Page 122 of When the Wicked Sing
Luna shifted in the corner, catching Aurora’s eye. Jocasta’s words bothered her. She knew Luna was scared, could see it in the way she gripped her arms tightly around herself and kept her eyes shut.
“Luna,” Aurora called softly, and her niece opened her eyes. Blatant, heart-wrenching fear stared back at her in the form of bright blue orbs.
She sighed. “Close your eyes, Luna. It’ll all be over quickly.”
Luna’s eyes widened a fraction before she shut them again.
Tightening her grip on the knife, Aurora moved with purpose to the fidgeting cursed siren.
The look in her gaze must’ve scared Jocasta, for she shouted, “Wait!”
Aurora dug the tip of her blade into Jocasta’s chest, ready to plunge it all the way through, but hesitated just long enough for her captive to shriek, “They’re in the throne room!”
Black blood leaked from the wound, and she gave Jocasta a vicious smile. “Thank you,” she said, before plunging the blade deep into her chest.
With a gurgle, Jocasta slumped forward. Having heard what happened, Luna rose from her curled position.
“You killed her! You told her you would let her live if she told you where they were!” Luna shouted at Aurora, her face screwed up and flushed.
Gripping her shoulders, Aurora shook Luna. “Stop! We are at war, Luna! Don’t you see that? I don’t make it a habit totorture anyone! It is what I have to do to keep us alive, and right now, I have to save our family and keep you safe. That’s myonlypriority!”
“You didn’t have to kill her. She was a sister!” she cried.
Aurora let her arms drop, and her brows furrowed. “None of the cursed are our sisters anymore, Luna. The moment they turned against us was the moment they deserved to get a blade through the heart. Your true sisters are out there somewhere, and it is up to us to save them. Are you going to help me?”
Luna sniffed and seemed to take a moment to collect herself. As she wiped away the salt collecting in her eyes and turned from a lifeless Jocasta, she met Aurora’s gaze with a certain disdain that sent a chill over her body.
“Fine. But every life has meaning and purpose. No more killing.”
Aurora recognized the words Astra used to say. She put out her hand, palm facing up, and nodded. “I will do my best.”
Accepting the answer, Luna placed her palm on Aurora’s, and together, they left the foul room.
Chapter 67
Thescentofwarmhoney, herbs, and dust woke Mariana.
Blinking back her bleary gaze, she realized she was inside Celeste’s cabin. The familiar, cozy scent conflicted with the instant, twinging pain in her chest.
Lifting her head with a groan, she sat up in the bed and squinted through the darkness.
“What is this place?” the witch asked from the kitchen area, staring at the dried herbs hanging along the wall.
“What …” Mariana started, her mind clouded. “How did we get here?”
With an amused smile, the witch inspected the cabin. “You had it in your mind.”
Shaking her head, Mariana swung her legs down to the floor. “Wait … my mind?”
“Yes,” the witch said casually. “The amulet has a plethora of power. When you were unconscious, I could hear your mind calling out. When I saw this cabin in your mind, I brought you here. I wanted to understand what tethered you to this … place.” Her fingers brushed along a dusty shelf, and she frowned in distaste. “And some mortal that doesn’t seem to be here.”
“Celeste,” Mariana said softly, her throat tightening.
The witch sat down in Celeste’s chair, the one she’d been sitting in the last time Mariana saw her … before …
“Strange that you would cling to something so beneath you, Mariana.” The witch met her turbulent gaze. “Who was she?”
“Don’t you dare speak about her like that. She was more of a mother to me than anyone.” Her voice broke slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. “You—You killed her!”
