Page 181 of The Witch Queen

I wave her off. “He’s right. And I’m sorry. I didn’t intend for any of this to happen.”

“Aye. And I didn’t intend for my house to be filled with witches andbeasts.”

He jerks his chin to where Nox is curled by the fire. Jacquetta had done her best to heal him again—along with the stag, who is currently resting outside. Hopefully, they’ll both recover quickly. And I’m keenly aware that this is the second time since losing command of Malum that Nox has defended me. I assumed that my shadows abandoned me entirely, as Shade did. Why hasn’t Nox? The Nevenwolf fixes me with his crimson eye, and I would give anything to know what he’s thinking.

“I don’t understand,” Joan says. “How did your mother manage to disguise herself as the lost princess?”

“Her specialty was glamour magic,” I explain, though I’m still struggling to understand it all as well. “It’s what she used at Stonehaven, to hide us as Sisters of the Order. She must have cast a similar spell for this.”

Mother always insisted that her methods at Stonehaven had been necessary for our survival. The same rationale I’d used to justify seizing the throne and hunting down the covens. It’s almost funny. No matter how much I’ve tried to fight it, I’ve turned out just like Mother.

A crow’s call resonates through the cottage.

“But such a spell should be impossible,” Jacquetta presses. “Where did Cassandra get that kind of power?”

The same question I’ve asked myself since Mother appeared. When we believed the creature was the lost princess, we assumed she was using hearts to anchor herself. That her abilities were some corrupted form of magic belonging to the dead. Now…

“She said she harnessed a new power, but she wouldn’t explain further,” I reply. “And don’t forget that she has the shadows now. And Shade.”

My former Huntsman’s treachery digs between my ribs. I knew Shade could be vicious. He spent the last three years tracking witches and stealing their hearts. But I thought he had a heart of his own. Hisbrutality was the result of the years he endured behind the Veil. That he cared about me. Now I know the truth. Shade cared solely for vengeance. His loyalty to me stretched only as far as I could servehispurposes.

“And Blodwyn?” Joan asks. “What could your mother want with her?”

Another mystery. Because Mother certainly isn’t the lost princess seeking vengeance. So whywouldshe want Blodwyn? Why go to the trouble of poisoning her and taking her away?

“I have no idea,” I admit, gesturing to the shard of the mirror. “I just hope Margaret can find her. And soon.”

“Aye, and then what?” Roland asks. “Looks to me like we have the five of us and a fussy duchess trapped in a piece of glass against…whatever your mother has become.”

Nox huffs and lifts his head, as if to remind us not to forget him. As much as I appreciate the Nevenwolf’s support, Roland is right. We cannot hope to defeat Mother on our own.

“What about the Dwarves?” I ask. “Might they help?”

“Not likely,” Roland replies, shifting in his chair. “Our meeting…well, they…”

“They removed him,” Tilda finishes for him. Roland flushes. “As Head of the Guilds.”

“Removed?” I repeat. “But they can’t. I’m the one who appointed you.”

“Aye, and they were none too pleased to learn that they’ve been serving under awitchall this time,” he says gruffly. “Decided I was too involved to be trusted. Then again, I suppose I was just as deceived as they were. MistressMalum.”

Yet another lie that’s caught up with me. I couldn’t tell Roland what happened today without explaining everything else. Shame scalds the ridges of my ears.

They see right through you,that voice sneers.

“Roland, I—”

“Don’t waste your time,” he says. “Nothing any of us can do about it now.”

Tilda places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. I swallow back the guilt in my throat.

“I’ve found her!” Margaret’s voice brings our attention back to the glass.

I sit up straighter. “Where?”

“Some rotted-out building in the middle of nowhere,” she replies. “This realm reallyisgoing to ruin, you know. You should do something about it.”

“Helpful, this one,” Roland grouses.