Although the witches in the court sneered at us, they moved away and let us pass. It was as though they already knew we were doomed. I could almost feel a noose around my neck.
By the time we’d reached the end of the chamber, my heart thundered in my ears and my legs were heavy as stone. Fawkes stopped in front of a dais and shielded us as well as he could with his large body. I swallowed hard, tried to steady my nerves, and waited.
The witch king lounged on a patchwork leather throne. He was huge, even larger than Fawkes. He was clad in a shimmering black coat that was embroidered with a red hand and had other symbols on his collar and sleeves. He wore an iron crown with sharp points that looked almost like blades, and his white hair draped over his shoulders and down to his waist. His face was strong and hard, with sharp cheekbones and a thin mouth. And like Fawkes, his face was ageless. He looked to be in his late forties, but I knew he must have been centuries old. His shadowed eyes were black, and he wore a large gray jewel in a pendant that hung from his neck on a thick iron chain.
A woman with bright red hair piled high on top of her head like a beehive sat next to him. She wore a small crown and was obviously the witch queen. While her face was plain, her body was voluptuous. She wore a revealing dress of exquisite black silk with red hands embroidered on it. It crisscrossed at the front and left her midriff exposed. Her large breasts nearly spilled out from the top. She appeared to be bored and looked lazily at her fingernails.
Standing next to her was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. I hadn’t thought I’d ever see a man more handsome than Landon, but here he was.
Although he had no crown, I knew he was the witch prince, Aurion. He was pale like snow, and yet beautiful and strong as though he had been sculpted by the Goddess herself. With sharp, elegant features, he looked to be in his mid-twenties, but then I could never know for sure. His glimmering silver hair was pulled back into a long braid, and I was a little envious because my hair was such a mess. Unlike his parents, he wore a simple tailored gray coat without any embellishments that I could see. But his face was too perfect, too smooth, and it felt wrong in some way.
I wasn’t sure how long I stared at him, but when his silver eyes met mine, he frowned. I was glad my cowl hid the flush on my face.
Another man was standing behind the witch king. He had spiked yellow hair and yellow eyes and wore the same clan colors as his king. But he was different from the others because a hand was branded on his forehead and a large jeweled pendant hung from his thick neck.
On a platform below the king stood a group of five white-haired witches. They were bent with age and as old as dirt. They all wore clan colors, and I knew from Fawkes’ description that I was staring at the Coven Council. I hoped they would hear me out.
I looked at the throne more carefully, and a shiver of recognition flew up my spine. It wasn’t regular animal leather that covered the throne. It was human. There was no mistaking it. It had the same texture as the human hides I had seen in the hall. The throne was made of human skin. I squeezed my eyes shut so my tears wouldn’t show. Whatever fear I felt before was replaced by fury.
My fingers twitched, aching for my sword. I wanted to slice the witch king’s throat and watch him bleed over his goddamn throne. Bastard.
The next thing I knew, I had leaned forward and had moved my hand to my sword. Fawkes’ hand shot out and gripped my arm with such force that I had to stifle a scream.
His eyes were wide with the knowledge of what I was about to do.
“The chair, it’s made of—” I said through gritted teeth.
But before I could bring myself to say it, Fawkes whispered, “Forget the chair and follow my lead if you want to live. Let me do the talking first.”
Even if the witch king was a murderous prick, I still needed his help.
I released a breath and controlled my temper. The witch king shifted with interest as he witnessed our exchange. His smile was full of contempt, but I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes when he looked at Fawkes. They knew each other. How many more secrets was Fawkes keeping from me?
The witch king looked at my men, and his eyes widened. In a flurry of black silk and white hair, he jumped to his feet. His pale skin turned an ugly shade of red.
“You dare bring humans in my court!”
His voice thundered inside the chamber. It was deep, rich, and commanding.
“You would sully my court with the presence of these lower creatures! These animals! These humans!”
The hair on the back of my neck rose. The court erupted with noise, mostly hisses and scoffs, although a few of the witches watched in silence. After a few moments the chamber stilled, until all I heard was the beating of my heart and the rapid breaths from the men behind me. The pendant on his neck glowed with yellow power.
“My position on humans is well known, Fawkes,” continued the witch king, confirming my suspicion that they knew each other. “You of all the witches in Witchdom should know this, as you yourself share my views. Humans are a threat to our world and our way of life.”
Fawkes clenched his jaw and frowned darkly.
“Speak!” growled the witch king.
I noticed a smile on the witch queen’s swollen, ruby lips.
Fawkes bowed in submission.
“Most sincere apologies, witch king. It was not my intention to slight you. I wished no disrespect. Only that you grant us an audience with you, to hear what we have to say. I wouldn’t have brought them here if it weren’t important.”
“What is the purpose behind your impertinence, elemental?”
The witch king was still standing. “You better have a good explanation for such an interruption.”
He raised a hairless brow. “You haven’t been in my court for…what is it now? Yes, for over fifty years. You resigned from your post and swore to me that you’d never come back…and yet here you are. Why now? Why come here after all these years and insult me with the presence of these humans?”
