Witch Queen (34 page)

“I wish
I
could sit next to the witch
prince,” Luna prattled on. “He’s
so
handsome. And powerful.
And strong. I’d give anything to be you…”

I rolled my eyes.

A knock came from the door, and Luna
squealed and dashed across the room. She came back beaming with a
velvet box in her hands.

“It’s a gift from the prince,” she said and
handed me the box.

As I held it in my hands, I already knew
what it was. I’d stolen so many of these boxes in my lifetime that
I almost didn’t want to open it.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” Luna stared
at me wild-eyed. It was a gift from her beloved prince after
all.

I could tell that she knew exactly what I
was feeling.

I let out a long, shaky breath and opened
it.

It wasn’t grotesquely large or gaudy like
some of the ones the other witches wore. It was a simple gold chain
with a small dagger pendant. A single diamond was set on the hilt
of the tiny sword, but it was so small I could hardly see it.

It unnerved me that the prince had known I
would prefer something small. We’d barely spoken.

Luna looked slightly put out at the
simplicity of the necklace.

“Why is it so small? And it’s just plain
gold?
Anyone
can buy a plain gold chain. He’s the
prince—”

“Hush,” hissed Celeste, looking a little
embarrassed at her friend’s boldness.

I shook my head.

“I can’t wear this. It’ll give the prince
ideas if do. I don’t want anything from him or his family.”

Luna exchanged a glance with Celeste, who
seemed mildly alarmed by what I’d just said.

“The prince will see it as an insult if you
don’t
wear it,” explained Celeste after a moment.

“It’s an insult
to
wear it?” mumbled
Luna.

Celeste scowled at her friend. “At least
just for tonight,” she said, “to avoid any…tension.”

I knew exactly what tension she was
referring to. I couldn’t risk ruining my chances to get the king’s
help. Reluctantly, I let her clasp the necklace around my neck.

“Ready? It’s time.” Celeste beamed.

But I didn’t feel ready. I felt like a fool,
like one of the priest’s concubines, like someone’s pet.

I did look forward to speaking with Fawkes
about my friends who had escaped, however. That would be an
interesting conversation.

“Okay, just a couple more days, and then
I’ll be back to my old self.”

But I could hardly breathe when the two
coven guards escorted me through the grand halls and ushered me
down the elegantly crafted staircase into the great hall. The coven
guards released me just outside the heavy doors, and I crossed the
vast room alone.

It was decorated with Dark Witches clan
tapestries and banners. Several hundred guests were seated at long
tables. I hadn’t realized there would be so many. Mounds of food
and drink were piled on the tables, and swarms of witch servants
ensured that no glass was ever fully emptied. The room was alive
with conversation, and I was glad they were preoccupied and that no
one appeared to be paying me much attention.

But as I made my way, I spotted several
human hide tapestries on the walls, and my anger and disgust helped
me to calm my nerves. My gown billowed and swished behind me as I
made my way between the tables in search of Fawkes. I spotted him
at the end of the king’s table, a few seats over from the witch
prince.

The witch king sat at the head of the table.
I could tell he had seen me when he tipped a goblet to his mouth.
His wife sat on his right in a jeweled black gown. She appeared to
be conversing happily with the male witch next to her, but her eyes
keep turning to me. She was full of smiles, but I could sense a
terrifying fury in her demeanor.

The prince sat to the left of the king. I
could see he was looking at my necklace, and I blushed before I
could stop it. I kept my eyes on him as I crossed the room. He
smiled, but there was something in his look that I couldn’t
read.

As I neared, Fawkes and Prince Aurion both
pushed back their chairs and stood. I blushed again. The other male
witches watched me warily, but they did not stand. The king looked
intense, and although he seemed pleased, he looked as enigmatic as
the prince.

Fawkes pulled out the empty chair next to
him, five chairs down from the prince, and I realized he’d been
saving me a place. I kept a straight face, but I was overcome with
relief because I didn’t know where the hell I was going to sit. I
made my way to him, thankful to sit next to the only witch I
trusted in this goddamn place.

