Page 101 of The Witch Queen

“Not fair,” I grunt, but she only laughs, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Open your eyes.” I do. Her warm amber eyes bore into me. “Tell me, please.” The request is so gentle but filled with so many unspoken words. She wants me to trust her, wants me to open up. It’s a choice I have to make, one that I’m not sure I’m ready to make. She’s been the best thing about Velmara, and I care for her. I don’t want to put her in danger, but I don’t think I can bear the look of hurt I know will cross her face if I don’t reveal this secret.

So I tell her everything. The discovery that mates may be real, my suspicions that Laurel and Prince Hawthorne are mates, that Mazus likely knows and sent the Prince there for that purpose. My worry about his motivation for wanting them to connect with one another. The fear that the Prince is working with his father and hopes to use the connection to crush Laurel. I let my loathing of the King bleed into my voice for the first time since coming to Velmara, but she doesn’t shy away. When I’m finished, she sighs.

“I used to believe the Golden King was truly a hero, someone who desperately tried to save the people of Thayaria from their terrible ruler. But as the years have gone by, I’ve seen his propaganda machine at work, seen the way the histories are rewritten for storage in the archives. I’ve been skeptical of him for years, but after I discovered that the Vicants took the throne by force, it was like all these disparate facts I’d been holding finally came together. I’ve read throughBlood Magic Through the Agesno less than four times, and it—it tells a story I’m afraid to say aloud.” Her lips are trembling, and her body shakes. I wrap her in my arms, kissing the top of her head and stroking her hair.

“It’s okay. Please tell me. Your secret’s safe with me,” I soothe. She takes a single deep breath before spilling what she’s learned.

“There’s a passage that mentions that blood magic is an inherited trait. Not just anyone can practice it. You need an affinity, just like with any other conduit, though the power is extremely rare.” My mind races to fit the knowledge into what I already know. “It also said that the blood mage lineage originally came from Velmara. I think—based on what I’ve read… It seems to be unlikely that the Witch Queen—that Queen Laurel—would be a blood mage. King Mazus must have made that up.”

I laugh aloud, and it startles her. “Sorry, but of course Laurel isn’t a blood mage. I already knew that,” I tell her gently. She blushes in embarrassment.

“Of course you did. I didn’t mean, didn’t—”

“It’s okay,” I say, relieving her from her adorable discomfort with a squeeze. She blushes again but then turns somber.

“Nemesia, there’s more.” Her expression is grim once again. “This is just a hunch, there’s nothing in the text to confirm it. But it talks about how the blood mages were a powerful family in Velmaran history, second only to the Andomers. The family isn’t named, but the only other magical line that would make sense…” She trails off, clearly afraid to speak the words aloud.

“The Vicants,” I finish for her, and she nods, eyes wide. My mind swirls, the information unlocking the final piece of the puzzle for me.

“We both wondered what could take down the Andomer line, what could steal a throne away from a family with the most powerful conduit in the Four Kingdoms. I think we have our answer.” She whispers the last words, so afraid and yet so courageous for putting these pieces together, for not ignoring the obvious truth sitting in front of her. Most people are content to believe the lies they’re told, to go along with the status quo for fear of the unknown. But not Genevieve. The world has used and abused her, shown so many times that adherence to the way things are is the only way to keep her safe. And yet, still, she fights back.

“Listen to me, Genevieve.” The army General is back in my voice. “You must not tell this to anyone. Don’t even reveal that I let you read through these books from Mazus. He clearly wanted me to come to these conclusions on my own, despite how dangerous they are for him. I fear there’s more going on here than we’ve uncovered.” She nods, eyes wide in fear. “I’m having dinner with him in three days. I’ll use the opportunity to see how he tries to goad me, and then I’m going to leave Velmara. I’ve discovered everything I need to, and I must warn Laurel before it’s too late. Will you—will you come with me?”

I shock myself with the request. I’venevertaken a serious lover, preferring casual one evening affairs or clear physical-only relationships. Boundaries between my sex life and my personal life have always been firmly in place, a necessity considering my position in Thayaria. And even though I know I’m notin lovewith Genevieve—not yet, at least—I know that she’s the first female who’s ever made me care this much. She’s the only person who’s been able to crack me wide open and start healing all the parts of me I’ve hidden away. The promise of what we might become in Thayaria, away from Velmara’s rules and customs, gives me so much hope for the future. It ignites something in my chest, making me hold my breath as I wait for her answer.

