Mordred seems satisfied with my stoicism, like this is another test that I
just passed. He holds out his bleeding hand, and I grip it with mine. Our
blood mingles, dripping on the cold earth.
“Repeat after me,” he says. “In hemlock’s kiss, our fates entwine. In
blood-signed bonds, oaths enshrined. Break the seal, and death is thine.”
As the wind howls over us, whipping at my hair, I repeat the words.
With the words spoken, heat burns through my palm. I grit my teeth as
magical energies buzz through my open wound, crackling along my veins.
“I, Mordred, Scion of Morgan, King of Avalon, swear that the silver
moth that I gave you will be used only to listen and watch. It will be my
eyes and ears in Avalon Tower and will do nothing else.” He raises his
eyebrows at me. “Now you.”
“I, Nia Melisandre, swear to place the silver moth in Avalon Tower.”
He squeezes my hand, his expression darkening. “You will place it there
tonight, where it can’t be found. And you will leave it there for as long as I
need.”
“Fine,” I grit out. “I will place it today where it can’t be found and
won’t remove it for as long as you need.”
“And you will remain silent about it, tell no one about the moth or of
my existence.”
Fuck. My heart thunders. “That’s not what I agreed to.”
“Of course it’s part of the agreement.”
“And will you also swear as part of your oath not to hurt anyone at
Avalon Tower who isn’t a Pendragon?” He has me cornered, and he knows
it, but I’m going to get as much out of this bargain as I can.
“It’s not as though I can leave here, Nia. I couldn’t kill them even if I
wanted to.”
“Swear that you don’t want to anyway.”
“Fine. I can swear an oath that I, Mordred, Scion of Morgan, King of
Avalon, have no targets for vengeance other than the Pendragons. Happy?”
I swallow hard. “And I