“No,” said the witch king.

I froze, as did the entire hall.

“You will sit next to my son.”

The witch king gestured to a seat that was
already occupied by a pretty brunette witch. She looked mortified
at the king’s request, which was much more like an order. Her face
reddened, but she got to her feet quickly and dashed away—though
not before she had given me a hateful glare.

Like any of this was my fault.

I wished I could tell her that I’d rather
not sit there, but the entire room appeared to be waiting for me to
sit. No one spoke, and Fawkes looked nervous. I knew that I could
not argue with the witch king, so I took my seat next to the
delighted prince. All eyes were on me, and I felt like throwing up.
But if being the center of attention at an extravagant dinner was
the price I was going to have to pay for the king’s help, then I
would gladly take my place. I’d do whatever it took.

As soon as I was seated, the room burst into
loud conversation, as though the interruption never happened. I
felt eyes on me from across the table. The queen’s cold smile sent
a chill rippling through me.

A witch servant filled my goblet with golden
wine, and I chugged a big gulp down. I was going to need more wine
if I hoped to stay calm.

“Careful,” said the witch prince. “Too much,
too quickly, and it’ll go straight to your head.”

His silver eyes gleamed.

“I can handle my wine,” I lied. “I was
thirsty.”

“I’m glad you wore my gift,” said Aurion as
he reached for his goblet of golden wine and took a sip.

“Did I have a choice?” I snapped.

I stared at the food and grabbed a warm bun.
I needed comfort food.

“You always have a choice.”

The edge to his voice made me stop chewing,
but I didn’t look at him. I washed down the bread with another sip
of my wine, a little less this time, as I already felt a lightness
in my head.

“You did really well in the witch trials. I
was really impressed,” said the prince. “I feel honored to be
sitting next to an actual steel maiden in the flesh. Not that I
ever doubted you.”

“Really?” I raised my brows skeptically.
“Funny, I would have thought differently.” I took another big gulp
of wine.

Goddess, I have to be careful.

“You’re a very
rare
jewel, Elena,”
said the prince.

He leaned closer until I could smell his
musky scent, and my blood warmed a little.

“You’re beautiful, clever, and strong. Only
a handful of witches could have defeated the trial witches. And
you
did with no training. You’re quite the remarkable witch.
I think a lot of witches could learn from you.”

“Really?” I huffed a laugh. “Doesn’t my
human
blood bother you? Send you into a rage? Make you want
to drain me of my blood and hang my skin on display like a
painting?”

“No, of course not.” He stared back at me
with a certain amount of discomfort and irritation. “Your blood
magic is strong. It compensates for your human blood.”

I looked away. He sounded so much like
Fawkes. I might have been ashamed of who my father was, but I was
not ashamed of my human heritage and my human blood.

“Some of us believe that a mix of strong
blood magic like you should stay here, in Witchdom.”

My heart stopped. I locked onto his
sparkling silver eyes.

“What are you saying?” My mouth was dry and
my words came out jumbled, like I was already drunk.

The witch prince smiled a smile that would
have melted any woman’s heart. He reached out and wrapped his large
warm hand around mine.

“Simply, that you’re the last of the clan.
Some of us think that there’s something of a unique opportunity
here. Some of us might not
want
you to leave.”

“I can’t
stay
here,” I said angrily.
“I won’t stay. You know why I came here in the first place. I need
help to defeat the priests and the darkness that they’re spreading.
I didn’t come here for a union of any kind. Except for one that
involves an army that will
leave
with me. It’s the only
reason I came here, and you know it.”

“It’s because of
him
, isn’t it?”

His hand was still on mine, and he gave it a
squeeze. There was a surprising sadness in his eyes, but I felt
like he’d punched me in the stomach. I fought to keep my wine down.
I was near tears.

“His name is
Jon
,” I snapped.