She hesitates, clearly unsure how to respond. I can understand her fear—her entire life’s been spent in the archives. Not to mention, she’s been pulled into a scheme to leave by someone she trusted before, with her governess, and it cost her so much. Leaving must be a terrifying prospect for her, but she nods in agreement, and I release a sigh of relief.

“Meet me in my room the night I dine with Mazus. Pack a bag, but pack light. Until then, we shouldn’t be seen together.” She only nods. I give her one last squeeze, then return us both to a sitting position. “You shouldn’t stay here tonight. Go back to your rooms and make a point to not be seen in my company for the next few days.”

Genevieve dresses quickly, and with a brief kiss, she departs. I only hope I can get us both out according to plan.

I pass the remaining days pouring through the books Mazus gave me, trying to get every possible detail locked away in my memory in case the books don’t make it out with me. I plan to pack them into a bag, but I also want to be prepared if something goes amiss. I’ve found an air channeler willing to take a significant bribe to aerstep us back to Thayaria. Once the dinner is over, I need to collect Genevieve, then get us safely to the Floating Market. True to her word, Genevieve stays away, and I don’t see her at all, not even in the archives.

When the evening of the dinner arrives, I dress in the scrap of fabric Mazus sent as my gown, this one even skimpier than the first. Like before, I wear fighting leathers underneath and use ivy vines to weave more coverage over my chest and arms. I sheath multiple daggers to my person, both visible and hidden. I spent the afternoon in my room, packing a single bag with my belongings and the books I hope to smuggle out with me.

Genevieve is supposed to meet me in my room and stay here until I return from the dinner with Mazus—she should be here by now. As I pace back and forth across the floor, anxiety courses through me about what might have kept her. She’s never been late before, but she could also just be struggling to sneak away undetected. Did she decide she doesn’t want to come after all? After five more minutes of pacing, I can’t delay any longer and have to leave without our plan fully in place. I leave the door unlocked so she can enter my room when she arrives.Ifshe arrives.

When I approach the doors to Mazus’s private dining room, I’m escorted in by several guards in golden armor. Mazus isn’t here, but servants have already set out food on the table, so I make myself a plate, hoping it irks him when he arrives. I’ve taken my first bite when the Golden King strides in, adorned in cream clothing covered in gold embroidery. I don’t stand at his arrival and a deep sense of satisfaction courses through me when I see how his jaw clenches at the disrespect.

“Nemesia,” he says, splaying his arms wide. “I’m so glad you’ve made yourself so athomehere in my palace.” He sits down and servants rush into the room to fill his goblet with wine and serve him food. “I trust you’ve found the books I had delivered useful?”

“Indeed, I have. Thank you,” I say, then take another bite of food, and I can tell it annoys him. I elect to keep up the strategy of saying very little. Let him show his hand first.

“And what have been your most exciting discoveries?” He can’t drop the subject, a sure sign these books were sent for a specific purpose. I take another bite of food, chewing slowly, then swallow several gulps of wine before I set my fork down and stare at him.

“Why don’t you just tell me what you’re hoping I found, and we can skip the part where we dance around one another,” I say with an edge in my voice. Mazus laughs, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“You remind me of my son. Thorne also has little patience for my schemes. Perhaps that’s why Queen Laurel has grown so close to him. He reminds her of you. Or is it the other way around? Hard to say, when magical bonds are involved.” His eyes swirl with knowing. I keep my expression neutral, not rising to the bait.Let him wonder what conclusions I’ve come to.

“I haven’t had any correspondence with Her Majesty, so I can’t comment on whether she and the Prince have become close. You seem to be better informed than I. Though I’m happy she’s getting to know the emissary. That was the whole point of the arrangement, was it not?” I raise my brow, challenging him to reveal more.

“I’ve received word that the two have beenextremelyclose, as I had hoped.” I want to roll my eyes, but I keep my face stoic.

“Why did you hope for them to grow close?” I ask nonchalantly. He grins, seeing through my facade.

“Now, now, you can’t expect me to answer that truthfully,” he says with a sarcastic sneer.

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