Page 115 of The Witch Queen

“I know how it sounds, but yes,” I reply. “What she said fits with the legend. And not just that. After she fled the palace, Matilda disappeared. She must have died eventually. And now that the Veil has fallen…”

I trail away. Wind howls down the chimney, stirring the flames.

“Thetrue queen,” Ayleth murmurs, staring into the hearth.

“I don’t care who she is,” Jacquetta speaks up. “How do we banish her?”

“Aren’t you two supposed to know?” I ask. “You’rewitches.”

“We haven’t exactly dealt with undead princesses before,” Jacquetta replies archly.

“We’ll figure it out,” Ayleth adds, which does not convince me at all. “But it should be said: We can’t do anything if we’re locked in the dungeons.”

The dungeons? Why would she—but then her meaning registers. They’re worried I’ll give them away. A highly satisfying sense of power rushes through me. Because Icouldturn them in. And it would give me great pleasure to do so. Still…

“I don’t see why you’re so concerned about me,” I tell them. “What’s to stop you from casting a spell to make me forget all this? Or staging some accident like Papa’s?”

“I’m not going to do that.”

Probably because she hasn’t figured out how to get away with it yet. Even so…much as I hate to admit it, Ayleth does have a point. She could have let me die of my illness before I left the palace. Could have used her magic to halt the trials. And shedidsave me tonight.

“I won’t tell anyone your secret,” I agree at last. “But I want to be involved with whatever measures you take against the princess.”

“Absolutely not,” Ayleth protests. “It’s too dangerous. You saw what she can do. And you were nearly killed tonight.”

“I don’t care,” I insist. “The princess wants me. I’m going to be the one to stop her.”

Ayleth pauses. She looks at Jacquetta, who just shrugs.

“Fine,” she relents. “We’ll work together. But I don’t want you attempting anything on your own, do you understand?”

I nod, sealing our tenuous alliance. I’m not a fool. This will all end badly. But for now, there’s no other choice. Because there’s only one thing I am certain of, deep in my bones: The lost princess will return.

And when she does, she’s going to eat my heart.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ayleth

You will burn.

Mother’s warning chases me through the next day, haunting the long hours spent alone in my rooms while Parnell conducts his investigation. At first, I jumped at every knock on my door or the sound of approaching footsteps, certain that Blodwyn had reported me. Margaret would love nothing more than to drag me to the pyre. But the guards don’t come. From what I can glimpse in the mirror, Blodwyn remains in her own chambers, poring over her books. Still, I cannot quell the hum of dread in my veins at knowing that, with one word from the princess, I could lose everything.

This is dangerous, my queen,Shade rasps as we stand together at the mirror, watching the princess in her menagerie.She cannot be trusted.

“I don’t have any choicebutto trust her,” I reason. “She knows too much.”

Which is why we must remove her.

The same thing he’s insisted upon since I explained what happened. Just weeks ago, I might have agreed with him. Even before Blodwyn left the palace, there was part of me that thought it would be better if she died of her illness. And not only because of the threat she posed tomy throne. Our relationship was too much like what I shared with Rhea. Blodwyn needed me in a way I didn’t want to be needed. Reminded me of a version of myself that was too fragile to survive.

“Not yet,” I tell Shade. “If anything happens to Blodwyn, they’ll blame me. And I need you focused on the creature or princess or whatever she is. We have to find her.”

Shade’s shadows move in a way that tells me he’s dissatisfied with my answer. But he doesn’t argue further.

As you wish, my queen,he says, bowing.But take care. The princess may prove a greater threat than you imagine.

With that, he dissolves into the darkness, leaving me spinning in my own thoughts.