Page 43 of The Rebel Witch

He was accusing me of rewriting history? “The Queen of the Seelie Fae didn’t fight at all.”

Lee’s head shook. “I wasn’t talking about her. I was talking about my witch grandmother.”

It took me a moment to connect the dots. “Christine? She worked for the master for years.”

“She was a spy.” There was an arrogant smirk on his face I longed to wipe off. “Christine Wharton gave us everything she could. She never betrayed us. She seemed like a bit of fluff my grandfather loved, and when her world fell apart, she found the strength to become something incredible.”

Christine? She was a minor witch. I’d been surprised she had any power at all, but she’d worked her way into a middle position in the coven.

I’d been heartbroken to see her there, cheering with the others. And then I’d thought if she did it, why shouldn’t I? I’d seen Christine as practical. Her husband, Harry, had been killed while trying to attack Myrddin, but she seemed to take that with equanimity. I’d admired her calm acceptance of the situation.

She’d been fighting us all along?

“She gave her life for me and my mom that day,” Lee said quietly.

I had a bone to pick with this kid. “The day Alexander apparently stole the Dark Dagger? Yes, I’ve heard that tale. You trying to create a myth around your transition? That sounds like your Fae father at work.”

If there was one thing Dev Quinn knew how to do it was build an excellent lore. Every king needed a story, and Dev could weave one that had his followers willing to die for their king. It appeared he meant to do the same thing for his son.

Lee pulled his shirt over his head. Before Lee had become a vampire he’d been covered in scars from years and years of battle. He’d become a soldier at the ripe age of eleven, taught by Sasha and Trent and taken across the planes to learn how to wage war. He’d lost an eye to a group of Fae who’d come for his twin. When I’d seen him for the first time after years, I’d…well, I’d felt nothing more than pity because if he hadn’t fought, he’d have been fine.

“Is this a myth my father created?”

I stared at the dark scar on his chest. It was right above his heart. I knew that mark and what it meant. Only a few weapons in all the planes could damage a vampire in a way he couldn’t heal. “Alexander Sharpe had the Dark Dagger? How did he steal it from Myrddin’s vault?”

“He didn’t, Liv.” Lee pulled his shirt back over his head and gave me an exasperated look. “He didn’t steal anything. The dagger was placed in his hand because Myrddin wanted me dead. Had my mother not gotten me behind Sarah’s wards, Alexander would have used it on me when I turned, and that would have ended my threat to your master. He would have taken my mother into custody and used her to prime the Sword of Light, and then it’s game over for the Earth plane.”

We were back to that again. “I don’t know how Alexander got the dagger. Do you still have it?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know? Wouldn’t it be an excellent weapon down here on the Hell plane?” Lee stalked close to me, looming over me. “I know it will kill you, though you should understand that I don’t need a weapon made from the Morningstar’s bones to get rid of you. I can do that with my own two hands.”

“I’d love to see you try.”

He stared at me, and I saw a hint of fangs when he spoke. “If you do anything to harm my sister or Dean or anyone I care about, your wish will be granted. I might be here to do a job, but I can handle a side project. I’m good at it.”

“And then Dean won’t get what he needs.” I didn’t mention that Evan wouldn’t get what she wanted either, but I didn’t need for him to know about my connection to his sister.

“Which is why you’re still alive,” he said and stepped back. He moved to the chair someone had placed by Dean’s bedside. “I’ll stay here with him tonight. You can go. Just know I’ll be watching you.”

Arrogant prick. But I could do nothing to him, and my head ached worse than it had before. I was starting to question things that had been firm reality for me only days ago. The ground beneath me was starting to shake, and I didn’t like it one bit. I turned to leave. I would go back to my room and try to find a way to barricade the door so Casey couldn’t come in and fuck me up some more.

“And Liv? What do you think Myrddin would do if he ever found out that it was you who saved Sarah, Felix, and Mia that day?”

My blood threatened to turn to ice in my veins. I turned, not able to keep the shock off my face. “What are you talking about?”

The smirk was back. The “I know something you don’t know” smirk. “I’m talking about what happened the day Sarah went missing. The day your master announced that my companion would make him a lovely bride.”

The smirk had transformed to a deadly look as he completed the sentence.

It was my deepest secret, and my enemy knew. “How do you know that?”

“It doesn’t matter how I know. Only that I’m sure you were the one who used thesphaeramotusto transport Myrddin away, thereby giving Sarah and Felix time to get out. And time to activate the wards she’d placed on her apartment long before. They held for years, and those wards are the only reason Myrddin didn’t get to use that dagger on me a second time. We were safe behind those walls, and you are the reason for that. I wonder what he would think. Maybe I’ll tell him one day. Maybe I won’t. I suppose that depends on how you treat the people I care about. Good night, Liv.”

He might not call himself a prince, but he had the royal dismissal down to a science. He turned his attention back to Dean and I walked away.

But I knew what I would do.

I was going to heal Dean Emrys, and then I would find a way to deliver him straight to his father.

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