that meant we would absolutely win the day since the king could pretty much take down anything. Now those words simply worried the hell out of me. I had to think about the fact that all of this would be for nothing if we lost the king. “Have we considered contacting the witches and trying to reason with them?”
Erna snorted. “There is no reasoning with Arete.”
“You have family there, right?” The queen took a seat at the table with Dean.
“I don’t consider them family anymore,” she replied, turning away. “But I was born into a minor house, the sixth of seven daughters. I was considered weak among a somewhat weak coven. My sister managed to elevate the house. She was very strong when it came to battle magic. But such honors require balance.”
“Oh, I’ve heard that word before,” Zoey said with a frown. “I’ve found that balance usually means someone gets their ass kicked.”
It was true, and oftentimes I did the ass kicking. Balance is a serious thing.
Erna’s shoulders moved as she washed out the kettle and put it away. “Balance in this case is another word for sacrifice. Our mother had to choose one of us for the trial.”
“I suspect this isn’t a courthouse trial,” Daniel said gravely.
“No,” Erna agreed. “They performed a spell on me, several, actually, to take my power into themselves. Basically my sisters and mother offered me up to be fed upon so their positions could be enriched. I survived and even managed to keep a spark of my power, but I will never forget, nor will I forgive.”
I didn’t want to feel sorry for the woman. So I didn’t. Bad shit happened, and a person comes through that bad shit one of two ways. They either understand how awful it is to have bad shit happen and try to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else, or they lose that piece of themselves that allows for compassion and become every bit as bad as the monster who tortured them in the first place.
Erna had taken Dean’s free will. I was starting to wonder what else she’d taken.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you,” Zoey said, proving her heart was way softer than mine. “Is that why Summer went to the witch plane? Are you not allowed back?”
Erna turned, drying her hands on her apron. “I would be considered a servant in my coven since my power was taken from me.”
“But you’re incredibly powerful,” Dean said.
“You certainly felt powerful to me.” Dev massaged the back of his neck. “I’ve got the aching muscles to prove it.”
“It took a long time, but I managed to grow the spark I kept into a fire,” she replied with an arrogance I was starting to get annoyed with. “I am stronger now than any of my sisters. I might be the strongest witch in Arete.”
“Then why send my daughter, who has no power, there to find the book?” Daniel’s gaze had sharpened as though he’d scented something. When the king got that predatory look in his eyes I’ve learned to sit up a bit straighter and pay attention. He didn’t take the crown simply because of his muscles. He was smart, too, and turning human again wouldn’t affect his brain.
“I am known on the witch plane, and honestly, her skills as a thief were much more important than spells,” Erna replied. “Though it seems to me a spell might win in the end since we can’t actually read The Path now that Dean touched it.”
“The Path?” Dev asked.
“It’s what the witches call their book of prophecy,” Dean supplied helpfully. “And Erna’s right. From what I’ve studied, no amount of supernatural power could have helped with that book. It’s got some serious magical defenses.”
“There is only one way to get the book.” Erna put a hand on the big, leather-bound tome.
“And what’s that?” I asked, staring at it. The Path. I should have known it wouldn’t be a literal path, but still, my hubby could have been a little more plain.
“The book has to want to go with you,” Erna replied, as though books making decisions on their own was an everyday occurrence. “Summer has a light about her. And given that her own magic is safely bound, it was a good bet that the book would allow her to steal it. If it hadn’t chosen to go, it would still be on Arete.”
“Then why was it a crime?” Zoey asked, indignation plain on her face. “It seems like