Away
Satrine
“Valentine, bring her before me.”
I didn’t move or speak, and not only because I couldn’tbelieve what I was seeing.
That being, her feet drifting in the air, the rest of herimmobile, the witch at the back was lifted from her seat and she floated…
Literallyfloated…
Until she came to a swaying halt in front of the king.
“I assume you know why we detained you,” he remarked.
“Your Majesty—” she said in a trembling voice.
“I believe I made myself clear on this subject,”Noctornonoted.
“My king—”
“Regardless that he needed to learn when to be silent, it isillegal to place curses in this realm, or any realm in the Northlands orSouthlands,”Noctornoshared.“I sense, as you tookpains to hide your powers, you’re quite aware of that fact.”
She decided not to try to speak this time.
“And it’s a high crime to amass magic without permissionfrom the crown,” he went on.“But more, you aren’t even registered as magical.”
WhenNoctornofinished speaking,and didn’t start again, she decided to give it another go.
“I—”
“We foundSjofnice diamonds,” hecut her off.“Firenzianrubies.Lunwynianfurs.Dellishwool.And a good deal of coin.You’vebecome quite rich, selling curses and spells.”
“My magic is almost depleted, laying down that curse,” sheinformed him.
“Laying downthose cursesandbringingforth women from the other world.”
Mom made a quiet noise.
Slowly, my eyes closed, and I felt my shoulders slump.
Yes, Loren knew.
He knew I was what Dad-not-Dad said I was.
A swindler.
A fraud.
A liar.
“What’s he on about?”Aunt Mary whispered.
No one answered her.
“I came from nothing.I have a talent.It is not fair thatmagic is regulated,” the witch asserted.
“She has a point,” the redhead noted in a droll, silkyvoice.