“You can have
more
than one great
love in a lifetime,” said the prince. “There’s no rule in the
universe that says you can only love once. I know that it’s true. I
believe in soul
mates
, not soul mate.”

“Please stop,” I said. My throat throbbed,
and my chest tightened.

“He’s already gone, Elena,” said the
prince.

His voice was surprisingly soft. He let go
of my hand, but lifted my chin with his finger and turned my face
to his.

“He’s been infected with black magic, and
he’s human. That alone promises a fate worse than death. He will
never recover from it. He can’t. If he were a witch, then there
might be some hope. But then again, none of us are steel maidens.
His human blood is too weak and easily corrupted. He’s already
dead. Let him go.”

I slapped his hand away from my face.

“So you knew about the black blight all
along, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he said. “We’ve known ever since it
first infected the world. We felt the shift, the change, even here.
Everyone knew.”

My mouth dropped open, and I shook my
head.

“I can’t believe this. All this time, you,
the king, everyone knew. And still you made me do the witch trials.
Why?” I tried to look calm but my anger boiled on my skin like a
sunburn.

“Because we needed to know if it was true,”
the prince said calmly. “That you were the last of the Steel Maiden
clan.”

“What about the black blight? You never
thought to help? All those people…infected with black magic,
corrupted and twisted into monsters.”

“Help?” the prince’s eyes flashed. “Why
would we help you human animals after you had massacred our people
and stolen our lands? Don’t be so naïve, Elena.”

“What did you expect? I’ve lived practically
all my life in a box. All I know of the history of Arcania comes
from the pitiful collection of books I’ve read. There wasn’t much
on Witchdom.”

“I’ll teach you.”

The witch prince shifted in his seat. “I
know you don’t think much of me now. You might even hate me,” he
said. “But I’m
not
my father.”

He paused as if to deal with some internal
struggle.

“If you go back, you’ll die with the rest of
the humans. But the necromancers will never breach Witchdom, their
magic is not powerful enough. You’ll be safe here with us, where
you belong.”

He paused, and my face burned. “Let them
take over the west, who cares?”

“I care,” I growled.

I couldn’t believe where this conversation
was heading. I could feel the witch queen watching me from the
corner of my eye, but I didn’t dare look at her.

Prince Aurion leaned forward, and his lips
brushed against my ear.

“Stay with
me,
Elena.”

I hated myself for letting the prince bring
doubt to my mind.

Could there really have been no hope for
Jon? Was I a fool blinded by love to have thought there was
hope?

No, I didn’t believe it. I refused to
believe it.

The witch king stood up suddenly, and the
hall went silent.

The king’s eyes fell on me, and he
smiled.

“Honored guests, witches,” he said and
raised his glass. “I interrupt this jovial meal to bring joyous
news.” His eyes turned to me again, and I squirmed in my seat. “I
have news of an engagement between the two most powerful witch
clans in all of Witchdom.”

Goddess above.

I gulped. The king meant to marry me off to
his son.

I looked at the prince. Our eyes met, but
his smile was forced. He looked as though this was the first time
he’d heard of any of this.

Something wild flashed in the king’s eyes
and he spoke loudly and clearly.

“I’ve decided that you, Elena, will be my
second
wife.”

The witch queen dropped her goblet and
started to scream.

But the king didn’t seem to notice. His eyes
were fixed on me.

The guests bustled in their seats. I looked
back at the prince, but he wouldn’t look at me. His face darkened
and something like hate flashed in his eyes. His fingers were laced
together tightly, and he looked like he was struggling with some
internal battle.

I look over to Fawkes. His eyes were filled
with regret, even fear, but he did nothing to save me.

I turned my attention back to the witch
king.

“I apologize, witch king,” I said, my voice
clear and loud enough for everyone to hear. I took a steading
breath. “But I can’t accept. I have family waiting for me. I must
go back home. You promised me an army of witches. You promised to
help if I survived your trials, and I did. This wasn’t part of the
deal.”

“I’m the king,” said the witch king with a
little smirk. “I can do whatever I want.”