“Centaurs,” I answered. “But don’t you worry, we’re great friends now.” I gave her a wink.
“The soil in the Sylis Forest is similar to what is beneath our feet where we stand—it is ancient and all knowing. The locations remain unaltered by the hands of time and change, retaining their likeness to the era of when the gods traversed their trees.”
“Why would her blood matter?” Zaela asked.
“She is heir to the realm, foolish mortal. The Valderre bloodline has always been at the forefront of ruling Velyra, and there it shall always remain. That is, if the realm has anything to do with it,” Azenna answered. “That was by Mother Goddess Terra’s doing.”
“And if the king was murdered in cold blood, and the current malevolent queen was working to crown a false heir, what would the realm do about it?”
“I suppose nothing if an act of violence to the true heir was not occurring in the ancient wood.”
“That makes little sense,” I interrupted. “I was attacked by a troll months prior to my run in with the centaurs. The forest did nothing to protect me then.”
Azenna lifted a single brow. “Exactly how often do you frolic through enchanted woodlands, Elianna?” When I rolled my eyes, she let out a vicious cackle. “Well, I suppose your father was still breathing when that occurred, for the realm had a proper ruler.”
I swallowed as I attempted to process the information she assumed, shocked that she guessed so easily. My eyes lifted to meet her stare once more. “Well then, Heir of the Realm to High Witch, I have come here to bargain for your cooperation.”
A grin crept over my face as she watched me intently.
Chapter thirty-two
Elianna
“What could a thronelessqueen possibly offer a coven of all-powerful witches?” Azenna spat with a wicked cackle that her sisters echoed behind her.
I took a swaggering step forward. “I am willing to prepare my kingdom and vouch for your acts by allowing you and your kind to roam the realm freely among humans and fae, as you did centuries ago. All creatures will be treated fairly in my reign and without judgement just for existing. There will no longer be a need to hide. However, you will all be expected to abide by Velyran law.”
After a moment of uncomfortable silence, an eruption of belly laughter exploded from them all.
“Thatwas what you planned to barter?!” Veli hissed in embarrassment at my side.
“Is that not what they want?! They’ve been in hiding!”
“They already roam the realm freely, Elianna! Just not in plain sight!”
“We’re so fucked,” Zaela huffed out with a nervous laugh.
“Quiet over there!” I snapped at her, then turned to check on Avery, who was quietly observing the witches before us.
As the coven’s laughter ceased, my attention turned back to them as they began to leisurely disperse about the space, breaking the half circle they had remained in. The ones that appeared as twins gathered beneath an oak tree, leaning against its trunk, while the crone moved to sit upon boulders that were spread out through the ruins.
“That is what you offer to barter for our services to aid your war? Elianna, I am insulted.” Azenna laughed. “Surely you do not believe we have remained hidden in The Elora Isles all this time…the traitor you keep at your side should have been proof enough of that.”
“Why is she a traitor?” I demanded. Veli stiffened at my question.
“Ah, you do not know what she took?” Azenna taunted.
“She stole from the entirety of the coven. Against the wishes of the gods,” the crone called.
My eyes shifted to her, and I blinked as recognition took over me.
“You.” I took a step toward her while pointing in her direction. “I have seen you before. You’re the crone from the village.”
“Hello,one who was promised…” she hissed with a malicious grin.
“That is what you spoke of when I saw you that day.” I took another step in her direction as anger flooded me. “Begging on the streets of a village of mortals. Eyeing them. Watching them. Tell me,crone, what were your plans for the villagers if I hadn’t scared you off that day?”
“Scared me off? Foolish girl, I simply left to speak to my sisters regarding the message from the gods. And as for yourprecious mortals…well, they were lucky that day.” I sucked in a breath as one hand balled into a fist at my side while the other moved for the hilt of my dagger. “I returned some weeks later to find it had been reduced to ash. Pity.”
