Chapter 12: The Oath on My Soul

The time it takes to brew a pot of diner coffee passed.

Aubrey still hadn't shown up.

Caleb was unable to sit or stand at ease, craning his neck to look outside the hall.

Dad on the upper seat still hadn't cooled.

I rose gracefully and considerately said, "My cousin went down the mountain today; hurrying back will take some time. I'll go take a look first."

Caleb said anxiously, "I'll go with you, lest you pull a stunt."

His baseless malice toward me was such that even my beaming mother, the Matriarch, sensed something was off.

I almost immediately let out a cold laugh: "I already said I am willing to fulfill you and Aubrey, so I won't do that kind of disgusting two‑faced thing."

"But in the past you..."

I impatiently cut him off and directly raised my hand to swear: "I, Lillian Vale, swear on my soul: if I dare to obstruct the marriage fate of Caleb Mercer and Aubrey, then let my power disperse entirely and my body perish, my path be destroyed."

This was the most vicious of oaths.

Caleb was startled into stepping back—knees giving a little.

A white light sparked at my fingertip; without hesitation I pressed the sigil to my brow. It left a faint burn, and a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes.

He reached out instinctively to stop me, but only touched my sleeve.

A muffled thunder sounded on the horizon; the air smelled like ozone.

"If I violate this oath, my soul will shatter. So—do you believe me now?"

"That's not what I meant; you don't need to go to this extent..." Hurt pride flashed and then was gone.

"But this is what I mean. Archmage Mercer, don't think you're some hot commodity everyone is scrambling for."

I let the storm inside me simmer down, staring him down with steady resolve. The oath was a line in the sand; I dared him to cross it.