Page 201 of The Witch Queen

“Don’t you want to know what it is?” I ask.

Verity sighs, exasperated. “How many times do I have to tell you—you’re my friend. Which means I’m on your side. No matter what.”

Emotion tightens in my chest. At this point, Verity may be the only friend I have.

“Thank you,” I say. “I’ll explain it all on the way. But I’m not exaggerating when I say it will be dangerous.”

Verity merely grins. “Excellent.”

Nettle meows, swishing her tail. I shake my head at them both, then make for the servants’ passages. Just before we duck inside, I take one last look over my shoulder. The room is empty. But one of the curtains billows inward again. As it settles, I swear that I can see the glimmer of a pair of crimson eyes.

—

Nettle lopes beside us as we navigate to the Order’s abandoned wing. I warned Verity that we might have to evade Papa’s guards, but the halls are empty, filled only with shadows and the remnants of the Order. Still, I can’t shake the needling sensation of being watched. Can’t stop pressing my thumb into the place where Millicent’s mark rests, like it might offer protection.

“So…you’re awitchnow?” Verity asks.

As promised, I filled her in about everything that’s happened since I left the palace. All my discoveries about Millicent and my mother. Even about Ayleth. Verity never once doubted me, just nodded along like the events of the last weeks—the fact that the queen is a witch—were the most natural occurrences in the world. She was especially thrilled by the idea that I’ve been gifted the Ancient’s power.

“If I am a witch, I certainly don’t feel like one,” I admit, studying the triangle stamped into my palm.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I believe Sindony was right and my meeting with the Ancient was all a strange dream.

“Well, I think you are. And I always knew there was something interesting about you,” Verity says, throwing me a wink. “All this seems fitting, somehow. It’s like you’re the lost princess herself, reclaiming her throne.”

I snort a laugh at that. “Except I have no idea how to be queen.”

“You’ll figure that out,” Verity replies, with far more confidence than I possess. “Besides, you can’t really do worse than our current arrangement.”

“Do you mean Papa? Ayleth told me that he’s awake.”

“Yes,” Verity agrees. “It’s all been…bizarre. Everyone seems overjoyed at the king’s recovery, but it still doesn’t seem right to me.”

Another chill skitters down my spine. My candle flickers in the draft.

“Has he mentioned me?” I ask.

“Not at all. That’s another strange thing. There’s been no talk of you or the queen. And especially not the trials. In fact, from what I can gather, most of the council is pretending that they were never called at all. Even Lord Warbeck.”

Thatisinteresting, though I suppose it shouldn’t be too shocking. Perhaps Lord Warbeck doesn’t have the spine to stand up against Papa like he did with Ayleth. Still…if the trials have been permanently abandoned, I assume that means Lord Warbeck’s coup is thwarted as well. So then why would Gavin have left the palace to search for me?

“Was he really upset?” I ask Verity. “Gavin.”

“Extremely. And like I said, he’s been gone since you left.”

“He’s probably off gathering his own forces,” I say, as much to myself as to Verity. “I’m sure his father is just putting on a show of loyalty to distract Papa.”

“Maybe,” Verity says, thoughtful. “But it’s averygood show. And Lord Warbeck doesn’t strike me as a particularly talented actor.”

“Gavin is,” I counter. “He was planning to kidnap me.”

“Yes,” Verity agrees. “And we can both bludgeon him with mallets when we see him again if you like. But…”

“What?”

“Maybe he really did make a mistake. A colossal one, certainly,” she adds at my skeptical eyebrow. “But he wouldn’t be the first, would he? Especially where families are concerned?”

She nudges me with her elbow, no doubt referencing when I’d pushed her away after Aunt Margaret’s meddling. Is this the same thing? I’m not sure.