Page 17 of Merciless Is My Crown

My entire world narrowed down to Adele’s quiet voice, the story she was telling, the comforting pressure of Tavion’s arm wrapped around me.

“A hundred years ago, Torin and these males began laying the groundwork to steal Carex’s magic. Then, twenty years ago, I was chosen to be presented at court as the Wynters’ niece. From there…well, you know the rest of the story.”

“Tell me more about the High Barrens.” I tried to think past my confusion, past the questions jumbling together in my head. “And the Wynters.”

“You claim a powerful bloodline. A bloodline gifted with terrible magic and cunning.” Again, silver flashed in Adele’s pale eyes and Tavion tensed. “The High Barrens Coven is ruled by a High Priestess; their seat of power is north, beyond the Ironhearts.”

“How far north?”

“Out of reach of the Shadow King and his armies.” Silence ruled the room, all of us waiting for her next words, and I swore my mother delighted in her new authority with a wicked arrogance I hadn’t seen before.

“After you were born, the Shadow King burned the Barrens, trying to purge our people and his secret with them. If anyone would have discovered his part in our conspiracy…Ah, but he failed.” Adele’s voice took on a hard, cruel note that sent a shiver straight through me. “You’ve already claimed the Fae magic, but our kind has magic of its own. Claim the other half of your heritage to become the most powerful creature in the entire world, Anaria.”

Adele’s tone turned crafty. “You can get us the revenge we deserve, by killing Serpens and ending this for good.”

“How many of us…How many witches are left?” My hands curled into fists in my lap. Bexley had abandoned all pretense at healing and was openly staring at my mother, his mouth hanging open.

“Enough,” she said, somewhat snidely. “Enough of an army for the general to command. Enough to march into Solarys and take back what the Fae stole from us.”

I clasped my hands in my lap before I looked up at Zorander. “This is the secret you were about to tell me before I was yanked away by the Oracle, isn’t it?”

Dark eyes smoldering in anger, he nodded. “I never got the chance. You should have heard the truth from Adele, so things worked out in the end, I suppose.” But he squeezed my shoulder, to say I’m sorry.

“You weren’t nearly so noble, Commander, the night I offered you the witch army,” Adele pointed out. “In fact, you jumped at the chance to go to war.”

“I never jump at the chance to go to war. War costs good men and innocents their lives,” he countered coldly. “You offered. I didn’t argue. There’s a difference.”

Raziel stepped up beside his oldest friend and my heart squeezed at the sight of them together, presenting a solid front. “Don’t twist this around, Adele. You lied, and the fact you’re willing to use your daughter to get revenge does not sit well with any of us.”

My mother straightened her shoulders, and in that moment, I saw everything Adele had been before prison stripped her down to her very bones.

Imperious and bloodthirsty and cold, and I didn’t like what I saw.

I was a witch.

A fucking witch.

Bexley sent one last surge of glowing magic into the wounds, now covered with new, pink skin. “That is the last of my magic, my lady.” He panted, dipping his head. “But you healed nicely.” I offered the mage a grateful smile as Zor, Raziel, and Adele’s argument escalated, Tristan watching impassively.

When Torin and Simon pointed out Adele had been a willing participant in the conspiracy since the beginning, things got ugly. “I volunteered to overthrow the king, not rot in prison for two decades while you lived a life of luxury.”

“My life has hardly been luxurious,” Torin hissed.

Adele whirled on Raz and Zor. “You abandoned me. All of you. Now you owe me.”

“I told you before and I’ll tell you again, my only loyalty is to Anaria. I owe you nothing, and if you try to serve her up to further your own agenda, I will fucking end you.” Zorander’s snarled promise sent Adele reeling back as he stalked toward her. I rose to my feet, but Tavion tugged me back down beside him.

“Wait,” Tavion murmured against my ear. “This isn’t over and there’s more you have to see.”

“You plan to use Anaria to get revenge and power.” Raz crossed his arms over his chest, his growl a thinly veiled threat. “Your revenge, not hers. Power for yourself, not for her.”

“What if I do? Power is the only thing that matters in this world. Spend twenty years in a prison cell being gnawed on by rats and see how far you’d go to take back what was stolen from you.”

She swung her gaze around the room, a faint sneer of disgust on her once-beautiful face. “I sacrificed everything for your cause, and you forgot about me. Left me there to die. But I didn’t die and now you have to deal with me.” Adele’s expression turned ugly.

Almost as ugly as the despair twisting my stomach to knots.

This was my mother?

---