Page 105 of The Witch Queen

“Then how—” he starts.

“I think,” I interrupt. “I think it’s some kind of reaction to your power. Itfeelslike you, but I can also tell you aren’t using your magic. It’s unlike any power I’ve ever encountered.” He surveys the room with renewed interest, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before responding.

“This place has always reminded me of Eastern Velmara, where the light channelers come from. What if…” He trails off, lost in thought.

“What if what?”

“What if this place was meant to be some kind of replica? Of Eastern Velmara? I think I knew I was connected to this greenhouse in some way. It’s why I started experimenting on the plants.” The implications of his theory are too massive for me to consider right now, only minutes away from lust-addled fog.

“We need to speak with Admon.” Thorne nods his agreement. I look around the greenhouse one last time, marveling at the otherworldly feel it has to it, before taking Thorne’s arm and aerstepping us to Admon’s chambers.

We knock on Admon’s door, but there’s no answer, which is unsurprising, since it’s the middle of the day and Admon is a busy man as the now permanent Chair of the Council of Advisors. Just as I’m about to aerstep us back to my rooms, Admon appears at the end of the hallway, slowly walking toward us.

“Your Majesty,” he says with a bow when he reaches us. “I did not expect you. Did I forget a meeting we had scheduled?”

“No, no,” I say to the old fae, feeling guilty for appearing without notice at his door. “Thorne and I just wanted to discuss something with you. But we can come back at another time. Give you more notice.”

“As it happens, I have something I’d like to discuss with you as well. So the timing is fortuitous.” He smiles, then leads us into his sitting room. I heat water in his teakettle, then make myself and Admon a cup of tea before settling down into a leather sofa by Thorne. I give him a wink at the frown I see forming on his expression and instantly know it’s because I did not let him make the tea for me.

“Admon,” I say once he’s also settled, “what did you want to discuss?”

“I’ve just come from visiting Nemesia.” I tense. I hadn’t explicitly forbidden anyone from visiting her, but I didn’t expect that she would have visitors. “I confess my own curiosity about what she may have learned from the Velmaran archives drove me to her. I’ve visited a few times. I hope I did not misstep. I assure you, Your Majesty, my intentions were scholarly only.” Thorne rubs circles on my thigh, and I relax.

“It’s okay.” I trust his intentions implicitly. “It’s good that you’re attempting to extract information from her. Though we should consider anything she tells us carefully, as she could be lying.” I’m not ready to voice my doubts about Nemesia aloud to anyone but Thorne, even Admon.

Admon looks thoughtful. “That is, of course, a possibility. But I’ve spoken with Nemesia at length about her time in Velmara, her escape, and what she uncovered.”

“Escape?” I ask, fear for my friend cutting through all the layers of emotional detachment I’m trying to maintain.

“Indeed,” Admon continues. “Nemesia discovered a great secret, and King Mazus killed someone she’d grown close to before attempting to capture Nemesia. Thankfully, the librarian who was killed was a powerful air channeler, and she aerstepped Nemesia to the Echosa port just before she died. I believe Nemesia feels immense grief over the loss of the librarian.” My mind is racing and my stomach churns with too many emotions for me to unpack right now.

“What was the secret?” It’s all I can get out amid the flurry of feelings roiling through me.

“She says she won’t tell anyone but you. Even now, Nemesia demonstrates her stalwart fealty to you and to Thayaria. I must say, I struggle to believe Nemesia betrayed us,” Admon says gently. “She’s always been so loyal to you, and the knowledge she revealed to me matches the books she brought with her. She insists the letter you discovered was meant for you.” I crumple in on myself, those words from Admon the final nudge I need to change my approach with Nemesia.

“Admon,” I sigh out, rubbing my hands over my face in exhaustion. “I’m going to have Nemesia moved to rooms on the lower level of the place, right above the prison. The iron below will still somewhat affect her, and I’ll station guards, but…” I remember Thorne’s words, his encouragement to own my decisions. “I want her moved today.” My words are resolute.

“I think that’s a wise decision, Your Majesty,” Admon counsels with a smile, and my shoulders rise in pride at his praise. Thorne nudges my arm to silently communicateI told you so.

“You do? Why?” I ask.

“Beyond my hesitation to believe she’s betrayed you, Nemesia is a quicker translator than me. If we have any hope of finishing the translation of the Old Fae book she brought with her, we need her working on it. I truly believe there are critical answers in it. If you still doubt her, I can spot check her work to ensure it’s a truthful interpretation of the text.”

I nod. “Coordinate her move. And inform me if there are any rumblings on the Council about the decision.” My voice reminds me of my mother, and I smile inwardly.

Admon nods. “Now, what is it that led you and Prince Hawthorne here today?”

I’d forgotten that Thorne and I had our own set of questions for Admon, so wrapped up in my thoughts of Nemesia. I struggle with where to begin, looking to Thorne for support. He jumps right in.

“The greenhouse reminded me of Eastern Velmara, though the plants are not the same,” he starts. “I’ve been experimenting with exposing the plants to my light magic, and they’ve had an incredible response. New blooms, larger leaves, growing taller and wider.”

“By new blooms, he means plants I’ve never seen flower have suddenly sprouted breath-taking blossoms,” I add, and he grins. Admon only continues to look on with interest.

“I was showing Laurel, and we… uh… I…” he trails off, remembering whatexactlyled to our discovery.

“He showed me the progress he’s been making on combining light and water channeling. He lit up the greenhouse in a misty glow,” I finish for him. Admon has a gleam in his eye that tells me he knows exactly what we were doing, and I’m completely mortified, but continue anyway. “The plants themselves started glowing and continued to do so even after Thorne stopped channeling. Even the light and mist remained. And the magic… it felt like him.” Admon’s expression looks far away, like he’s remembering something from a long time ago. He shakes whatever it is from his mind and smiles inquisitively.

“That is curious indeed. I’ll stop by the greenhouse today and take a look. I suspect the answers we need are in the books Nemesia brought with her.”

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