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She is older, in her fifties if I had to guess. Her hair is almost white with veins of purple running through it. Soft blue eyes are surrounded by deep laugh lines as she smiles at both of us.
“Arabella?” Cassandra asks, trying to peer around me.
“Let me tell you the truth about your ascension child.”
****
Cassandra
Niko holds my hand as we sit at the table waiting for Arabella to speak. He wasn’t lying when he said he couldn’t help himself from constantly touching me. Even when he thought we were under threat he had a hand on me. I want to tell him to stop, that it’s too much, that my mind and my hormones can’t handle any more. But the thought of him not touching me is enough to make me want to cry.
“I’ve never liked Lilith,” Arabella states. “Even as a child your mother always had to have her way. Her parents spoiled her, and she shows it every day. As an elder, I can be ex-communicated for telling you any of this, but you deserve the truth.”
“I don’t understand,” I say.
Arabella has a look on her face that tells me I’m not going to like what she has to say.
“The truth will set you free,” Arabella mumbles beside me. “But it’s probably going to piss you off first.”
“I want to know the truth,” I finally say to Arabella with more confidence than I’m feeling.
“Your mother is manipulating you. Hell, she has been doing it for years,” Arabella explains. “She had threatened any member of our coven with ex-communication or even death if we ever told you the truth.”
“Why are you here then?” Niko jumps in.
“Because I am old and if she wants to kill me, so be it,” she replies nonchalantly. “I have lived a good life and done what I needed to do. My children are grown and have lives of their own. The only thing I have left to accomplish in this life is to make sure my coven is protected.”
Niko nods, accepting her words.
“I still don’t understand. What truth has everyone been hiding from me?” I feel more confused than ever.
“You are in charge,” Arabella replies.
“Of what?”
“Everything, dear,” she says and smiles gently. “You can choose your own Consort. As long as he has an inkling of magik running through his veins, you will ascend to your full potential.”
“What?” The chair I was sitting on topples over as I jump up. “Are you kidding me?”
Arabella watches me as she shakes her head. “No, dear. I’m sorry you’re only learning this now, but someone had to tell you.”
“Why would she lie?” A tear tracks down my cheek. The pain of betrayal nearly bringing me to my knees.
It only takes a moment before Niko pulls me into his warm embrace. He holds me to his chest as my heart breaks. I always had a feeling I was simply a means to an end for my mother, but I never could have dreamed she would go to these lengths to manipulate me. When I finally get my emotions under control, I face Arabella and wait for my answer.
“I fear your mother is consorting with someone from Quietus,” she says softly.
Chapter Six
Niko
My heart breaks for Cassandra. Learning the truth, that your own mother is using you, that you have been manipulated most of your life—it’s a lot to take in. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to know you are nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game.
Guilt churns in my gut, knowing that I intend to do the same thing. If it means saving my realm and this one, all those innocent people … I will do whatever needs to be done. Even if it isn’t fair.
There are no words to lessen the blow that she has been dealt so I don’t even try. Instead, I hold her in my arms and allow her to work through her heartache at her own pace. Arabella watches us for a moment before smiling sadly and taking off with a nod.
For long moments, the café is silent except for the soft sniffles coming from Cassandra. She pulls away and looks up at me with watery eyes that tug at some emotion deep within my chest.
