Page 208 of The Witch Queen

“All right,” she allows at last. “Then I’m going with you.”

“So am I.” This time, it’s Blodwyn.

“Absolutely not,” I say, flatly. “Shewillkill you.”

“Yes,” Verity agrees, wide-eyed. “Didn’t you tell me that was the whole point? That she wants to eat your heart? You can’t go down there and serve it to her.”

“Yourheart?” Gavin asks, horrified.

“I’ll explain later.” Blodwyn waves him off. “And I don’t care whatshe wants. I’m not just going to wait here like the princess in the tower. I’ve done enough of that my whole life.”

I can tell by the look on her face that she won’t be persuaded otherwise. I let out a frustrated sigh, cursing her stubbornness.

“Fine,” I relent. “But keep close. I’ll see if I can summon Nox as well. As for the rest of you…hide near the courtyard. If there’s any chance of retreiving the crown, don’t hesitate.”

“Oh aye,” Roland huffs. “Suppose I’ll just stroll down there and hope that mother of yours doesn’t turn my guts into garters.”

He keeps grumbling, but I ignore him, watching the chaos below. In a strange way, it feels like I was always heading for this moment. No matter what I did, it would find me.

And I am tired of running.

—

The courtyard is in ruins.

Black tendrils of miasma curl up from the dozen or so holes in the flagstones. Sections of the palace are completely demolished. Mother stands among the debris, shadow creatures gathered around her. I scan the area for Shade, but don’t find him. By some miracle, though, Nox heeds my call. The Nevenwolf materializes from the shadows and prowls alongside us, his hackles raised. Mother arches an eyebrow at our approach.

“Daughter,” she says, her attention lingering on each of us in turn. “Are you here to fulfill your end of the prophecy?”

I glance at the crown on Mother’s head, the Bloodstones glimmering in the firelight.

“No,” I reply. “But I’d like to talk.”

“Talk?” she repeats, smirking. “And whose idea was that? The half-Wayward witch who keeps causing trouble? Or the mortal princess? Tell me, what exactly do you think is going to happen when all this is over? That she’ll welcome you to court? Give you a room in her palace like a pet witch?”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Blodwyn insists.

Nox growls, as if in her defense.

Mother merely laughs. “Perhaps not now. But the pesky thing about mortals is that they die so very quickly. The next ruler will just reinstate the old laws.”

She’s right,that old voice warns.

“Maybe they will,” I admit. “But we can’t keep doing things the same way as before. Repeating the same mistakes. I have to trust—”

“Them?” Mother flings a frustrated gesture toward Blodwyn and Jacquetta. “Over your own mother? What more do I have to do to prove myself to you?”

“Prove?” I echo. “When have you ever tried to prove anything to me? You’re the one insisting that I prove myself toyou.And I’m always found wanting.”

“Dramatic as ever,” Mother scoffs. “How many times have I cleaned up after you? Rescued you from your own poor judgment?”

Heat floods my face.

Mother steps closer, shadows trailing her like a cloak.

“I’ve done nothing but protect you since the day you were born. Even now. When you ran into that siren of a witch in the forest”—she jerks her chin at Jacquetta—“I sent the crows. When the Followers attacked the palace,Iintervened. When the Heirs would have killed you, I stopped them.”

Is that really how she views those events?