“Perhaps it is a gift, my king,” purred the witch queen. The black kohl around her violet eyes made her look evil.
“We do require more slaves in the mines. Perhaps Fawkes seeks to come back to your court, my love.”
She turned her loving eyes on Fawkes, and they sparkled as she beheld the men. “Are these humans for us?”
Fawkes clenched and unclenched his fingers. He bowed lower. “No, witch queen.”
I heard a collective intake of breath from the company of witches. The witch queen’s smile faded just a little, but it was enough to see that the word no was not something she heard often.
“Forgive me, witch queen,” continued Fawkes.
His voice steady, he raised his head. “The humans are valuable subjects on a very important quest, a quest in which I strongly believe, and one which may determine the fate of the world.”
The witch queen threw back her head and laughed without feeling. It was the type of laugh I’d heard too often from the mouths of the noble women from Anglia.
“Fawkes, you’ve been alone in the woods for far too long. It has clearly affected your mind.”
She sighed dramatically and leaned forward, revealing more of her ample bosom. “You know, Fawkes, those mushrooms in Fell Forest are for medicinal purposes.”
She turned and laughed, as did her entourage of witches. My dislike of her increased with every laugh. God, I wanted to punch her.
But Fawkes stayed calm.
The witch king surveyed our little group with a look of hatred far worse than I’d seen on Fawkes. “What quest?”
“With your permission, I would like my companion here to explain their purpose here in court—”
The witch king bared his teeth. “I will not have my halls soiled by the mouths of humans—
“A steel maiden, witch king, not a human,” interjected Fawkes, and he motioned his head towards me. The chamber went silent again.
“This is truly her quest. We are merely here as her supporters
and guides.”
The witches throughout the chamber took in a collective breath. As one, all eyes turned to me.
I lifted my head higher. I would not show fear. Not to anyone. Not even a king.
“Steel maiden?” laughed the witch queen, but I saw a hint of panic flash in her eyes as she searched the king’s face. Why? It was almost as though she feared something.
The witch queen’s lips tightened.
“Why don’t you return to the forests with your savages, Fawkes. No one here is interested in your lies.”
The witch king’s attention had turned to me, however, and I shivered involuntarily.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” spat the king after a moment. “The last steel maiden died years ago, and the legacy of her clan died with her. There are none left.”
“I assure you that she is a steel maiden,” continued Fawkes.
“The familiars’ magic did not work on her. I saw it with my own eyes. I swear on the Goddess—” Sharp intakes of breaths rippled in the room. “—She is a steel maiden.”
The witch king shook his head.
“And what do you say to that, my queen?” he asked, clearly not believing a word.
A cunning smile played on her red lips.
“Lies, my king. This elemental witch has disgraced himself. I never thought it possible, yet he is here, lying to his king.”
She turned to Fawkes and shook a finger at him as though scolding a child. “You know better than to lie to your king, Fawkes. I’m afraid you’ve gone too far this time.”
“I do not lie.” Fawkes’ voice rose dangerously high. “She is a true steel maiden, and may well be the last.”
I straightened, taking this as a real compliment.
The witch king’s face was hard. “Remove your cowl.”
Holy hell. I slipped my cowl from my head and hoped they did not see the trembling of my hands.
I looked up and met the witch king’s eyes, but I didn’t understand what I saw there. It made my blood go cold.
The witch king took a careful step down from the dais. And when his small, black eyes found mine, I thought I saw recognition there.
“Katherine?”
I winced at the mention of my mother’s name.
“No, my name is Elena. My mother’s name was Katherine.”
I feared that my voice had sounded a little harsh and I quickly added, “Witch king.”
I looked sideways to Fawkes, and he stared at me strangely.
The witch king searched my face as though he hadn’t really heard me, as though he thought he saw my mother. The longing in his expression and the desperation in his voice unnerved me.
What had happened between my mother and the witch king?
Clearly, he had loved her and was still in love with her after all these years. But after a moment, I saw pain flash across his face as he realized I was not who he so desperately wanted me to be.
“You’re her daughter?” His eyes rolled over me, but still I could see the pain he felt.
“You look so much like her. You even sound like her, and your eyes…”
He looked at my lips, and I felt the rush of blood in my face. I shifted uncomfortably under the king’s intense gaze.
“My king,” snapped the witch queen with venom in her voice. The king turned his attention to her.
“Clearly, this is a trick. This human female is an imposter. She’s no witch. I can smell the human filth on her. This is just a ploy. Fawkes wants to reclaim his place at your side, to get back in my king’s good grace. He’s a liar and a traitor.”
Her violet eyes caught mine and sent a chill down my spine. But it was much worse than that. I knew I’d made an enemy.
Sweat trickled down my back. Everyone in the chamber had seen the display of affection that the witch king had shown for my late mother. I knew the witch queen would make me pay for that.
Something shifted in the witch king’s face. The softness of his features morphed into something hard and harsh. And when he smiled, his face had twisted into something barely recognizable, something wicked.
