Page 16 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

16

LUKA

Later that afternoon when we all returned to Lennox’s bedchamber, I found myself looking at a mirror lying on the table in the sitting room, staring at my reflection in the clouded glass as everyone surrounded the table.

“You will be able to contact Luciana only by using your necklace and the mirror?” Nico asked skeptically.

Lennox moved her hair to the side, unclasping the purple amethyst necklace hanging around her neck. “She used a forbidden form of magic to spell the stone.” Her gaze flicked to me, presumably the same kind of magic the witch Scribe had used with me. “It’s called Ichor magic. It’s different than regular witch magic. Typical witch magic uses spells to pull magic from the earth–Ichor magic on the other hand, pulls magic from everything—typically the witch who wields the spell.”

“What does that mean?” Nico pushed in closer to get a better look at the mirror.

“When we use our magic it doesn’t take anything from us physically, because we have claimed our magic, yes we can run out, but the magic belongs to us. Ichor magic only belongs to itself. It pulls energy from the witch wielding the spell in addition to any other magic being collected from the earth.”

“Why is it forbidden?” Declan asked quietly.

“Your body can only take so much—especially if it’s pulling in additional magic that isn’t your own. Eventually?—”

“You could die.” Kara finished for her.

Lennox glared at her sister. “Yes, that is one outcome, but before that happens typically the witch goes mad. They are consumed by the magic. But it’s all speculation anyhow—the magic is forbidden for a reason.”

A shiver wracked my body as I thought of the witch Scribe. She had to be close to the Ichor magic taking over her if she was claiming others souls—or it had already taken over.

“Anyways, enough of this morbid shit.” She took the pale amethyst stone in her hand, pulling her dagger from her side and pricking her finger with the tip. My throat dried and my nostrils flared. I closed my hands into fists to prevent myself from bringing that finger to my mouth and licking it clean.

I watched with rapt attention as she smeared the red liquid onto the stone before closing her hand around it.

We were all silent as she murmured a spell under her breath before opening her eyes and placing the necklace on the mirror in the center of the table.

The mirror rippled, its glass becoming dark as Luciana’s form manifested in the glass.

“I was wondering if you’d ever put that stone to use,” the witch princess remarked with a sly smile. “What do you need, Lennox?”

Lennox tucked a lock of honey hair behind her ear. “Why do you assume I need something? Perhaps I’m reaching out to chat.”

Luciana laughed, the sound low and twinged with danger. “Because I know you, Lennox, you wouldn’t use Ichor Magic unless it was necessary.”

“Fine,” Lennox admitted. “You’re right we need your help.”

“What can I do?”

“We discovered the book we’re looking for isn’t Astria’s spellbook, but instead her journals. We need your help casting a spell to locate it.” Lennox and I had filled everyone in on my findings from the witch Scribe before we called Luciana.

“We don’t have anything directly linking us to Astria for the spell, but I thought we could try using Hecate’s spellbook and see if it works since they might have come in contact with one another at one point in time.”

“Give me a minute.” The mirror darkened—Luciana’s form disappeared into the glass without saying goodbye.

“Where did she go?” Kara leaned over the mirror.

Lennox shrugged. “I don’t know. She severed the connection. But she said she’d be back.”

“I guess we wait,” I concluded.

“Do you think this will work?” Declan asked. Lennox and Kara shared a look.

“It’s worth a shot. There’s no guarantee any spell would work without a direct link to Astria or her journal, but it's worth a try.”

A breeze filtered through the room, ruffling the curtains to the balcony.

Like she was carried on the breeze, Luciana appeared before us.

Kara jumped, placing a hand on her heart as Declan drew his sword.

“Relax, Dec,” Nico said. “It’s Lucy.”

Lucy? I mouthed to Declan. He furrowed his brows before resheathing his sword.

“Surprise.” A slow smile spread across Luciana’s face.

I looked to Lennox, expecting to find her smiling at the appearance of her cousin, only to find her face etched with concern and anger.

“Don’t tell me?—”

“Shhh—Lennox.” Luciana raised a finger to her lips. “Remember, don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to. I’d say this trick is rather convenient, don’t you? It would have taken weeks for me to get here, but with this”—She waved her arms dramatically.—“I’m at your door in the snap of your fingers.”

I looked between the cousins, trying to figure out what was going on between the pair.

“Wait,” I took a step closer to Luciana. When she was in the mirror her reflection had appeared smudged. But here standing before me she looked fully corporal. She wasn’t simply a reflection of Luciana she was— “You’re here. In the flesh. Not a reflection.”

Nico’s brows raised as he took a step towards Luciana and poked her on the arm. Luciana swatted him away.

“It is you,” Nico marveled.

“A fun little trick isn’t it, a spell of my own creation.”

“A dangerous trick,” Lennox crossed her arms over her chest. “Luce, we talked about this.”

Luce rolled her eyes. “We did, and I told you not to worry about it, Lennox. I’m here. It’s already done, let’s move on.”

“I for one am glad you’re here,” Nico added. Luciana gave him a sly grin.

“I’m sure you are, pup.”

“Thank you for coming,” Lennox added.

“You needed me, so I came.” Lennox smiled slightly before pulling her cousin in for a hug.

“I worry because I care,” she said into the witch’s hair.

“I know,” Luciana murmured. “Now,” Luciana let go of her cousin, “I believe we have a spell to do.”