Page 131 of The Witch Queen

Jacquetta indicates the mountain border between Riven and Rycinthia. On our side, tendrils of shadows skim across the surface of the map. But on Rycinthia’s, there’s nothing. Even the Dwarvian enchantments fade away to mere ink and parchment.

“I still don’t understand why everything stops there,” Jacquetta says. “Do you know?”

I shake my head. “Shade claims it’s always been this way. Even before the Veil.”

At the mention of my Huntsman, Jacquetta tenses. “Have you heard from him lately?”

I hesitate. Jacquetta hasn’t asked about her mother in a while. “Not about Nerissa.”

Just about the Heirs. Once again, Shade’s plan nips at me. Along with his words:

Do not forget the promises you made to us.

The nearby shadows lengthen, reaching for me.

“You’re certain she didn’t leave Riven?” I ask Jacquetta, distracting myself.

“Yes. In fact…”

“What?”

She tugs on her sleeve. “After what we witnessed at the ball…if that creature found my mother…maybe she really is gone.”

“Wouldn’t you sense Nerissa’s death?”

“I should,” she agrees. “But my power isn’t what it was. I haven’t even cast a decent spell since the forest. I assumed it was the iron poisoning, still lingering and tampering with my abilities. Now, though…”

She trails away, tugging on her sleeve again. And, much as I try to fight it, pity twinges in my chest.

A question wriggles up from the pit of my stomach, one I tell myself not to ask. But it slips out, anyway. “Does it hurt? Losing your gift?”

Surprise flashes in Jacquetta’s blue gaze, then swiftly hardens.

“Yes,” she replies. “It’s agonizing. I can feel it withering. Dying. Like pieces of me are just…decaying. Even in Rycinthia, I felt like I was rotting from the inside out.”

That’s what I wanted, isn’t it? Each heart I added to my crown was a victory. A conquest. Ireveledin the witches’ torment. I wanted them to feel exactly what I did: hollow and useless andnothing.I was so sure that doing so would make me feel larger. In control. But that’s not how I feel in this moment. Quite the opposite, in fact.

The shadows shimmer in the corners of the room.

Another idea begins to take shape in my mind: Shade thinks we should use Jacquetta to lure the Heirs here. Take their magic. But what if there was another way to fight against the creature? If there weremorewitches like me? Weeks ago I never would have expected Jacquetta to join me. I know her feelings about Malum. But shedidhelp Nox. And she claimed that the only reason that she sided with the Heirs is because she doesn’t see an alternative. Maybe she just needs to be reminded that thereisanother choice.

“What if I could change that?” I ask.

Jacquetta arches a skeptical eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Restoring the Veil isn’t the only way to banish the creature,” I go on. “If you bind yourself to Malum, we could be so much stronger. Perhaps even strong enough to defeat her.”

“Ayleth, I don’t think…”

“Malum isn’t what the covens taught you,” I press. “You’ve witnessed that for yourself—with Nox. If you accept it, we won’t need the Heirs. You don’t have to be part of their hierarchy anymore. This could be a different world.”

Ourworld. Could it be possible? I hold my breath, anticipating her answer.

“A different world,” Jacquetta repeats at last. “And what place do I have in it?”

“Whatever place you want.”

“But only if I reject my natural power. My life. My family.”