“I’m sorry—queen?” Serena’s gaze collides with mine, wrought with shock and confusion.
Did you know who she was?
No, I swear I’ve never seen her before.
“Former queen,” the female corrects, waving a dismissive hand.
“But you—you’re dead. I watched your pyre burn.” Mar staggers forward, a slight tremble in her voice.
“What you saw, Marideth, was what I wanted you to see. Sometimes our minds play tricks on us. Tell me, what do you recall from that day? Was it summer or winter? Was it raining, or was the sun beaming down on your face?”
Her mouth opens as she grasps at straws and comes up empty. “But everyone thinks you’re dead…why did you…”
“Being queen was never in my cards. But my past is not the reason you are here now. I would appreciate if our little run-in remained between us. The last thing I need is Derek attempting to track me down.”
“Derek is dead,” Serena snaps.
The stranger looks surprised for the first time since we arrived, her throat bobbing as she swallows.
“I see.”
“What are you doing here?” Serena asks.
“Please, sit.” Margot’s bejeweled fingers reach across the table, spreading the cards out in a half moon as Serena cautiously slips into the open seat. I keep close, lingering by her shoulder and eyeing her mother’s doppelgänger with suspicion.
“You seem to have found yourself in quite the predicament.” She begins to pluck a few cards from the spread, placing them down strategically before Serena.
“Well, I almost got married. So I took a page out of your book and ran.”
A melodic laugh spills out of her. “I’m not responsible for what the version of me you know did in another lifeline. That was a different person entirely.”
“You faked your own death and left your family bereft and broken. You’re no better than my mother. You’re exactly the same in every lifeline. So again. How do you know me.”
“I’ve had the gift of sight for as long as I can remember. I am able to see all versions of my line, in other worlds, other dimensions.”
“Is there another one of me running around somewhere?”
“No. There is only one of you. Ever and anywhere. Andyou—” Margot points a manicured finger at me. “I knew your parents. Heard what happened. Such a shame. Nice people.” Her voice lacks any sort of empathy despite her condolences.
I clutch the back of Serena’s chair with an iron grip.
“He is loyal to you, isn’t he? But then again, aren’t they all?” She pauses, glancing over Serena with a mix of curiosity and wonder. “You are not what I expected.”
Serena snorts. “Did you think I’d show up here with flowers and a Mother’s Day card?”
“You’re sharper than the visions I’ve seen of you. You were weak. Soft. And now you’re…a warrior. You’re a leader.”
“I’m no leader.”
She gives Serena a sardonic smile. “You’ve got an army of friends you’ve won with love. That is the most dangerous kind of leader there is. The kind who inspires action in others. They would die for you. Some of them will before this is over.”
“If you know something, I suggest you spit it out,” Serena growls. “Why am I here?”
With a loud sigh, she says, “You have been resisting your path.”
“Did you get that from the cards? Maybe they can clarify some things for me. Like how to close the portal in Hyrax.”
“Do not waste your time on what does not concern you.”
