Page 109 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

We had to be getting close. We had to if the magic was trying to stop me.

I managed to open my eyes and caught a glimpse of Kara and Lennox.

They were struggling too. Their bodies shook and their faces were etched with concentration and pain.

We could do this. I knew we could.

Maybe it was a trick of the mind, but I swore I could see the magic swirling around us. Stars danced on a phantom wind even though it was the middle of the day. The sky grew darker and darker—more stars coming into focus.

I repeated the spell again and at once the magic ceased. It wasn’t gone, but it lessened, no longer did it press against my skin, but danced around me like a phantom breeze.

The fire died, it was nothing but burning embers now as more and more stars came into vision.

In the space where the flames had once been appeared the thickest concentration of stars. The formation of stars became thicker and thicker with each passing second—they appeared to almost be forming a shape—like a constellation coming to life.

It looked like— “Holy stars,” Lennox murmured.

“It’s—”

I swallowed—my throat suddenly dry as I realized who stood in front of us.

The star-flecked figure turned, focusing its starry eyes on me.

“I’ll give you dears a moment to get over your shock—but I would love to know why I was summoned by three of Hecate’s descendants.”

42

LENNOX

“Is it really you?” Kara’s voice filled with awe. “You’re the goddess Astria?”

The figure shifted, her body made of stars moving as she did. “I am.” She spread her starry arms wide.

She was beautiful. Even if this wasn’t her true form it was still breathtaking. Her body was made up of stars, dark and light contouring the shape of her body. She wore no clothes, only the stars covered her exposed skin. Her hair made of stars falling to her waist, covering her breasts.

“I can’t believe it worked,” I murmured.

Her lips curved up, “You should have more faithQueen of Blood and Stardust. You will never be the answer to the prophecy if you do not have more faith, my dear.”

“The prophecy—you can tell us about the prophecy?” I asked eagerly.

She held up a star-flecked hand. “I cannot—that defeats the point of a prophecy. That you must discover for yourself.” I rolled my eyes as Astria’s gaze shifted behind me.

“And you even brought the king.” She smiled. “I do love seeing you rekindle your love for one another.”

“Love, we’re not—” She heldup her hand again.

“We do not have time for your denials tonight. I do not know how long your spell will allow me to be here. You must get on with what you summoned me for.”

“We’re looking for your journals,” Luce cut in.

The goddess’s lips turned down. “I feared you would not give up this search easily.” She shook her head, her starry hair moving with the motion like a mass of stardust.

“I will tell you where to find them, on one condition.” She paused, eyeing us all. “Only if you promise they will not leave your hands.”

“That defeats the point,” Luka said as he moved to stand at my side.

“We need the journals to get me and Lennox out of this arranged marriage. My uncle and grandfather are searching for them.”

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