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My mother narrows her eyes and shoots an icy look at Hilde.
Hilde ignores her, looking at me. “It is said to be kept in an abandoned Valkyrie fort near Trollveggen. We have an old map that shows its location.”
“No one even knows if that building still stands,” my mother scoffs. “Not to mention whether the dagger is still there.”
“It’s certainly worth a try,” I say, my voice trembling, “If it can stop the Night Guild.”
A murmur of agreement runs around the room.
My mother shakes her head. “The dagger is an incredibly powerful magical artifact. And there’s no telling what other artifacts may be hidden there. We cannot risk providing you the location if you insist on keeping the company of a shifter.”
Behind me, I feel another roil of magic come off of Erik.
“But I suppose if you agree to go alone, I can give you the map.” My mother shrugs. “The shifter must stay here, under magical lockdown.”
“Not a chance,” Erik growls. “Have you not heard a thing your daughter has said? She’s being hunted by the most dangerous supernatural criminal group in the world. My purpose is to protect her. Are you trying to send her to her death?”
“Of course not.” My mother crosses her arms over her chest. “But I cannot take the risk of these magical weapons falling into the wrong hands.”
“You’re making it sound like you’re giving me a choice,” I snap, “But you’re not. Erik has done more in the last twenty-four hours to protect me and Lilli than you’ve done her whole life.”
“I’m sorry you see it that way,” she says, donning her mask of regret again. “But a leader must sometimes make difficult choices for the good of the coven. For the good of all witches.”
Within the storm of my emotions, all the anger and sorrow and longing for the community I once had, something emerges. A realization that burns brighter than a shooting star.
“Actually, there’s a third option,” I say. My voice starts soft, but grows in power as I speak. “There exists within coven law the right to challenge the existing High Priestess, the Right of Ius Provocatio.”
A hush falls over the room, and my mother’s gaze burns into me with the intensity of a laser.
“I invoke the Right of Ius Provocatio now. I challenge you, Mona Olsen, for the position of High Priestess of the Norwegian covens.”
