Page 94 of Madness of Her Mages

He flushed all the way to the roots of his wavy, dark hair. “Of course, My Queen.” He motioned to the decanter of amber liquid. “Will this do?”

She leaned against the server with a scowl. “It will have to.”

He slowly poured the drink into a frosted glass, sweat beading on his brow while he watched her expression.

“That’s enough,” she finally said when the glass was almost full. Then she tossed back the drink in a few swallows.

Great goddess.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, the heat from her glare a tangible thing. “You think I have no heart? If I had no heart, you and your mates would’ve been dead long ago.”

Fuck.Drae’s curse resonated in my mind.

“No.” I turned up my chin, a torrent of magic surging through me. “I’m the only witch who can defeat Tari. You need me to help you win this war. Now, if you want to punish someone, punish your nursemaid.”

Black fog leached from her. The girls gasped, dropping their toys and scooting back. Nikkos and Blaze stood in front of them while Drae cautiously approached us.

“She was followingmyorders!” my aunt hollered.

I was so angry, I no longer cared about her wrath. If she wanted a war, she picked the wrong witch. My voice dropped to a dark rumble. “You told her to split open Ember’s knuckles?”

Her mouth fell open. “She did what?”

“I’m their guardian,not you.” I pointed an accusatory finger at her while ignoring Drae’s warning in my skull. “I promised my sister I’d love them as my own, and that’s what I’m doing.”

“Sometimes I wonder.” She folded her arms like a petulant child. “The prophecy never said which of my nieces would try to destroy me. Perhaps it is you.”

“Or perhaps there is no prophecy.” I threw up my hands, frustration pounding a nail through my skull. “Perhaps it is all a lie created by the mind spinner to tear our family apart.” There. I’d said it. No taking back the words now.

My mates stood as still as statues, their eyes shifting from me to Malvolia.

She snarled like a wounded animal. “My sister tried to overthrow me.”

“Did she, though?” I didn’t bother to hide the disgust in my voice. “After she’d already expressed no interest in the throne years earlier? After the love the two of you shared?”

Shiri.Drae’s warning echoed in my skull again.

I shut him out.

Malvolia stomped up to me, black fog dripping from her pores like spilled ink in water. “What doyouknow of the love we shared?”

“I know you loved her. You fought the dark mage to save her. I also know you named Tari and me your heirs before you decided to put a price on our heads.” I desperately searched her foggy eyes, hoping, praying my words would somehow break the spell on her mind. “Why would my mother try to take the throne from you when it was already promised to her children? Did you ever stop to think that none of this makes any sense? That maybe Thorin tricked you, and that thousands of innocents were murdered because of your paranoia?”

Her eyes flared as smoke pulsed around her like a heartbeat. “You dare speak to me that way!” The fog in her eyes returned. The mind spinner’s spell was wrapped so tightly around her, I feared I’d never break it.

“Yes, I dare. You loved my mother.” My voice cracked as I clutched my chest, a fissure splitting open my heart. “You still love her.”

“I don’t.” She averted her gaze, but not before I saw the lie in her eyes. It was masked by pain and anger, but it was still there—her love for my mother.

“You do,” I said on a rasp, emotion threatening to cut off my words. “Just like I love Tari and Aurora and Ember love each other. We don’t have to go to war against them.” My words broke on a plea. “We can talk it out instead.”

“Listen to me, Shirina, and listen carefully.” Thunderclouds swirled in her eyes. “You are either with me or against me.”

“I am against no one!” I let out a curse, frustration threatening to overwhelm me. “I am with my family finding a peaceful solution.”

She ground her teeth together, fire bursts exploding in her eyes. “There will be no peace as long as my sister and Tarianya live.”

“The mind spinner cast a spell on you.” I refused to avert my gaze as she stared holes into my soul.Please believe me. Please.

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