Page 58 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

My mother nodded, her curls bouncing. “She did. It was after Astria returned to the sky. Hecate wanted more power than what Astria had bestowed to her so she found other means.” Her eyes burned. “Why do you think Hecate’s spellbook calls so strongly towards you,Lulita?”

My magic suits you.Hecate had told me. I hadn’t thought on it but?—

“Hecate’s magic is strong, but it’s not only Hecate’s power that runs through you, but the Goddess’ magic is in your blood.” My breath stalled in my lungs at her words. At the consequences of knowing this information.

“Holy shit,” Luka murmured as he looked to Lennox, “Your theory that you could harvest more elements because of your witch magic was true. But it’s because your magic is stronger.”

I locked eyes with my cousin. “Do you believe that’s true?” she asked.

I looked between the two. “It might be.”

“Let’s not get off track here,” my mother interrupted. “You can discuss this all later. The reason I’m telling you this now is because if you can’t find the answers you need in the library, there is one more thing you could try.”

“What is it?” Kara prodded.

“You could try and summon Astria.”

“You can’t be serious,” I said. “We can’t summon the Goddess. That’s impossible.”

“Not when you have the Goddess’ magic running through you.” She smirked.

“How could that even be done? No one has ever done that before. Have they? Would she even answer?” Lennox wondered out loud.

“I don’t know if she would answer, but it is possible. Theonly person I know who has done it was Hecate herself. I believe the guidebook to find it should be in Hecate’s spellbook.”

“I’ve never seen such a spell though.” I sat back in my chair. “I’ve read through the book countless times and I’ve never seen anything about a spell or anything to summon the Goddess.”

My mother took a deep breath. “That’s because you don’t have the completed book.”

I whipped my head towards my mother. “What do you mean I don’t have the whole book?”

“What you’ve been using is only half of the book. The other half has been hidden away.”

“Why?” Lennox pressed as she leaned forward in her chair.

“You know as much as I do witches are fickle creatures. They like their secrets. Astria and Hecate were no different.”

I shook my head. “Fucking witches.”

My mother gave me a disapproving look. “Careful how you speak about your people,” she scolded.

I waved my hand dismissively. “Yeah yeah.” I loved my people, but sometimes they were infuriating.

“Where is the other half of the book?” Kara asked, directing the conversation back.

“In the Goddesses catacomb.” My stomach dropped.

“For fucks sake. You’re seriously sending us to the Goddess catacomb?”

“I’m not sending you, dear. I’m telling you where the other half of the book is if you need it.” She surveyed us all. “What you do with the information is up to you.”

Goddess, my mother could be infuriating when she wanted to.

I looked over at Lennox and Luka. “Can you manage to be away from Cel Nox for another day without raising suspicion?”

“I told my grandfather I was showing Lennox a city outside Cel Nox for a couple of days. I can tell him we got delayed if it comes to it.”

I stood and turned toward the door. “Well, are you guys ready for an adventure tomorrow?”

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