Chapter 38: Traitor Talk

I held Mom's hand as she cried for a time before pulling herself together. When my mother looked up at me again, there was more strength there than ever before.

"Syd," she said to me, as serious as I had ever seen her, "I need you to do something for me."

"Anything, Mom," I said, and I meant it.

"I need you to take care of your sister," she answered. The urgency in her voice did nothing to slow the pounding of my heart. "No matter what happens, no matter what you see or what I do, please make sure you keep Meira safe. Promise me."

I thought I was afraid before. "Mom," I started, but she shook her head.

"Promise me, Syd." Cold blue flames filled her eyes as she called her power. I felt it crawl across me as she cast a spell of intention and protection.

I knew what I was doing. I was allowing her to bind me to my word, a binding that would even survive her death. Potent magic that made me shudder from it while I hoped I'd never need it. "I promise I will do anything to keep Meira s