Page 85 of The Witch Queen

“Tight-lipped,” Jacquetta says, echoing what Joan told me.

“Try some of the older staff,” I suggest. “They might have been around when Margaret was here before. And Joan mentioned some scandal concerning the duchess.”

“That’s a bit vague, isn’t it?” she asks.

“Yes. Which is why you need to investigate it.”

Jacquetta sighs, exasperated. “Fine. What about my mother?”

“Still nothing,” I say. “If she’s out there, Shade will find her.”

“I hope so,” Jacquetta replies, stabbing a chicken bone in my direction. “Because if you’re manipulating me just to get what you want—”

“No, that’syourjob, isn’t it?”

Nettle meows, seconding the question, and Jacquetta glowers at us both. She sullenly goes back to eating, but then notices the books on my table.

“What’s all this?” she asks, dragging one toward her and leafing through it. Her brow furrows as she scans the text. “Cunnings? Wait, is this about…magic?”

I hesitate before answering, but I suppose there’s no point in keeping it back. It’s not like Jacquetta will learn anything useful from the information in these volumes.

“Sort of,” I explain. “I ordered these books to be brought in from other realms when I first started learning about my own power. I’ve been revisiting them in case they can help me understand what we saw in the forest.”

It had been tricky, acquiring such material, given the White Court’s history with witches. But the library’s Keepers are paid exorbitantly well for their discretion. And the rest of the court is too focused on their own entertainment to notice a few questionable texts.

“Did you find anything?” Jacquetta asks, still exploring the book.

“Not really,” I admit. “In fact, from what I could discover, the otherrealms don’t possess much in the way of magic, or even Malum. I’ve read about Cunnings, like you saw. And people deemed ‘Seers’. But their gifts are nothing in comparison to that of the witches.”

Jacquetta rolls a grape between her fingers, thoughtful. “So magic is unique to Riven?”

“It appears that way,” I agree. “Malum as well.”

“That would explain some things,” she comments.

“Like what?”

She doesn’t answer right away, likely determining how much to share.

“Our power didn’t work properly on the other side of the mountain,” she says at last. “At least for those of us who retained our gifts. Our magic was there, but it was…I don’t know. Dormant. Until I returned to Riven.”

That is strange.

“Howwereyou able to cast those spells in the forest? With the Veil gone, I assumed—”

“I didn’t bind myself to the Veil,” she says.

“You told me you didn’t bind yourself to the covens. That’s not the same thing.”

She shrugs. “It’s the only way I can explain it. My gift is one of the strongest left. What I can’t explain is why my power only workshere.What’s so special about Riven?”

I have absolutely no idea. I drift over to my map, watching the tendrils of darkness skim the surface of the realm. Whatcouldkeep magic, or Malum, contained here? And why—

Nettle meows, her tail swishing as she trots over to the opposite wall, where the outline of a door has begun to carve itself into the paneling. My blood flashes cold. Roland. Damneverything.I’d completely forgotten that I called him.

“Mistress—” Roland stops short when he registers Jacquetta. “Witch.”

Jacquetta pales at his murderous expression.