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The Faerydae family, her family, to this day prayed to their ancestor in thanks for life.

It is also our way of apologising.Her eyes fell upon the moon once more, before looking over the stars.Their hatred is well deserved.

Just over five hundred years ago, one of their kind, Strolguil the Vast, turned on his Dragon parent. After learning he could grow his magic by pulling apart fairies and pixies who wouldn’t have been apprehensive of her kind at the time, he ate them.

Once he realised this increased his power, the villain turned on his own Dragon parent, killing him to consume his parts. He became the first dark Witch and extended his life through evil magic.

He taught others how to do this, how to steal essence from magical creatures through violence. It permanently tainted their souls, corrupted them.

Now, Valerie knew there were more dark Witches than white.

She also knew Dragons hunted Witches to rid themselves of the evil they had mistakenly created, while evil Witches hunted them so they could extract them for parts.

It was a constant cycle of hate, a war between the species, and one she didn’t want to join. Unfortunately, that choice may be taken away from her.

How long will it be before I desire nothing more than power?She was waiting for the tingle to begin, or at least something to indicate she was turning, the poison of corruption taking over.I have committed disgusting acts to be here. How long until I turn?

Valerie feared it. She dreaded it like a cold sweat dripping down her back, even though she knew she would no longer care when the darkness started growing inside her.But I do not wish to turn corrupt.

This was one of the reasons she hadn’t let her sisters join her in finding Kaeylyn. She couldn’t allow any of her pure, magic-wielding sisters to fall to darkness, just to save the youngest. She was the eldest, and it was her duty to protect her younger siblings.

I will be the first Faerydae to become a dark Witch.An overwhelming amount of shame washed over her.I will taint our family bloodline.

She pulled away from the window with slumped shoulders.

Taking in the large room littered with wealthy furniture and a grand bed, she felt out of depth with her task.

I am not used to this.In all her life, she’d never been waited on by a servant or slept in a bed this soft. The expensive, wealthy quality of everything made her feel as though she’d break anything she touched.

She turned her mind away from the daunting room, knowing she needed her rest for whatever torture this place was going to force her to endure tomorrow.

Valerie sat upon the backless cushioned stool in front of the vanity in her living quarters. Victoria was styling her hair while she spoke of the events that happened after Valerie’s early retirement.

It was only this morning that she fully took in the extravagant room.

The bottom half of the walls were painted a pastel purple with golden embossed designs, and the top half were plain and cream coloured. Paintings of nature covered each wall, like they were there to make it seem this vast room was larger than it already was.

A giant brown carpet with red floral designs was laid down over oak slats, and it almost spanned the entire size of the room to hide the wooden flooring.

There was a writing desk in front of one window, overlooking the field in the middle of the palace. The window she had stared out of the previous night was empty of any furniture. The vanity table she sat at was on the other side of the room, on the wall with the door.

The bed had a canopy frame, with purple curtains tied to each spiral pole holding the frame up.

There was a single lounging bed up against the wall, behind a table with two chairs in the centre of the room. It was like she was supposed to entertain guests in her room, which she thought was preposterous.

I doubt I will want anyone in here.

There was a serving tray with warm tea that Victoria had brought up with her. She’d been woken when an eating tray was placed in her lap with a large breakfast.

“...And Lady Gracie tripped over due to the wine. She knocked into a servant holding a full serving tray, and it all came tumbling down on top of them, red all over her dress and the floor.” She was giggling, like the embarrassment of others was something to be ridiculed and laughed at. “I am sure she will be quite red-faced today.”

This is what this woman considers news? I do not want trivial gossip.“And what of the other dukes’ daughters?”

“Well, Lady Wyetta left not long after you.” Placing the brush down, she twirled her hair and pinned the long length of it. “Savannah and Charlotte left at the same time.”

Valerie frowned. “Why?”

“They left the party once King Bradwick retired to his room.”