Page 42 of Witch Queens: Tales from Oz

The Coroner has declared that Bastinda, daughter of King Oz is most sincerely—dead.

I will be overtaking all of her responsibilities in lieu of these tragic events.

We are grateful to have Dorothy of Kansas to help guide the Munchkin’s and their descendants to their most significant heights.'

I stopped reading, numb from shock.

“Take it away,” Scarecrow growled, and Lucy quickly folded the paper and replaced it in her purse.

“Why do they believe him?” my voice was hollow.

“He’s a dip-shit, Indy. You know that.”

My eyes were clouded with tears, “I’ve never been genuinely dead before, not spiritually and physically dead.”

“You aren’t now,” Scarecrow uttered, “Just because some bitch prints some lies, it doesn’t make any of it real. Indy, she is trying to get to you. Don’t let her under your skin.”

My hands were shaking because deep inside, I knew that she was already under my skin.

Dorothy had tried to kill me. She has repeatedly killed my people in graphic ways. She poisoned my farmlands and my Mayor’s mind. And now she has declared me dead.

I felt a raw hunger break free inside of me. The fear and anxiety that had been swirling in my chest was thrust out to be replaced by sheer determination.

“That bitch can’t have my crown.”

Pride shown in Scarecrow’s eyes as he challenged me, “She can’t?”

“Hell, no. Dorothy needs to get back to Kansas. After all, there is no place like home.”

CHAPTER 16

We decided to hit thestreets, or rather Scarecrow decided, and I insisted on tagging along. I sat behind him on his giant motorcycle, enjoying the feel of the engine between my legs, and the feeling of Scarecrow’s back pressed tightly against my chest.

My hands may have wandered a time or two. It wasn’t on purpose or anything. But after a very near miss with the frog pond, Scarecrow insisted I behave myself.

Buzzkill.

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