Page 44 of Dante's Circle Reborn

“You are nothing,” Mina growled out, and Jonah took a step forward.

“You would do well to watch your tongue with my mate.”

The queen’s eyes widened. “Mate? You mated with an animal?” The queen threw her head back and laughed. “Of course, you did,” she said, still laughing. “Of course.”

“You really do want to die tonight, don’t you?” Poppy asked, coming up to his side. She slid her hand through his, gave his fingers a squeeze, and then let go, knowing that she would need both hands to fight. Or, at least, that’s what he hoped. He didn’t want her to avoid touching him out of fear.

“Once you’re dead, things will go back to normal. And that’s all that really matters.” And then the queen threw her hands out to the sides, and her snakes writhed around her head.

Jonah closed his eyes, but Poppy just laughed.

“Breaking the rules, are you? But the thing is, you’re not a Medusa. You can’t turn anyone to stone. You never could, and you’re never going to be able to.”

Jonah’s eyes widened, and he looked over at Poppy.

“She just has her fighting skills and her magic?”

“She used spells to hurt the others, she doesn’t have the skills.” Poppy laughed then, but there was nothing cruel about it, just weariness. She had been running for so long. She had to be exhausted.

And he was tired of it already.

“You should just go,” Poppy said. “I won’t hurt you. I’ll never come back to the realm. But I’m done. I’m done running.”

“And I’m done listening to you.” The queen turned to one of her sisters. “Marci, use your magic.”

Marci grinned, and there was pure darkness in her eyes. She began to whisper something, but Poppy threw herself in front of Jonah before she could finish.

“Stop doing that,” he growled.

“Let me fix this,” she muttered, but then there was a commotion. Madeleine pushed Mina out of the way and threw herself on top of Marci.

The queen looked stunned, just like Poppy and Jonah did, and he was confused at what the hell had just happened.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Mina asked.

“No, no more magic. It was eating your soul, can’t you see that?” Madeleine asked. She scrambled to her feet, and Marci stood up with her, shaking.

“Stop it. Just because you’re too weak to do anything, doesn’t mean you have the right to hurt us.”

“I am not weak,” Madeleine said, her voice shaking. And then she let the glamour fall, and Poppy cursed.

“Close your eyes, Jonah,” she whispered.

He did so, confused. He trusted her, though, so he didn’t even hesitate. “What the hell is going on?” he asked.

“Madeleine, she’s a Medusa,” Poppy whispered.

“No!” Mina growled out.

“I’m done hiding. You killed our father. And you’re going to kill Poppy. I’m done.” And then Madeleine screamed.

ChapterSix

Poppy staggered back, the revelations far too much for her to even breathe just then. Madeleine was a Medusa?

How did shenotknow? How had nobody known?

Of course, Mina and Marci had always made sure to push Madeleine down, to hide her as the youngest sister, the one that didn’t matter. They had been just as cruel to her as they had been with Poppy her entire life.

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