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.

o

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

being too

neck-”

You may be okay with Dad being distant and se cretive,

tell they had hurt her. She didn’t reply, the silence loud er than

“I’m sorry, Mama.”

I understand why

it? Be married to a man who-who does things,

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

times.”

her response as we walked up the steps to the

I found rather ironic. She walked with grace, and talked with grace, but

Mom and me was obvious. Maybe those ties Mom was talking about hadn’t been

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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

us?” I

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

same texts. I believe your attitude has more to do with the fact the White Queens

pagans. Witches, if

my mom.

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Mom didn’t lash out. She stood calmly, peering at Grace with

in what you want to know about the moonstone. Such a pagan thing, I would

cut off by Grace, who had balled

fists.

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

I need it returned

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 glistening with challenge as she waited for Grace’s

as singular, which matched Grace’s response. She

as I watched Grace

have it, do

lied, her tone

the flush prickling across my cheeks didn’t give anything away. I couldn’t lie to save

“Then where is it?”

it is so important to

tongue along her lower lip, looking thor oughly irked by

Moon Goddess, regardless of whose possession they are in. Includ ing

you aided Damian in the

almost fainted. I fought as hard as I could to stay upright as Mom stared blankly at Grace, tilting her head to the

don’t know what

would Romero have gotten the map? You said it yourself. The Church lays claim to all artifacts related to

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swallowed, then began to back away from

moon dial. Mom followed.

working

robes when Mom said Tasia’ s

speak her

Is this where you’re

Moon Goddess, Queen Maeve. You

a girl with powers she doesn’t understand and powers she refuses to use for good. Had the Church not tempted Damian with the

you know all

was sickly 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 was the High Priestess. She was part of the

Mom bit out, anger bringing

a darkened hallway, leaving us alone in the grand marble foyer

hissed, my voice echoing on the walls despite

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

the nail on the

I followed, looking

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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