Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown - Page 186

Evanora smiled, looking from Trick to Cole. “Oh, so the magic-users you were harboring are Fallen. Well,” she chuckled, “this changes things.”

“Answer the question,” I snarled, taking a step forward.

“Ah, ah, ah,” the witch sang as Raymond pressed the sword into Mark’s throat.

I watched as a boil of blood appeared on that silver blade and my hands shook with rage.

I ground my teeth so hard, I was surprised they didn’t crack. “Don’t you hurt him,” I warned.

“I told you, Kyra, I told you to let him go.”

My eyes found Mom’s at her words, fear overlapping the anger. “And I toldyouthat he was mine. How are you alive? Trick killed you.”

“The benefit of having magic that works,” Evanora bragged. “You can bring anyone back from the dead.”

“No, you can’t,” Trick stated, his voice as chilling as the winter wind. “She’s not real, Kyra.”

My brows furrowed, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the scene before me. “What?”

“Your mother is alive, yes, but she’s somewhere deep underground, currently being kept alive by my healers. I’ve been torturing her for what she did to you. This woman is not your Mom.”

What thefuck?

Evanora chuckled. “So the truth comes out. I’ve been practicing my magic, isn’t it beautiful?”

I looked from Mom to Evanora and back, panting. Forbidden Magic broke every rule of the book, and Ihatedit.

My eyes shifted back to Evanora’s. “What do you want?” I asked, hands clenching into fists. “Truthfully, because I know it’s not just him. It can’t be just him.”

“Oh? Look at you, a smart little human, but,” she went on, her smile tightening, “I’ve met smart little humans before, and they’ve all found their end in the same way. By doing something they thought was smart andgetting themselves killed.”

“So, you’re just going to tell me that all of this,” I gestured around her, “all of these theatrics, it’s all just to take Mark back to his true father? Something tells me you aren’t that kind.”

“Well, I suppose you’re right about that,” she laughed. “I do hate humans more than I hate my own mother. Norella, dear, why don’t you tell her why we’re here.”

My eyes shifted to the thing wearing my mother’s skin.

Norella bared her teeth at me. “They wanted all of us in that castle,” she said hoarsely.

“Why?” I asked, turning back to Evanora. “Why do you want me?”

“Not all rivers run red, sweetheart, but I need mine to. Trick, you’re looking mighty shadowless today. Is something wrong? Perhaps you wiped yourself building all of those bridges? Smart move, makes things easier for us.”

“You need Kyra’s blood?” Cole asked before Trick could answer. “Is that what you’re getting at?”

“Oh, look at you, High General, not so useless after all, hmm? Yes, I want her blood, and I’d rather have her alive for that, but if you force my hand, dead works too.”

“Kyra,” Mark cried, voice cracking.

“Shh,” I said, meeting his eyes. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”

“Don’t lie to him,” Norella spat. “That’s how we got into this mess. Lies, lies,lies!You are a filthy, selfish,liar!”

I shook my head, the snow melting before it touched me. “No, I’m not. He will be okay, that’s not a lie. I savedhim from you once, I’ll save him again. I’d face any and every monster to keep him safe.” I turned to Evanora, pain erupting in my hands. “Even you.”

“You won’t get the chance,” Norella snarled.

Evanora turned to Trick as she lifted her hand.