Page 46 of The Witch Queen

My latest catastrophe with Blodwyn hounds me long after the party ends. How could I have been so careless? Reckless? I know better than to let my anger take control, and yet that’s exactly what I’d done. Now I’ve made things infinitely worse.

I hate you,she’d said.

I’m no stranger to that hatred, having glimpsed it often enough among the nobility when I was weeding out Callen’s court. But it never bothered me. In fact, Isavoredthe way those venomous vipers were forced to bend their knees even though they despised me. Blodwyn, though, is different. She knew me before I became queen. Cared for me, even. Perhaps I was too harsh with her. Butshewas just as vicious, a trait she no doubt learned from Margaret. How could Blodwyn believe that a person like the duchess is better than I am? If I hadn’t carved out Callen’s heart, the princess would still be locked in her menagerie, forced into the confines of the Order. And that’s if Callen hadn’t married her off by now. Would she have really been happier then? I did her a favor. Not that she’ll ever thank me for it.

My queen?

Shade’s voice jolts me out of the mire of my thoughts. My Huntsman stands near the mirror, where he’s been updating me about hissearch for the witches responsible for the attacks on the Dwarvian Mines. Nox is here as well, playing with Nettle on the far side of the room.

“Sorry,” I tell Shade. “I’m listening.”

This was in the eastern forest,he continues.

One of his shadows burrows into the mirror and then a scene blooms in the glass: the remains of a fire and other debris to suggest that it was a campsite. A recent one.

“Who was there?” I ask. “Witches?”

I sensed as much,Shade confirms.But only one.

My brow furrows. Another lone witch. “You said the eastern forest? How far away?”

About a day’s journey from here.

“So close,” I murmur, my mind spinning with questions.

What would a witch be doing near the palace? Andwhowas it? My traitorous heart conjures an image of blue eyes, but I shove it down. Jacquetta wouldn’t be out there. And if she is, she should know to stay far away from me.

Indeed, my queen,Shade agrees.I do not like it. They may be planning something—as with the Mines.

Wind moans down the chimney, stirring the embers of the fire. Shade is likely right. The covens caught me off guard once before. They could easily be scheming to do so again.

“If they are, then we’ll find them,” I say. “Keep looking.”

And tomorrow?Shade asks.The hunt. Are you certain I should not stay with you?

It’s a tempting thought. And not just because of the witches. After all, any number of accidents might occur in the woods, preferably to some of the claimants. Perhaps Warbeck’s troublesome son. It would serve the slippery courtier right.

“I’ll be fine,” I promise Shade. “The guards have searched the hunting grounds already. If there was any sign of witches, they would have rooted them out.”

Shade’s shadows drift in a pensive tempo.Very well. But I will send Nox to stand guard.

“All right,” I say. “If you insist. But keep hidden.”

The Nevenwolf rumbles a growl in what I take as agreement.

Will there be anything else, my queen?Shade rasps.I sense that something troubles you.

That’s an understatement. In the last weeks, my whole world has been turned upside down. Joan was proven annoyingly correct. Close to a hundred claimants are either crammed into the palace or staying in the White City, all of them jostling for the chance to get their hands on the crown.

Mycrown.

But if I’m being honest, it’s not the trials that have me so agitated. Not entirely.

“It’s the princess,” I admit. “She seems to have decided that I’m personally responsible for everything that’s gone wrong in her life. Apparently, my sending her off to live with Margaret makes me a villain.”

Nettle meows where she’s playing with Nox, as if challenging my version of events. I glower at her.

Allow me to handle the girl,Shade offers.