“Veli,” I guessed.
“Indeed, and while Elianna is the rightful heir and shall be recognized by the realm as such, she wishes to rid our world of the evil that lurks in its shadows.” She paused for a moment while our eyes bore into each other. “Iam the evil that lurks in those shadows, Highness.”
“And you believe I don't want to protect our realm from harmful creatures?” I questioned.
“I have come to barter with you,” she admitted. “I will aid you and your victory in this war, and in turn, I wish to be recognized as Queen of Sylis and claim all the land in the enchanted forest and beyond.”
I barked out a laugh. “You think I would barter away a third of my continent? Although we have just met, you did not strike me as a foolish female.”
The witch vanished before my eyes and appeared next to me in an instant, materializing from shadows she conjured in seconds.
A moment later, both Kellan and the guards at the doors reached for their swords, but as they went to run toward us, time ceased, halting them mid-sprint.
She then put her lips to the tip of my ear, freezing me where I stood. “We shall work together and against anyone who threatens our rule. You will remain Queen of Velyra. I simply wish to have free rein over the ancient wood and the lands beyond—where the humans reside. My sisters are tired of hiding in the shadows of your world, Idina.”
It was the first time she stated my name, and it sent a spark of fury through me, as if her speaking it gave her leverage.
“You wish to harm those who enter the forest?” I questioned.
She barked a laugh as she took a step back from me. “The forest will do that itself, Highness…but if we are to start an alliance, honesty would be a good place to begin. So, to answer your question, I may partake in a bit of fun.”
My eyes roamed over her slowly. “I suppose those who matter have been made aware of the threats that linger between those trees.”
“Aye,” she whispered as she took another step back, but her ruby eyes remained on me. A snap of her taloned fingers had the guards dropping to the floor as she released her hold on them.
Since Callius left the realm, all I craved was power—power that was untainted and feared. The possibility that these witches could provide exactly that was too enticing to ignore.
“You have proven that you can vanish and appear and move objects with a wave of your hand.” I gestured to Adler, who let out an annoyed huff. “Prove to me you have further magic to offer, and you may have yourself a bargain.”
“Your Majesty?!” Kellan called, but I instantly silenced him as he stared up at me, gawking.
My gaze shot back to the High Witch. “Well?”
A venomous, hushed giggle sounded, as if it were coming from all directions as she disappeared into her shadows once more and appeared where she originally stood.
“I thought you would say that,” she said, her figure flickering and transforming into wisps of darkness. Her eyes moved to the crone, who had remained silent.
The crone reached into the fold of her floor-length cloak, her bony, aged fingers grasping an object of shimmering onyx that gleamed amethyst in the candlelight.
“Is this supposed to mean something to me?” I demanded.
Azenna observed me for a moment. “Do you know what your nemesis holds in her possession? What she plans to lead her victory with? For it is not just an army of mortals.”
My teeth clenched as I watched her from where she stood at the edge of the dais. “My wyvern,” I admitted. “Did you destroy it? Is that all that remains of the beast?” I pointed to the scale in the crone's hand.
“Hardly. We would never seek to destroy a creature as magnificent and destructive as a wyvern. We worked to steal the beast from her but were counterattacked in our siege,” she growled. “However, not all was lost during our attempt.”
The High Witch took the scale from the crone and approached me once more, slowly making her way up the steps to where I stood before my throne. She handed it to me, the surface of it smooth beneath the touch of my fingers but solid as polished stone.
“What would you have me do with a wyvern’s scale,witch?” I hissed at her.
A smile formed leisurely across her face as her eyes bore into me. “It is not whatyoucan do with it, my queen, but whatIcan.”
My eyes flared without permission in response, but the rest of my body remained perfectly composed.
“Tell me, Queen Idina, do you have an unused keep in your fortress?”
My stare darted to Adler—his eyes were fixed on us with unwavering intensity, his initial wariness replaced by an evident curiosity.
