Page 97 of Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

“I understand that him living here would be good in the fact that he would get food and a warm bed, but I can’t understand how he would be raised in a way that is fair and good,” I explained, seeing the absolute emptiness in her eyes. She didn’t mean anything she said, and I didn’t know why a witch would target my brother, but clearly that’s what was happening, and despite my belief in understanding before judging, the witches seemed to be the exception.

Stay with me and starve or stay with them and pray I had taught him enough to not be destroyed as Raphael had suggested.

“And your life gives him that?” she challenged.

“My life gives him a choice,” I countered, Mark’s laughter filling my mind, his eyes, his smile. He was happy. I couldn’t understand why, but he was. We could figure everything else out later, couldn’t we? Didn’t we still have a chance? Once we were free of Mom’s grip, if I just worked a little harder, pushed a little more, couldn’t I give him some semblance of a better life? Maybe nothing like this, but something better.

“Starve or freeze to death?” Evanora offered.

“Don’t respond,”the rational voice in my head begged.

“You are not a coward, don’t give them an inch,”that irrational voice hummed. The one that craved chaos, that needed a thrill.

The rage took control in that very moment. “Equality,” I stated coldly, my hands tensing at my sides. “Learning and understanding before you judge people based on where they came from. I don’t even understandhow any ofthis,” I gestured around us, “works. The Human Court was born to hate magic, hate anyone with magic, we’ve been groomed for it by hanging anyone with magic in their veins, and yet here you stand. You’ve always stood here. A powerful witch, the High Queen, alive and well while others die because of where they were born.”

Evanora laughed lightly. “Oh sweetie, it’s politics.”

“It’s murder,” I shot back. “It’s genocide.”

“You don’t know the meaning of the word, child.”

I worked my jaw. “Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation with the aim in destroying that nation. Except you’re wanting to eradicate all magic to what? Save your own? Is that the goal? So you can become the strongest power in the world?”

Her eyes darkened, a power crackling through the air, causing the taste of copper to coat my mouth. “I’d watch my tongue if I were you.”

That’s what it was. That’s always what it would be.Everyonein this gods-damned fucking world always neededmorepower.

That little chaotic voice in me cackled, urging me to keep going, to push and push until there was nothing left to find.

“You’re not me though, that’s the problem. If you were me, if you hadn’t been raised in a cave, brainwashed by your mother, you wouldn’t even be here. None of us would be here. You cannot expect me to give my brother to someone who wants to rule the world like some kind of all-powerful High God.”

The slap came out of nowhere, but the feeling that followed took its sweet time. It felt like a shock of ice running down my spine, sparking every nerve, my cheek so cold, it burned.

I fought the urge to grab my face, feeling the chill like an icy kiss of death. It was different than Trick’s magic. In fact, Trick’s magic felt warm compared to this.

“Goddess,” Evanora spoke, the sweet, kind features gone for something sharp and wicked. “And don’t speak of what you know nothing about. We’ll fetch your brother when we’re ready. If I were you, I’d say my goodbyes. Now, get out of my castle.”

My jaw worked, the tears burning the back of my throat, the pain almost unbearable. “This castle belongs to the Gerodia’s. To Raphael. Anyone else is just clawing for the power he has, and newsflash, magic doesn’t matter, loyalty does. Strike fear in whoever you want Evanora, there will always be people loyal to the true crown.”

“They hate their High King.”

They hated what she made them believe their High King was, but I didn’t think that was true. Something was wrong here. Something was pulling at my gut, but by the way my bones started to pop, it was time to go.

“How does that saying go?” I asked, lifting my chin, my spine cracking. “It only takes one.” I turned to Raphael and placed my fist across my chest, bowing at the hip, the sounds reverberating through me. “High King.”

I straightened and turned to Evanora. “It’s just politics.”

Her eyes flamed in rage, but she made nomove to say or do anything else, so with that, I turned on my heel, and headed for the door.

~~~

I stumbled through the cottage door, shivering, my veil too tight, crystals growing where my breath hit the fabric, the cloak pulled around me like a blanket, the edges frosted.

I couldn’t stop shivering, my head spinning. My vision was blurred, black around the edges, my thoughts a jumbled mess. My bones felt as if they were as thin as the ice coating the puddles on the streets, my lungs freezing solid. I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes, in fact, I was sure they were already black. “Forbidden Magic,” I grunted, the veil turning to ice on my exhale.

I took one step forward and my legs gave out.

Trick Jumped to my side, catching me before I hit the ground. His hands burned through my cloak. All I wanted to do was curl into him, the scent of petrichor fighting to get through the ice building up inside of my nose. “What happened?” he asked as he carefully peeled my veil away, Cole quickly joining us.

---