Page 53 of Merciless Is My Crown

“How dangerous?”

“Let’s put it this way. The coven has always had a High Priestess, and she was always ruthless. But Vireena is in a different class altogether. An absolute monster, and she’s ruled for three centuries. As far as how they operate? I can’t tell you a thing since they’re so damn secretive.”

I swore my mother hid a smirk behind her hand.

“How bad is the journey there?” Tavion’s eyes drifted over to mine. “I’ve never been that far north.”

“Well”—Dane rubbed his chin—“because of Anaria’s trick with the magic, the temperature’s warmer, which bought us some time, but there’s a storm coming, still a few days away. If we stay ahead of the weather, we can reach Stormfall in maybe three days?”

“And these witches…what about them?” Tavion asked softly.

“Twenty years ago, when the Shadow King purged the witches, his soldiers drove the survivors deep into the highest range of the High Barrens. What few are left settled too far north for his armies to reach. Once we set foot on their lands, the trail was meant to string us out into a line, easier for their archers to pick off.” Dane’s jaw clenched.

“The witches who survived the king’s purges are the ones too wicked to die or too strong to be killed. They are like nothing you’ve ever met before, Anaria. The danger lies not in the journey, but of what awaits you once you reach Stormfall.”

“What if we delay until Zor and Raz get here?” Tavion mused, holding my gaze. “Make this decision once the five of us are together?”

Adele’s knuckles whitened on the handle of her coffee cup. “We cannot afford to wait another hour. We have to leave this morning.”

“I do have everything ready.” Dane shrugged, his gaze landing on my mother. “And she’s right. If we leave today, we’ll beat the storm that’s coming. Otherwise…” He shook his head. “In two days’ time, the passes will be snowed shut and we might as well wait until spring.”

Wild hope sprang to life inside me at those words.

Something changed for Tavion, too, who looked at me with such quiet joy I could only imagine the idea of being snowed in here all winter appealed to him as much as the idea appealed to me.

To rest, with no one chasing us or trying to kill us, would be a dream.

A library full of books.

Fires roaring in the fireplaces.

I repressed my shiver of excitement, but he saw it, his eyes shining as he took a long sip of coffee.

“We are already late,” Adele insisted, louder this time. “There is a timeline that must be met in order for this to work.”

I glanced at her, puzzled. “It only matters if we can beat the snows, and I agree with Tavion. Waiting for Zor and Raz makes more sense. When they get here, we decide as a group what comes next. Together.”

I meant what I told her last night.

I would choose my men over anyone else in this world.

“Well then.” Dane scratched his chin. “I suppose I’ll unsaddle the horses.” He heaved himself to his feet. “Can’t say I’m sad about the decision. Wasn’t looking forward to braving those passes this year. Or seeing Vireena again.”

“We are going. I sent a message to the High Priestess last night.” Adele blinked innocently. “She’s expecting us within three days.”

“I am the point of contact with the High Barrens Coven,” Dane growled, showing a hint of fang. “Not you.”

She merely shrugged as if she knew we could do nothing about it. “I found one of your messengers and he agreed to deliver my message. It is already done.”

Arrogant, entitled, interfering…

I bit back all the foul things I wanted to say. “Why would you do that, Adele?”

Actually, I knew why, but I wanted to hear her say it. Wanted to hear her admit she only wanted to use me for her own ends. Maybe I was a sadist, but I wanted Adele to admit she was as conniving as the king, and Torin, and the Oracle.

Surprisingly, she rounded the table, and gods help me, but I wondered if she might harm me before she yanked up my sleeve, revealing the white tree branded into my arm. Magic glimmered on every fragile branch like stardust. Dane reared back, knocking a cup to the floor, shattering it to pieces.

“You…” His gaze turned wild, landing on each of us in turn. “How long has that been on her arm? How fucking long?”

---