzy jumble in my head. Only when asked to repeat vows did I listen enough to comply. Then, as the sun disappeared below the horizon, the officiant handed me a small knife. I stared at it in my palm, knowing what it was for, but thinking I had more time before this part. This marked the end of the ceremony and the beginning of my official union with Lila.

There was no going back after this.

I looked past Lila toward Raven.Please look at me.

If Raven would only look at me, she might see that I was betraying my own heart to keep her alive. That being parted from her forever felt worse than being condemned to death.

When I didn’t move, Lila glanced up at me. “Jeddak? Are you all right?” she whispered. My attention shifted back to the knife. Before I could talk myself out of it, I cut two thin lines across my right palm in the shape of an X. My skin stung in protest, and blood trickled out of the shallow wound. Then I held the knife out to Lila, and she did the same.

Lila’s hand slipped into mine, and she squeezed tightly. Blood on blood.

“By joining their hands, Jeddak, son of Atvek, and Lila, daughter of Tykkan, are bonded to each other for life through this sacred blood oath of the Kovaks,” the officiant said. “Let us join in spirit with our ancestors as we bless this union!”

The crowd’s cheers echoed in the great hall, spilling out into the twilight. I swallowed the lump rising in my throat.

It was done.

Suddenly, I felt my energy drain out of my body like I’d been pricked by a bramble thorn. My blood went cold, my skin tingling with gooseflesh. If Lila hadn’t gripped my hand tighter, my knees might have given out.What was happening?

“Jeddak?” Kah said, noticing something was wrong.

When I tried to speak, the room spun around me. Lila pressed her body close to mine and ran her fingers through my hair, tipping my head down toward hers until our lips met. I tried to step back, to tell her something was wrong, but it felt like the air was being sucked out of my lungs. When she finally let go, her innocent smile morphed into something more sinister.

“You’re mine now,” she whispered into my ear, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

I glanced down to see the necklace she’d given me glow red for a passing heartbeat, just like it had when Sal Sahteene had given me the transformation spell.

But only a Magi can …

The thought trailed off as Lila spoke into my ear. “I own you, Jeddak. You have no will of your own. You have no other desires than to please me. You do as I command.”

Just as quickly, the strength returned to my limbs as all thoughts slipped from my mind like I was falling asleep while standing. The storm raging inside me died. I straightened my spine, tightening and releasing my muscles, ready to serve.

47

Raven

Icouldn’t bring myself to look at Jeddak. My heart had turned to glass, threatening to shatter with each vow he took.

“By joining their hands, Jeddak, son of Atvek, and Lila, daughter of Tykkan, are bonded to each other for life through this sacred blood oath of the Kovaks …”

I closed my eyes. It was done.

As the applause of the Kovaks and roars of the bears washed over me, it felt like Bloodbain’s dagger had plunged into my gut. But when I glanced down, there was no gaping hole, no blood. How could I feel this much pain without a wound to show for it?

“Too bad that wasn’t us,” Bloodbain breathed in my ear, mockery in his tone. “Once I get a hold of the Zavien stone, you could have had a seat at my side as I rule over all of Eastlandra. You’re already familiar with my bedchambers.”

“There’s not enough tea in the world to make that happen,” I spat.

One of the king’s personal guards approached, wordlessly delivering the suli map to Bloodbain. He smirked and sheathed his dagger. “Shame,” he said, jerking me away from the terrace as the last specks of light winked out on the horizon. “Let’s go. We have a stone to find.”

I glanced back at Jeddak for help, but his gaze was transfixed on his necklace—the same necklace that I realized too late that Lila must have given him. A red light flashed from the pendant, briefly catching the gold in his irises on fire. Was that part of the ceremony?

“Guards!” Bloodbain started barking orders. “Bring the Zaviens. We’re taking all of them with us until we can figure out which one can read the map.”

Skyler met my eye as the Rathalans shoved him and Sora toward the exit. His shoulders sagged in relief at seeing me unharmed. Though I knew I wouldn’t be for long once Bloodbain discovered I was useless to him.

Behind us, a sharp voice cut through the din of the wedding guests. “Bring me the map.”