Page 125 of Madness of Her Mages

I tensed, knowing once I told her, I wouldn’t be able to take it back. “When we were at Abyssus, Lady Inferni’s spirit spoke to Ember.”

She arched a brow. “What did she tell her?”

“That Thorin killed Lord and Lady Inferni.”

Malvolia gave me an accusatory look. “There were witnesses.”

“Whose minds were altered by Thorin.”

Malvolia threw up her hands as she continued pacing. “How do we know the child didn’t imagine this?”

I paused, gathering my nerve, knowing there was no going back once I showed it to her. “She told us where to find a letter and a book left by Lady Inferni.”

She gave me an impatient look. “Do you have them?”

I turned to Drae as he approached us with his satchel. He dumped the contents onto the table and pulled out the small burlap sack that contained my mother’s book and his mother’s letter. He opened the sack and pulled out the letter first, holding it out to Malvolia.

She snatched it from him with a snarl and hastily unfolded it, her eyes rapidly darting over the words. “Lady Inferni thought I’d gone mad.” She balled up the letter and threw it to the ground. “No surprise. ’Twas why she’d allowed Flora and Derrick to stay at Abyssus. The letter proves nothing but Lady Inferni’s naivety.”

I repressed a curse.She’s in denial,I projected to Drae.

I know,he answered darkly.

Malvolia snapped her fingers under Drae’s nose. “And what about the book?”

He pulled the book out of the sack, handing it to her.

She ran her fingers over the embossed title with a snarl. “The History of the Monarchy by Princess Flora Avias.” She let out anunladylike snort. “How am I supposed to believe a book written by my sister?”

“It shows that the Avias sisters ruled peacefully for centuries,” I argued. “My mother had told us that one twin was always good and the other always evil. It’s why she thought I would turn out evil. And yet her own book contradicts her. How, unless Thorin changed her memories?”

She dug her nails into the book’s leather exterior. “He changed both our memories?”

“He changed everyone’s memories.” Apprehension snaked up my spine when she glared at me. “The entire country.”

Her eyes flared, black magic spilling from her pores. “Impossible.”

I took a step back from her, pressing into Drae. “His magic is demon touched.”

She shook her head. “If he had that kind of power, why would he disappear for twenty-four years? Why not take advantage of the chaos instead of leaving us? With that kind of magic, he could’ve taken over all of the Fae lands. Instead, he disappeared.”

I shared a look with Drae.She has a point.

He grimaced.I know.

“I don’t understand why he left,” I answered. “Maybe something to do with his demon mistress.”

The veins on her neck looked ready to burst as the book disintegrated in her hands.

I gasped, my heart plummeting when I looked at the pile of ash on the table.

She swiped the ash, scattering it in the wind. “I’m sorry, Niece, but this is all too far-fetched.”

“As far-fetched as your beloved twin trying to steal a throne that she’d already declined?” My voice cracked with emotion asI gave her a pleading look. “A throne that had already been promised to her daughters?”

“No.” She clutched her chest as if I’d stabbed her through the heart. “This can’t be true. Thorin wouldn’t dare do this to me.”

“Why wouldn’t he, Aunt?” I pressed, advancing on her when she backed away. “And why would my mother do this to the twin who saved her life?”

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