Page 52 of Traitor Witch

The ancient witches who’d had the hubris to try were smote the moment the words left their lips.

But Alletta just stands there, smiling, as the bowl begins to glow.

Not with the silver of Lunar power, or the gold of Solar, but with a mixture of both.

“Nilsa? Nilsa, can you hear me?”

Danika’s voice is so unexpected that I almost jump out of my skin.

When I peer over the edge of the bowl and come face-to-face with her, I know my eyes are wide as saucers.

The coven-sister and friend I know is gone. In her place, a silver-eyed, battle-scarred High Priestess looks out at me.

I’ve only been gone a few days, but Danika seems to have aged years. Her cheek is crumpled under the still-pink scar of a magical burn, her eyes the same luminous silver that Glenna’s had been. Her long, carefree blonde hair has been twisted into warrior braids which fall around her face as she stares down at me from the central courtyard.

Danika is only twenty-five. No High Priestess was ever chosen so young.

I barely have the sense to sink to one knee.

“Mother Lunar,” I whisper, still reeling.

Danika smiles, but it’s a grim expression. “Get up, Nilsa, we don’t have time for this.”

I do as I’m told, uncertainty slowing my movements. “How…?”

I don’t know if I’m asking about her scars, her ascension, her talking to Alletta, Alletta’s dual magic, or all four. My confusion is tempered by joy at seeing her again and hope that maybe this means I’ll be allowed to come home.

Danika shakes her head. “The Moon Mother chose me but some of our other sisters disagreed. In a few hours I have to pass Lady's Judgement on the twelve who lived through their rebellion.”

I can see it weighing on her. Danika is not a person madeto take so many burdens. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s been irresponsible, reckless, and fun. She’s freedom incarnate and my complete opposite, which was probably why we got along so well.

When I get home, I’ll be her Shadow and I can take a little of the burden from her like I did for Glenna.

“I contacted Alletta at our lady’s request,” she continues. “You cannot come home, Nilsa.”

Those five words smack into my gut like rocks. My eyes burn with unshed tears and I take a shuddering breath to steady myself.

Danika swallows, knowing what effect her words are having on me, but she still carries on speaking. “It’s not my choice. Believe me, I want you back. But the Goddess has other plans.”

My head falls forward, strands of my hair tickling my face. “What does the Lady ask?”

“You are to find the ones responsible for Glenna and Felicity’s deaths,” Danika’s words are heavy. “The coven has been told to declare you an exile to preserve the truce between us and the Solars. The Lady doesn’t wish for any more bloodshed in Coveton.”

I can’t speak. My head shakes from side to side, but my voice has abandoned me.

Betrayal echoes in the words that finally escape. “I am the Shadow of the Moon. I’m meant to serve by your side as your left hand, not act as a scapegoat to preserve a false peace.”

“And you will,” Danika insists. “Glenna was… Glenna wasn’t what we thought she was. There are so many things going on right now, and I—” she cuts off. “I am not exiling you for no reason, nor by choice.”

A shadowy hand slips over her shoulder, one of her harem offering wordless comfort.

“I have no family, apart from our coven,” I murmur, wordsturning steely in a last, desperate measure to protect the shattering pieces of my heart. “No harem, just duty. I always thought it was to make me better able to serve the Goddess. Now I see it was just to make sure I could be disposed of more easily.”

Danika bites her lip, silver eyes brimming with tears. But her voice is steady as she replies, “The Goddess commands Her Shadow to accept Her marks and follow Her orders or forfeit her life to allow someone else to take up her sacred duty.”

I just gape at her. So that’s what it comes down to? Obey or die?

Danika’s eyes flick sideways to Alletta.