Page 104 of Crown of Slumber

My eyes locked onto Fenn, who was on all fours, gasping for breath, gazing in wonder at the three figures. Beside me, Mal nudged my arm with his snout, and relief filled me. He was alive. Fenn was alive.

But… how?

Slowly, I turned to the three figures, who lowered their crimsonhoods. I knew at once that they were witches. One had short black hair, the other had long, gray locks, and the other had a shock of wispy white hair surrounding her face. All three stared at me with wide, all-seeing eyes the color of lilacs.

“Dragon queen,” the white-haired witch said to me, spreading her arms wide. “Welcome home.”

Dragon queen.

Welcome home.

The words echoed in my head, and I glanced from the three witches to Aurelia and back again. The witches were unfamiliar to me, but their red cloaks signified they belonged to the witch clans of the Star Court.

“What are you talking about?” Aurelia demanded, her voice ringing with authority despite her bloodied state. Her body was so covered in blood and grime that only small splotches of her freckled ivory skin was visible.

“We have waited so long for your return,” said the white-haired witch, her lavender eyes glowing with power.

“Return?” Aurelia sputtered. “I’ve never been here before. You must have me confused with someone else.”

“She is not ready, sister,” hissed the black-haired witch, her eyes narrowing.

“She ishere,” protested the first.

“But she is not here for us,” said the gray-haired witch, her voice lower than the others.

Aurelia shook her head, striding toward them. I flung out a hand to stop her, and she looked at me with a mixture of alarm and confusion. Slowly, I shook my head. A single look from these witches could kill us all. To cross them would be foolish.

“Thank you for saving us,” Aurelia said stiffly. “Now please, let us pass. We mean you no harm.”

“We know,” the three witches said in unison.

Unease prickled along my skin. I didn’t like this. Something wasn’t right.

For a long, tense moment, the five of us—and Mal—stood there, unmoving, watching each other. It felt like I was sizing up an opponent, preparing for another battle.

A battle I would not win.

“Please,” I said, my voice soft. “Please let us pass. We need to see a healer. We need?—”

“You need nothing,” the white-haired witch snapped. “Be silent, foolish boy.”

My head jerked back in surprise. I had never seen these witches before, but the few I had encountered had been nothing but respectful to me.

Aurelia stiffened, her fists curling tightly at her sides. “Thisfoolish boyjust saved my ass from being sacrificed by those ogres. Show him some respect.”

“We never would have let them continue the ritual,” said the white-haired witch, waving a hand idly. “His intervention was unnecessary.”

“So you let those ogres cut us down? Youletthem fight us?” Aurelia’s voice was full of outrage.

“We only intervene when necessary,” said the gray-haired witch in that low, soothing voice.

“Who are you?” Aurelia demanded, her voice shrill and ringing.

“Ruby,” said the black-haired witch.

“Jade,” said the gray-haired witch.

“Sapphire,” murmured the last.

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