Page 32 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

“Has this ever happened to anyone else before?”

“Not that I know of. The only instances I could find were from mates.” My heart froze.Mates.“Once they were mated they were repulsed by feeding from anyone else.”

A couple of instances recorded of this happening between mates didn’t mean Luka and I were mates.

“How come you wouldn’t let me feed you last night?”

Luka finally looked up to meet my gaze.

“You know why, Lennox.” I swallowed, memories of the last time he fed from me flashing to the forefront of my mind. His hand around my neck, our slick bodies pressed together as he drank from me while pumping inside me.

“Can we not talk about this anymore?” His voice was strained. “Let’s talk about how we’re going to locate the journals.

I swallowed. “About that, I have an idea.”

16

LUKA

Later that afternoon when we all returned to Lennox’s bedchamber, I found myself looking at a mirror lying on the table in the sitting room, staring at my reflection in the clouded glass as everyone surrounded the table.

“You will be able to contact Luciana only by using your necklace and the mirror?” Nico asked skeptically.

Lennox moved her hair to the side, unclasping the purple amethyst necklace hanging around her neck. “She used a forbidden form of magic to spell the stone.” Her gaze flicked to me, presumably the same kind of magic the witch Scribe had used with me. “It’s called Ichor magic. It’s different than regular witch magic. Typical witch magic uses spells to pull magic from the earth–Ichor magic on the other hand, pulls magic from everything—typically the witch who wields the spell.”

“What does that mean?” Nico pushed in closer to get a better look at the mirror.

“When we use our magic it doesn’t take anything from us physically, because we have claimed our magic, yes we can run out, but the magic belongs to us. Ichor magic only belongs to itself. It pulls energy from the witch wielding the spell in addition to any other magic being collected from the earth.”

“Why is itforbidden?” Declan asked quietly.

“Your body can only take so much—especially if it’s pulling in additional magic that isn’t your own. Eventually?—”

“You could die.” Kara finished for her.

Lennox glared at her sister. “Yes, that is one outcome, but before that happens typically the witch goes mad. They are consumed by the magic. But it’s all speculation anyhow—the magic is forbidden for a reason.”

A shiver wracked my body as I thought of the witch Scribe. She had to be close to the Ichor magic taking over her if she was claiming others souls—or it had already taken over.

“Anyways, enough of this morbid shit.” She took the pale amethyst stone in her hand, pulling her dagger from her side and pricking her finger with the tip. My throat dried and my nostrils flared. I closed my hands into fists to prevent myself from bringing that finger to my mouth and licking it clean.

I watched with rapt attention as she smeared the red liquid onto the stone before closing her hand around it.

We were all silent as she murmured a spell under her breath before opening her eyes and placing the necklace on the mirror in the center of the table.

The mirror rippled, its glass becoming dark as Luciana’s form manifested in the glass.

“I was wondering if you’d ever put that stone to use,” the witch princess remarked with a sly smile. “What do you need, Lennox?”

Lennox tucked a lock of honey hair behind her ear. “Why do you assume I need something? Perhaps I’m reaching out to chat.”

Luciana laughed, the sound low and twinged with danger. “Because I know you, Lennox, you wouldn’t use Ichor Magic unless it was necessary.”

“Fine,” Lennox admitted. “You’re right we need your help.”

“What can I do?”

“We discovered the book we’re looking for isn’t Astria’s spellbook,but instead her journals. We need your help casting a spell to locate it.” Lennox and I had filled everyone in on my findings from the witch Scribe before we called Luciana.

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