Luna Rising

NINETEEN

I grab my dagger off the ground and hide it away.

"Lippy!"

I shifted my head until I was pulled into an embrace by Dominic. His arms wrap around my waist and his head to my neck. After being stunned by this sudden intimacy, Dominic pulls back and cup my face.

"Are you okay?" He checks my face to see any scratches or bruises.

I smile softly and take his hands off my face as I hold them. "I'm fine. See," I twirl around. "Sure, I got hit here and there, but I'm perfectly fine. Don't worry."

Dominic pulled on that face as it made me smile at how worried he was for me. I felt his emotions rising through the link that I almost lost focus while fighting Illim.

"Lippy?"

I drop my smile as Ingrid and the others approach me. I back away from Dominic, and I can see that the queens felt my anxiety about dying. I know I already accepted my faith once they all saw the demon magic I used. I'm not ready to die again.

"Lippy, we..." Ingrid looks back. "We, including my husband, wanted to thank you."

I stare at her blankly then shift my eyes to the people behind her.

"I know you were accused of murder, but after learning that a demon had infiltrated inside, you were innocent."

I know she and the other queens have never doubted me just because I look like my mother.

"Thank you," I say softly.

"As for your trial, my husband decided to drop the case," Ingrid added, as she smiled, making me feel better that I'm no longer the suspect. "Now that you're in the clear, can I ask why you were down in the basement looking for the Mirror of Truth?"

I rub my arm, feeling the goosebumps rising on my skin. The nerves were kicking, and I wasn't sure that I was ready to confess. Will they believe me if I told the truth?

I feel an arm around me. I look up at Talima's smiling with a reassuring face that I should trust Ingrid. "It's okay."

Then a handclasp onto mine, I turn to Dominic, who was added to moral support. He's believing in me and trusting me to confess. I don't want to admit it, but with Dominic by my side, I felt I could overpower anything.

"Well..." I start with the sentences then let out a shaky breath. "The reason why I decided to come here in the first place wasn't to cause trouble but to ask Talima to help me find my parents."

Ingrid and everyone left in the hall were still and silent as they listened to my story.

"Talima couldn't help me and suggested we visit the demon who has the power." I exhale. "I agreed, and so, he helped only because I threatened him with a slave contract."

I watch every single one of them let out an expression that I threaten a powerful demon with a slave contract.

"Wait, I'm getting there," I tell them as I continue. "The demon helped me by allowing me to see the deepest part of my memory. I saw everything. I saw what my parents look like and saw how they fought Demir."

"Fought Demir?" Vanessa's question.

"Let her finish," Talima suggests.

I continue again. "Yes..." but pause to look at the blind Fae, biting my lower lip. "Do I have to tell them?"

"I understand your fear that they will judge you but don't worry. I'm here."

Although I just met Talima, she understands me more because she can see my future. She already can predict what can the road I'm following leads to.