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

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too hard

neck-”

You may be okay with Dad being distant and se

harsh as they sounded. I could tell they had hurt her. She didn’t reply, the silence loud er than her words would

“I’m sorry, Mama.”

I understand why you’re

do you do it? Be married to a man who-who does

your father. Just like I hope you will trust Troy’s judgment here.

times.”

as we walked up the steps to the temple and entered the

name was Grace, which I found rather ironic. She walked with grace, and talked with grace, but her

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

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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 arms folded over her chest as

I said,

and answered casually, “You’re

the same rites, the same texts. I believe your attitude has more to do with

Witches,

toward my mom. I

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lash out. She stood

appreciate your gracious tour, I am more interested in what you want to know about the moonstone. Such a pagan thing, I would say,

was cut off by Grace, who

fists.

hair that was pulled back into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. She was taller than Mom but not taller than me, and I

Church. I need it returned to

reaching down to tap her finger on the moon dial. “The moonstone belongs to the

turned into a diamond under pressure. I was thankful to have her back to her full health. She seemed to glow in the light

as singular, which matched

over my skin as I

have it,

anymore,” Mom lied, her

across my cheeks didn’t give anything away. I couldn’t lie

“Then where is it?”

is so important to the Church to have

lip, looking thor oughly irked by

the relics related to the Moon Goddess, regardless of whose

you aided Damian in the overthrow of Drogo

as hard as I could to stay upright as Mom stared blankly at Grace, tilting her head to the side as Grace’s face underwent a

don’t know what

yourself. The Church lays

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then began to back away

moon dial. Mom followed.

are you working with? Is

Mom said Tasia’

speak her name

Is

the Moon Goddess, Queen Maeve.

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 the map, had they not given it to Romero for safe keeping during

you know all of

been in on her grand scheme the entire time. Grace was the High Priestess. She was part of

out, anger bringing color to

trailing behind her as she turned into a darkened hallway, leaving us alone in the grand marble foyer

was that all about?” I hissed, my voice echoing on the walls despite my attempt to

herself, exhaling deeply. “Noth ing, honestly. I was guessing, throwing things until 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 the fact that

you hit the

walking toward the entrance now. I followed, looking over my shoulder at the corridor where

the bitter chill of the air biting against my cheeks as we walked across the

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