Page 52 of Midnight Deception

“The queen believes that I’m the one from the prophecy?”

Luna doesn’t seem surprised at my question. In fact, she looks resigned, knowing this would probably happen sooner or later.

Constance glances at Luna, almost in a gesture of permission. When Luna just waves her hand tiredly, the older female turns back to me. “Most of Haven believes it at this point.”

Although she’s not given me an answer to the question I asked, she’s confirmed it through lack of denial while also giving me more to think over. If everyone believes I’m this person from the prophecy, then what does that mean to me? Will I be safer, or will it just make them more wary of me? The flip side of the prophecy rings in my mind.

“The one from the prophecy will make or break us,” Luna echoes what I’d just been thinking, and a strange feeling fills the room. Looking around, I try to figure out what I’m sensing, but neither Constance nor Luna react, making me think that I’m the only one who can feel it. Fearing that something’s wrong, I check in with my mates through our connection, touching their bonds. Even though I can only just feel Joel and Syn, I know that they are alive and unhurt. Returning my focus to the room, I assess the feeling once more. It doesn’t feel like a warning or anything dangerous, so I turn my attention back to Luna.

All of this happened within the space of seconds, and she’s only just beginning to speak again.

“Keeping you close helps her make sure that things still go in her favour once it becomes clear which way the prophecy is going to go,” she continues. Although she’s not directly talking about the prophecy, it’s vital I know exactly why the queen wants me here. “She thinks by restoring your family’s place by her side that you’ll think of her fondly if things go well, and she can continue being queen. If things go poorly, then she can tell her remaining people that she offered you kindness and that she tried.”

I have to give the queen credit for her thought process. She wins either way. “She gets to continue to rule while making me look like the bad guy in the process.” Somehow, I’m not surprised by this narrative. I’ve witnessed how scheming the queen is. What I am struggling to believe is that this is the true reason she’s keeping me close. It seems like such a trivial reason now that I know, and I can’t help but think there’s more to it. I shouldn’t be trying to make the situation worse, because what Luna told me is terrifying enough. I’m probably just catastrophising.

Neither of them comment on my reply, and this, along with their tight expressions, tells me everything I need to know. They think I’m going to be set up by the queen if things go wrong.

Groaning at the ache behind my temples, I take a deep breath and rub my forehead to try to ease the tension. If things go wrong, I’ll be the downfall of both witches and werewolves. I don’t know if that’s because of my lack of control over my magic or another reason, but I can do something about the magic issue.

“Okay, let’s just get started,” I say, clapping my hands together. “The quicker I learn control, the quicker I can leave.”

ChapterNineteen

Wandering out of Madame Constance’s room several hours later, I feel completely drained of energy, both physically and mentally. It’s blessedly cool out in the corridor after the scalding heat of the roaring fire the older witch always seems to have burning, her cauldron bubbling with some disgusting concoction.

I look around to make sure no one is watching, and then I lean against the closest wall as I let myself cool down, hoping this damn headache will disappear soon. I’ve still got the Nicolai/Atlas issue to deal with, and that’s after two more training sessions. Atlas would never let me skip my shield training, but I wonder if I could get away with skipping my history session. The last thing I want to do is sit in a dimly lit, dusty study and read about the queen’s family line. It wouldn’t be so bad if not for my disapproving tutor, who makes it a monumental chore.

“Are you okay?” Luna asks softly as she exits the study, slowing to a stop as she runs her eyes over me, taking in my exhaustion and frustration. “You worked really hard in there.”

Snorting, I don’t bother to say what we’re both thinking. While I may be working my ass off, I’m still struggling to master the simplest of tasks. For some, my control seems perfect, and others, I just can’t grasp how to perform them and it’s beyond frustrating. It’s more than simply being vexed by my lack of progress though. I live in fear that the queen will decide I’m not working hard enough and take that out on Nicolai. Her form of encouragement is only making me fearful, and that doesn’t make any of this easier. Even just the thought of it now is making me sick to my stomach and my head pound all the more.

Huffing out a breath, I force those thoughts to the back of my mind. Try as I might, I can’t get them to disappear entirely, that fear runs deep, so I focus on something else instead. Pushing away from the wall, I turn to face Luna with a raised brow.

“I should be asking you that. The queen said you were taken away and punished.” Despite the fact that I attempt to keep my voice even, my concern slips through anyway.

She wrinkles her delicate nose at the change of topic. “Ah, that’s not the first time it’s happened, and it certainly won’t be the last.” She tries to shrug it off with a smile, but her wince ruins the illusion.

Any neutrality that I’d been attempting to hold on to quickly disappears. Staring at her, I shake my head slowly, my mouth opening and closing as I try to gather my words. I have no idea what this punishment entailed, but she’s clearly in pain. Why is no one concerned about this? How often does this happen that it can be shrugged off like it’s a minor inconvenience?

“Why is everyone acting like this is normal behaviour? Physically punishing someone like that would be illegal in the human world.” I frown at her cavalier attitude. She’s clearly not bothered by my show of confused outrage.

Giving me a small smile, she steps closer and places her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently as she silently thanks me for my concern. “We’re not in the human world, Laelia,” she explains gently. “The queen sets the rules, and we follow them.” There’s a note of warning in her voice that she needn’t have bothered with, because I know full well what the queen is capable of.

“Anyway,” she continues chirpily, taking a step back, “we should get to your next session.”

I wonder what’s gotten into her all of a sudden when she drops something on the floor. Leaning forward to pick it up, she twists slightly as she does so, a waterfall of her black hair falling forward across her face, hiding her expression. It does nothing to conceal her next quiet words though, which are whispered for only me to hear.

“Your attendance is being watched.”

I suspected as much. I guess that means I won’t be able to get away with skipping my history lesson later. Sighing, I nod and step forward, ready to follow her. However, as we begin to move, I notice the small wince she doesn’t quite hide.

“Luna, you don’t need to take me, go rest.” The look she gives me is dubious, and I don’t blame her given how much I complain about what a maze this place is. Honestly, it’s one of the few places I do know how to get to, and I can feel Atlas already waiting for me there. The pull of the bond will be my guide and stop me from getting lost.

It’s clear to see how torn she is, and I know it’s not because she fears punishment from the queen for letting me walk alone. Luna actually cares if I make it to the training hall safe and without getting lost, but she clearly wants to believe that I know the way there. Fatigue seems to wash over her, showing how truly exhausted she is, and I make up my mind before she even answers me.

Rolling my eyes, I put more confidence into my voice than I actually feel. “I know how to get to the training hall from here, it’s not hard.”

She hesitates. “Are you certain? I should really make sure you get there…”

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