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.

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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

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too hard

neck-”

okay with Dad being distant and se cretive, but I’m not okay with Troy being

as they sounded. I could tell they had hurt her. She didn’t reply, the silence loud

“I’m sorry, Mama.”

understand why

married to a man who-who does things, alone?

all 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.

times.”

her response as we walked up the steps to

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

me was obvious. Maybe those ties Mom was talking about hadn’t been met with as much

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unnecessary, especially as she explained certain rites and ceremonies we were already familiar with. Mom seemed to grow in annoyance as I glanced at her, her arms folded over her chest as Grace went over the Church’s use of a moon dial

your problem with us?” I said, done with Grace’s

my question, and answered casually, “You’re pagans,

I believe your attitude has more to do with the fact the White Queens are an

pagans. Witches,

at this woman’s tone toward my mom.

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stood

to what we’re here for, shall we? As much as I appreciate your gracious tour, I am more interested in what you want to know

was cut off by Grace,

fists.

her neck. She was taller than Mom but not taller than me, and I had to

need it returned to us

said, reaching down to tap her finger on the moon

pressure. I was thankful to have her back to her full health. She seemed to glow in the light coming through the glass ceiling of the

the moonstones as singular, which matched Grace’s response. She had no

my skin as I watched Grace stare Mom down, her face perfectly

don’t have

Mom lied, her tone soft

hoping the flush prickling across my cheeks didn’t give

“Then where is it?”

I ask why it is so important to the Church to have

her tongue along her lower lip, looking thor

rights to all the relics related to the Moon

that why you aided Damian in the overthrow of Drogo

Mom stared blankly at Grace, tilting her head to

don’t know what

said it yourself. The Church lays claim to all artifacts related to the Moon

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then began to back away

moon dial. Mom followed.

you working with? Is it

as her robes when Mom

not speak her name

she hear us? Is this where you’re

is the Moon Goddess, Queen Maeve.

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 the map, had they not given it to Romero for safe keeping during the war-going against their

how do you know all of

pale, her eyes wide. She had come into this trying to wear us down, and Mom had been in on her grand scheme the entire time. Grace

is she?” Mom bit out, anger

she turned into a darkened hallway, leaving us alone in the grand marble

I hissed, my voice echoing on

they stuck, so to speak. I found it odd that Damian’s forces left the Tem ple untouched during their invasion, while they wrecked prac tically everything else. It was especially odd that she told you she knew about the moonstone, and that we had it, given

you hit the nail on the

I followed, looking over my shoulder at the corridor

how did you know she’s harboring Tasia?” I asked as we stepped outside, the bitter chill of the air biting against my cheeks as we walked

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