Page 32 of Witch Queen

Nikolai had frozen at her words.

Abraham had inhaled sharply. “What do you mean? What are you?—?!”

Mae’s magic had filled the cell with a warm, crimson light as she’d invoked the last spells Nikolai had imagined she would use. Just as she had with Sable, she had summonedSoul Conjureto isolate the lynx’s soul and invokedPurgeto rid her damaged core of the source of her agony.

The lynx had stiffened for a timeless moment before going limp in her hold, her breathing slow and steady as she fell into a deep slumber that skirted the fine line between life and death, her soul orb floating silently above her body inside Mae’sContain.

“Why?!” Abraham had mumbled numbly.

The look on Mae’s face when she’d finally lifted her head and met their strained gazes had made Nikolai’s heart ache.

“What kind of Witch Queen would I be if I killed an innocent creature like her?” she’d said tremulously, her cheeks streaked with tears. “She only became a monster because of Vedran’s black magic.”

Nikolai had gone to her then and silently taken her in his arms while she’d cried, Abraham watching on with a remorseful expression.

Mae’s voice jolted him back to the present. “I know it’s stupid of me to think this, but I want her to see Oscar again, even if it is for the final time.”

Nikolai’s stomach clenched. He knew she was thinking of Hellreaver and how abrupt their parting had been.

The tiny spark of hope he’d harbored deep inside ever since they’d witnessed the dramatic change in Drabek’s nature grew a little more.

Could the same thing have happened to Oscar?

He knew Vlad would call him a fool for wanting to reconcile with the man who had killed his mother and his half-brothers and sisters. But still, he would regret it forever more if he didn’t try one last time. Because the Oscar he thought he knew might never have been the real Oscar at all.

“It’s a foolish wish indeed.” He took Mae in his arms and kissed her hair. “And it makes me love you even more.”

They stayed like that for a while before going inside the house to spend their last evening on Earth with Mae’s family and her mother’s new beau, Mr. Fusanaga. Vlad, Cortes, and Anya came over a while later, their expressions just about managing to conceal their growing dread.

Dinner was as high-spirited an affair as it always was in the Jin household, with Ye-Seul shocking everyone by announcing she was considering getting engaged to her ballroom dancing partner. Mr. Fusanaga had to pat Mae’s choking mother on the back before Yoo-Mi sharply pointed out to Ye-Seul that she and Mr. Choi were getting on in age and the excitement of a wedding might be the final straw that put them six feet under.

“Oh, we’re not planning on having a honeymoon if that’s what you’re worried about,” Ye-Seul said with a wave of a wrinkled hand. “My woman bits are not what they used to be. And Mr. Choi’s look like a mummified corn dog and a couple of raisins that are well past their sell-by-date.”

Mr. Fusanaga’s eyes glazed over a little. Cortes spluttered on the wine he’d just sipped.

Vlad leaned sideways.

“I thought things had calmed down a bit since she started going out with that Choi guy?” he hissed out the corner of his mouth to Noah Tegner, the Jins’ bodyguard and Ryu’s boyfriend.

“They talked about sex toys last night,” the sorcerer revealed glumly. He shuddered. “There were pictures.”

It wasn’t until Nikolai was returning from using the rest room a while later that he was ambushed by Yoo-Mi.

“So, you’re really going to Hell?”

Nikolai did his best to mask his surprise. “I?—”

“There’s no use lying.” Mae’s mother narrowed her eyes. “Mrs. Son-Ha told me.”

It was Nikolai’s turn to frown. “Bryony should make that woman sign an NDA.”

“She was only thinking of my best interests.” Yoo-Mi sniffed. “It’s not that I mind Mae not telling me. After all, she has a lot on her plate.”

The fight drained out of Nikolai. “Most mothers would be upset if their kid suggested a trip to the Underworld.”

“Yes, well, I’m not most mothers.” Yoo-Mi’s expression became pinched. “If it hadn’t been for Mae, Ye-Seul and Ryu would have died at the hands of the demon who possessed Rose.” Resolve hardened her face. “I can’t say I’m completely thrilled by what my daughter is about to do, but I won’t stop her either. So, do me a favor, will you?”

Nikolai met her stare steadily. “Whatever you need.”

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