Page 117 of The Witch Queen

“Absolutely not.”

He only sighs. “Knew you’d say that. Didn’t really expect you to listen to me, but I had to try.”

Fionn whispers with Allyssia, but he finishes and comes to our side. “She’ll stay here for now,” he says, nodding to the woman. “I’m coming with you.” His tone leaves no room for argument, so I nod.

“Get Nemesia, and meet us in the throne room,” I order Carex. If Mazus wants a fight, I need every powerful ally I have at my side, even ones I’m still not sure about. Taking a deep breath, I look into Thorne’s green eyes once more, letting them give me strength, before willing the aether to take us to the male we both hate.

When we arrive, Mazus sits on my throne, out of place in the dark and moody room in his bright gold attire. He smiles as we step cautiously into the room, eyes matching my mate’s, and it makes me want to hurl. Admon stands beside him, and my heart sinks.The one you least expect. The male who has watched over me like a father for the last three hundred years has betrayed me. It’s the only explanation for why he would be standing here, why he would have released Carex from his rooms and told him to find me.

“Welcome, Laurel,” Mazus says with mock cordiality. He nods to Thorne. “Son.”

“What areyoudoing here?” Thorne says with a lazy drawl, crossing his arms and feigning nonchalance. His ability to look unruffled right now is impressive.

“I thought I’d pay you two a visit, congratulate you on discovering a mating bond,” Mazus says, and I stiffen. I’d barely had a moment to process the news Nemesia had brought about Mazus’s knowledge of our mating bond. And now he’s here, aether-knows for what purpose.

“Consider us congratulated and honored by yourmagnificentpresence,” Thorne says with a smirk and an obnoxious and exaggerated bow. “We’re absolutely beyond honored by your presence.” He says the last words sarcastically. It’s been months since I’ve seen this side of Thorne, the smirking and lazy prince, who makes his way through every interaction with flippant and brazen remarks, as if he hasn’t a care in the world and fears nothing. Mazus only bares his teeth.

“I wouldn’t be so cavalier, son. You haven’t heard what my mating present is yet.” I keep my features schooled in a neutral expression, but inside I’m screaming, completely rattled by this whole interaction.

“You know what,” Thorne says, tapping his chin and looking around the room like he’s trying to find something. “I think we’re out of room in the palace for even a single additional gift.” My lips quirk at Thorne’s comments, and it bolsters my own haughty resolve.

Mimicking Thorne’s irreverence, I add, “I think you may be right. Thanks for the greeting and gift, but we’re all set.”

“What happy news, then, since I intend totakeas my gift,” Mazus says, eyes feral with delight. Without warning, Thorne is ripped from my side, appearing next to his father and bound in slimy black ropes that look suspiciously like the mass that had surrounded Krantz.

“Thorne!” I cry out, then turn my gaze back to Mazus. He only smirks, and the expression is so like Thorne it makes me nauseous. With a blood-curdling shriek, I hurl as much aether as I can at the ropes like I had with Krantz, but this time the black mass doesn’t dissipate. If anything, it squeezes Thorne tighter. Panic briefly flashes across his eyes before he gains control over his features again, looking bored and uninterested in what’s taking place. For added effect, he even picks at his fingernails, while I completely fall apart inside.

I close my eyes to evaluate the aether around Mazus, and my suspicions are confirmed when I find a web of pulsing onyx surrounding him, at least ten times the size of what Krantz had accumulated and somehow darker and inkier. It makes me lightheaded to look at, and I’m forced to open my eyes again. I try sending small streams of light to probe the ropes holding Thorne, looking for any weakness, but it does nothing.

Mazus makes a tsking noise.

“Unfortunately for you, Laurel, the only magic that might help you break those bindings is entirely unknown to you. What a shame you and Thorne never explored the true power of the mating bond,” Mazus simpers.

“What do you mean?” I hiss.

“Do you want to tell her Admon, or should I?” Mazus asks the old male. Admon’s eyes meet mine, regret and something else I can’t place clearly written across his expression, but I only bare my teeth.

“How could you?” I snarl, and he gives me a pitying and regretful look that only angers me further.

“It was the only way,” Admon says with the same gentleness he’s always shown, though his eyes are sad and resigned. My ears ring with fury and my vision swims. Howcouldhe, after everything we’ve been through, everything he’s seen me endure?

“Yes, yes, it’s the only path, you’ve consulted the stars. No one cares, Admon. Tell her what you know about mating bonds. What youfailedto tell her before,” Mazus hisses, though it comes out gleeful. Admon’s eyes continue to express deep regret, but I don’t care.He will pay for this.I hurl a dagger of light toward Admon, but Mazus disintegrates it before it reaches him, a power he shouldn’t have. “Tell her,” Mazus commands with the aether-voice, the words reverberating through the room.

Somehow, Admon remains standing while everyone else in the room but me and Thorne drop to their knees. When he speaks, his words quiet and scholarly, it’s like we’re back on the moors and he’s explaining a concept about the aether to me.

“When mates bond, they typically influence one another’s power in some way. Sometimes they each gain each other’s conduit affinities, sometimes they just both grow stronger. But there arecertainmating bonds that are part of the very fabric of our world, blessed by the aether or by some long-lost gods. When those bonds form, one mate accesses a deeper well of power than before, while the other mate acts as an anchor to protect them from losing their mind. It’s a magical insanity, of sorts—it’s complicated.” Finally, Admon looks flustered, like he doesn’t know how to explain. But his words horrify me. What they imply… Finally, with a swallow, Admon continues. “Their blood—the mates’ blood—can create frighteningly powerful spells.” Admon finishes his speech tentatively, as if he’s not sure he got it right. He looks to Mazus, who only cackles.

The shimmering blood. Memory slams into me as I recall the way Thorne’s blood had shimmered after he’d been injured, while I was healing him. My mind is reeling, and there’s a lot to process right now. Pieces are clicking together even while new questions form. Mazus breaks me out of my spiraling with his grating tenor.

“You see, Laurel, by forcing you and Thorne together, I’ve unlocked new facets of power in you both. Your power will slowly drive you insane without your mate by your side, while Thorne’s blood… Well, let’s just say it will be extremely useful to me.” My eyes meet Thorne’s and all traces of the Shining Prince are gone now, the fear and horror displayed transparently on his face. He tries to scream something to me, but Mazus wraps more shadowy ropes around his mouth. I run toward him, determined to claw him out of those ropes if I must, but the strongest barrier of air I’ve ever experienced throws me back at least ten feet. Fionn’s at my side instantly, offering his hand to help me up. He tries launching any piece of metal he can find in the room at Mazus and the barrier between us and Thorne, but they disintegrate while airborne.

“Like that little trick? Does it seem familiar? Krantz told meallabout it in the letters he smuggled out with the thayar shipments,” Mazus sneers. Suddenly, Krantz sits on the throne where Mazus previously was. My eyes search the room for the Velmaran King, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Krantz laughs, an eerie and maniacal sound. “Do I look familiar? I told Hawthorne Thayaria wasn’t as inaccessible as he thought. I’ve been in and out of your kingdom countless times,” Krantz says.

“I don’t—I don’t understand,” I murmur. The eerie laugh from Krantz returns, before he somehow shifts his body back into Mazus, so quickly I almost miss it. I swear his eyes become yellow slits for a brief moment, but I’m too confused to process the information.

“I can shape shift, Laurel. It’s not that difficult to figure out. But then again, you’ve never been very bright, have you?” Mazus sneers.

“But, Krantz… I killed him,” I murmur.

---