Page 36 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

Declan’s wings rustled behind, he crossed his arms but remained silent.

“C’mon, Declan, it will be fine.” Kara nudged him slightly with her elbow. All he offered was a grunt in return.

“Whoever is going to come with, join hands,” Luciana directed.

I grabbed Lennox’s hand and reached for Nico’s with the other. Declan begrudgingly stepped into our circle, grasping Kara’s outstretched hand.

Luce completed the circle before closing her eyes and chanting the spell.

Slowly the world shifted around us. The room blurred out of existence until there was nothing but darkness. Darkness so dark I couldn’t seeanything.My mind felt disconnected from the rest of my body as I tried to ground myself in this space in between.

I squeezed the hand in mine, wondering if I could still feel Lennox. If she could feel me.

Her squeeze in response grounded me, I wasn’t floating about. Lennox was still here. We were both still here.

Whereverherewas.

Slowly, the world reformed around us. The light filtered back in as the world became corporal again, revealing a familiar grove where Hecate’s cottage sat, the same as it was before.

I looked over at Lennox, who stared at the depleted cottage.

“I never thought we’d be back here,” she muttered.

“Me either.” I was still holding her hand in mine, I gave it a reassuring squeeze before letting it go.

“So this is Hecate’s cottage?” Kara confirmed.

“I expected more from the original witch.” Luce elbowed Declan and the harpy hissed in response.

“Watch your words, this is the first witch you’re talking about,” she scolded.

“She has a point Dec, I’ve met her, and she’s not someone you want to anger.”

“I still can’t believe you got to meet her. The vampire prince has met the original witch and yet, I, heir to the witch throne, haven’t.” Luciana crossed her arms over her chest as we all continued to stare at the cottage.

“Well that’s about to change isn’t it.” The excitement in Kara’s tone was evident.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Lennox said. “Let’s go inside.”

We all followed behind Lennox as she approached the house. The outside looked the same, but something was off. Something felt different than before.

I stood beside Lennox as she knocked on the door. “Hecate?” She asked hesitantly. We all waited, my heart thudding rapidly in my chest.

Not a sound came from within the cabin.

Lennox knocked again, calling out for the original witch once more.

“Should we go in?” Nico asked.

Lennox shrugged. “I guess. But I don’t think she’s here.”

“Hecate?” She pushed the door open. We filed into the cottage behind Lennox, quickly filling the space, the abundance of us making the cabin appear tiny.

“She’s not here.” Frustration quickly built inside me. “We came all the way here and she’s not even fucking here.” I slid one of the worn wooden chairs out from under the table and collapsed into it.

“Maybe the journals are here somewhere, that’s why we were led here,” Kara offered.

“I doubt it.” The defeat was clear in Lennox’s voice.

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