Page 2 of The Witch Queen

Be that monster,that voice again. Where is it coming from? I scan the room, but there’s only the two of us and Nettle.

“I’m here now,” Mother says. “Please, Ayleth. You don’t understand the danger you’re in. We have to—”

She stops short, her attention settling on a spot to my right.

“TheBloodstones,” she breathes.

Ignoring the threat of my knife, Mother hurries across the room and halts in front of the box containing my crown. Her fingertips hover over the glittering shards of stone and I stiffen, bracing for her fury. Her disgust. Instead, she looks at me and…smiles.

“You’ve done it,” she says. “You’ve actually done it.”

I search her face for a lie, but don’t find it. In fact, her expression is the same one she wore before Rhea died. Like she cares for me. Like I matter.

“You’re…pleased?” is all I can manage.

Even Nettle meows, confused.

“Of course I am,” Mother says, as though the answer should be obvious. “This is the crown. Thecrimsoncrown. Oh, Ayleth, I’m so proud of you. This changes everything.”

Instincts war inside my mind. I’ve waited my entire life to hear her say those words. That I’m just as good as my sister. But something about this doesn’t feel right.

“What are you talking about? What crown?”

“It’s from the prophecy.” Mother steps closer. “That’s why I came to find you. Selene told us that Aphelia, the first Diviner, spoke a vision with her dying breath. She said:From the darkness will rise a queen.A queen who will wear the crimson crown. I wasn’t sure it was real, but…”

She trails off, gesturing at the crown. And for the first time in weeks, I sense Malum stir behind my breastbone. Shadows dance in the corners of the room.

“Aphelia sawme?” I ask, bewildered.

“It could be you,” Mother agrees, a manic glint in her eyes. “It could beus,now that you’ve recovered the Bloodstones. The others will have to negotiate with us if they want to reforge the Veil. Have to take us seriously for once.”

Reforge the Veil?

Cold comprehension prickles over my scalp. Mother isn’t proud of me. Not really. She’s only interested in what my actions mean for her own status, just as she was at Stonehaven. I scold myself for nearly having fallen under her spell again.

“I have no intention of ingratiating myself with the Heirs,” I reply. “And if they wish for my mercy, they may come here and beg for it.”

“Comehere?” A crease forms between Mother’s brows. “Ayleth, you cannot mean to remain at the palace.”

She laughs, like the idea is ridiculous. LikeIam ridiculous.

“That’s precisely what I mean to do.”

A beat passes, Mother sizing me up. The same thing she used to do when I was a witchling and questioned her orders.

“Listen to me, Daughter,” She starts at last. “Selene and the others will stop at nothing to retrieve the Bloodstones. Even if you manage to evade them, how long until the mortals learn what you really are? You willburn.”

She’s right,that voice inside me whispers.

I hate it almost as much as I hate Mother for causing me to hear it.

“I’ll take my chances.”

She huffs, exasperated. “Enough. This is our only opportunity to gain the upper hand with the Heirs. If you won’t do it, then—”

She reaches to take the crown, but Nettle yowls and leaps at her, sinking her teeth into Mother’s shoulder. Mother screams and tosses Nettle away. My cat lands with a thump on the other side of the room. Malumsurgesthrough my limbs.

“Leave her alone!” I shout.