“Kill them all. I want their hides displayed in the Great Hall.”
CHAPTER 18
SIX MALE WITCHES WITH hands branded on their foreheads crowded around us. The pendants around their necks glowed with yellow magical power. I shook with rage as I pulled out my sword. Will, Leo, Nugar and Lucas followed my example and brandished their weapons, too. Their usual determination was gone, however, and I could see only fear and desperation in their eyes.
I had murdered them. This was my fault. I should have listened to Fawkes. My chest and throat were tight with shame. They were all going to die because of me.
“Wait. Please, let me explain first,” I cried and shielded the men with my body.
I couldn’t think of any way to escape. Even if by some miracle we escaped from the king’s chamber, hundreds of witches waited to kill us outside.
I looked to the dais in search of help. The Coven Council looked as cold as stone, and the triumphant look on the witch queen’s face showed that she savored every moment like a sweet pudding. The prince’s expression was equally chilly. I would find no help there.
“Fawkes, do something!” My voice broke with panic as the branded witches began to close in.
Fawkes took a tentative step forward. He extended his hands.
“My king, please command your coven guards to back down. If you would only let the steel maiden explain—”
But the witch king whirled at me. His nostrils flared like a bull, and he growled with primal fury. The hate in his eyes was undeniable. Hate for me. The jewel around his neck blazed with power, and with a flick of his fingers a shot of black and gold filaments caught me in the chest and sent me sailing backwards.
I slammed onto the granite floor so hard that my breath was knocked out of me. I tasted blood and bile as I struggled for breath, and I shook involuntarily as liquid fire burned me inside. My vision blurred, and my eyes burned with tears. I couldn’t hear anything. I thought that water had filled my ears, but I realized it was blood when I wiped a trickle from my jaw. I tried to cry out to Fawkes, but my throat was melting like wax.
But as the scorching tendrils of the king’s magic pulsed through me, I realized that the searing heat was familiar. I had thought it was black magic, like that of the priests. But it felt different. There were no icy tendrils, and I felt no evil suffocating me. The king’s magic was dark, but it wasn’t a necromancer’s black magic.
Light flashed, and I could hear male voices shouting all around me.
No! I screamed inside my head.
With the last of my strength I rolled over and lifted my head. I thought I would see the coven guards slaughtering the men. Instead, I watched in horror as the witch king struck Fawkes with powerful blows of his magic.
Fawkes staggered back a step and fought to keep his footing. Although the king’s magic might have injured him, it didn’t appear to be strong enough to kill him. And Fawkes did nothing to counter attack or even protect himself.
The witch king smiled at Fawkes.
“You’ve changed, Fawkes, weakened. Years ago, you would have never dared to bring humans to my court. You hated the creatures just as much as I did then. You loathed them. We killed thousands of humans together. Tell me, why now? Why bring these humans here? Have you allied yourself to them? What have they promised you? Land? Power? My throne.”
Fawkes winced. I could see the sweat trickling down his temples. He was breathing hard.
“Have you forgotten what the humans did to your wife and child? How they murdered them and put them on display for all the witches to see? How they carved up your little boy? Have you so easily forgotten your family’s sacrifice?”
Tears welled in Fawkes’ eyes. I saw fresh pain that he couldn’t hide as the moisture filled his eyes.
Humans had killed his family. I finally understood why he hated men so much.
“You know I can nev
er forget or forgive the past,” growled Fawkes. “But things have changed. This isn’t about witches and humans. This is about all of us, all creatures. There is a darkness coming, witch king. And you must prepare for it. The high witch Ada of Gray Havens sent me word. Any delay will prove disastrous—”
“Do not speak to me of that traitorous witch!”
The witch king flicked his fingers and another magic filament struck Fawkes. He stumbled back.
“She turned her back on her own kind years ago when her strength would have made a real difference. And now she’s banished. She’s where she belongs now, in the company of the wretched humans she prefers.”
Fawkes staggered, but he still did nothing to deflect the blows, like somehow he felt he deserved them. I couldn’t let Fawkes be killed because I had decided to bring the human men. I owed him my life.
The entire chamber had already forgotten about me, but I wasn’t dead yet. No one noticed my chest rise and fall because all eyes were focused on Fawkes and the witch king. The proud smile on the witch queen’s face sickened me. She sprawled in her chair, clearly entertained. She wanted to see Fawkes die merely for the pleasure of it, for the distraction.
I growled, and Fawkes looked at me as though he was waiting for me to get up, as though he knew I would. As his eyes widened, I understood.
“You disappoint me yet again, Fawkes.”
The witch king’s eyes gleamed, and I thought I saw some hesitation.
“After everything we’ve been through, you and I. The wars we’ve fought. What we’ve seen and endured all in the name of war. We both lost so much.”
Fawkes lowered his head, and when he spoke his teeth were covered in blood.
“I apologize, witch king,” he said, breathing hard. “I beg you. If you would only listen to what the steel maiden has to say.”
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