Chapter 103: Betrayal
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The rectory rose above the University of Mirage, perched atop a hill adjacent to the magnificent Temple of the Moon Goddess, which signified the place as not only a religious sanctuary, but the true capital of both Valoria and the Church.
Mom was keeping in step with me as we followed Troy up the paved pathway leading up the hill. She sighed deeply, picking at a loose thread on her blue chunky-knit sweater.
She was upset about something. I believed wholehearted ly it had to do with the fact we were all sitting ducks while Ta sia hid somewhere nearby, waiting to strike.
“Did you know the White Queens split with the Church of the Moon Goddess?” I asked as we continued what felt like a
slow, endless climb towards the rectory.
“Yes, I did. That ended with my reign, however. We estab lished new ties with the Church shortly after you were born.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Mom laughed, shaking her head. “Oh, sweetheart, I did. It was taught in school. You just never listened.”
I frowned, tucking a loose lock of hair behind my ear. “I did listen-”
“Not often enough,” she teased, giving me a knowing
smile.
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I had a feeling karma for being a total pain in my parents’ ass was going to catch up to me as the years went by. I could already see the gleam of mischief in the eyes of Oli and Will. Charlie was our angel, at least for now.
“Troy, why didn’t Dad want to come with us today?” I asked as we neared the rectory.
Troy turned to us, meaning to part with us and go to the rectory himself while we met with the High Priestess of the Church.
“He and Rowan are putting a force together to find Hay den and Carl. I’m meeting up with them later and then—” he paused, looking from me to Mom. “I’m going to be going with your dad to locate them-and Ta’sia.”
“What?” I roared, which startled several people minding their own business as they sat on the benches along the path
way.
“We can talk about it later, Maeve,” he said with force, and
in front of Mom, too.
I felt heat prickle across my cheeks, running my tongue along my lower lip as I thought of a retort, but Mom took my hand and began to lead me away toward the temple.
“We’re already late, honey-”
“You’ re not going AN,chapter_version=chapter_version +1 WHERE until we have a chance to talk about this, Troy!” I said over my shoulder, giving him my best “mom look” that I had been practicing in the mirror the past few days.
Troy was oblivious to it and seemed heavily distracted. He
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had barely said a word to me about the stranger who had come to the gala. He had barely explained what he had found in the journal last night, too. Both he and Dad were being ex ceedingly secretive.
He turned toward the rectory without saying a word, and I turned my head back to the temple, vexed beyond a responsi ble doubt.
“I’m willing to assume the Priestess will need to speak to me more than she needs to speak with you, honey. You can join him after we show both of our faces, at least.”
“Hopefully, there’s a darkened corner where I can ring his
o
“You’re being too hard on him.”
neck-”
I? You may be okay with Dad being distant and se cretive, but I’m not okay with
as they sounded. I could tell they had hurt her. She didn’t reply,
“I’m sorry, Mama.”
understand why you’re
Be married to a man
of his schemes? It’s a lifelong prac tice, honey. But I trust your father. Just like I hope you will trust Troy’s judgment here. We may be White Queens, but they are men. And we have to
times.”
walked up the steps to the temple and entered the
I found rather ironic. She walked with grace, and talked with grace, but her words were often harsh and sharpened to such an edge I felt as though they could
Maybe those ties Mom was talking about hadn’t been met with as much
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certain rites and ceremonies we were already familiar with. Mom seemed to grow in annoyance as I glanced at her, her
your problem with us?” I said,
seemed unbothered by my question, and
“We have the same rites, the same texts. I believe your attitude has more to do with the fact the
said, pagans. Witches, if I
toward my mom. I
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She stood calmly,
I am more interested in
off by Grace, who had balled
fists.
nape of her neck. She was taller than Mom but not taller than me, and I had to look down at her slightly as she spoke. She looked all business in her white and silver
the Church. I need it
Priestess,” Mom said, reaching down to tap her finger on the moon dial. “The moonstone belongs to the White Queens.
was thankful to have her back to her full health. She seemed to glow in the light coming through the glass ceiling of the cathedral, her eyes
of Mom’s use of the moonstones as singular, which matched Grace’s response. She had
over my skin as I watched Grace stare Mom
don’t have it, do
anymore,” Mom lied, her tone
hoping the flush prickling across my cheeks didn’t give anything away. I couldn’t lie to
“Then where is it?”
I ask why it is so important to the
ran her tongue along her lower lip,
relics related to the Moon Goddess, regardless of whose possession they are
why you aided Damian in the overthrow of
I could to stay upright as Mom stared blankly at Grace, tilting her
don’t know what
the map? You said it yourself. The Church lays claim to
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swallowed, then began to back away from
moon dial. Mom followed.
you working with? Is
white as her robes when Mom said Tasia’ s name. She looked around, suddenly
not speak
us? Is
Goddess, Queen Maeve. You
Goddess. She is a misled girl with a vendetta about something that hap pened thousands of years ago. She is a girl with powers she doesn’t understand and powers she refuses to use for good. Had the Church not tempted Damian with
you know all
trying to wear us down, and Mom had been in on her grand scheme the entire time. Grace was the High Priestess. She was part of the High Elder Council. She was the head of the Church. How could
Mom bit out,
her robes trailing behind her as she turned into a darkened hallway, leaving us
my voice
so to speak. I found it odd that Damian’s forces left the Tem ple untouched during their invasion, while they wrecked prac
you hit the nail
walking toward the entrance now. I followed, looking over my shoulder at the
as we stepped outside, the bitter chill of the air biting against my cheeks as we walked across
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