CH. 71 The Witch Who Hated the Moonlight
The forest is on fire.
Not normal fire—
Witchfire.
It burns blue at the edges, pink at the core, and hums like a goddess having a nervous breakdown.
Trees twist like serpents.
The sky cracks open with neon lightning.
The air itself vibrates with curses older than kingdoms.
In the center of the storm—
I stand opposite the witch who cursed my entire life.
My hands glow molten red.
Her eyes burn venom-green.
And between us, the dirt smokes.
The Supreme and her coven fight in a tight circle behind me, their spells forming shimmering shields against the gargoyle’s attacks.
The cursed witch shrieks with laughter.
“Look at you!” she roars. “HER FACE—HER MAGIC—HER BLOOD! You are her mirror all over again!”
I grit my teeth. “If you have something to say about my mother—say it!”
“Oh, I will.” She smiles, teeth sharp as betrayal.
“Your precious mother—Andromeda the First—was nothing but a thief.”
Before I can speak—
Before I can breathe—
A familiar voice cuts through the chaos.
“DREW!”
My heart flips.
Sorien.
He bursts into the clearing with Hegar right behind him, both panting, both wide-eyed as they take in the magical explosion we’re calling a Tuesday.
Hegar freezes at the sight of the gargoyle. “Oh moons—THAT ONE? AGAIN?”
The gargoyle screeches.
“I KNOW!!!” I scream back.
Sorien pulls his sword, eyes never leaving me.
“You came here alone?! Are you insane?!”
“You weren’t available!” I shout. “And also, yes!”
The cursed witch’s grin widens.
“Well, well. The prince arrives. Just like HER prince did.”
Sorien stiffens. “Her… what?”
Oh no.
“Don’t listen to—”
But she raises her voice above mine, manic and triumphant.
“Your beloved Andromeda’s mother,” she hisses, pointing straight at me, “stole the man I loved.”
The whole clearing stills.
Magic crackles.
Branches tremble.
Even the gargoyle looks invested.
“She took him from me. With her beauty. With her charm. With her perfect, perfect face.”
A gust of wind slams the forest, tossing leaves like daggers.
“She married him. Bore this child.”
Her gaze cuts through me like a blade.
“And he loved them more than he ever loved me.”
My stomach twists.
“That’s not my fault,” I whisper.
She snarls.
“It is. Because he chose HER—NOT ME. And when she ran from me to save you, she took all my chances of happiness with him.”
Her hands rise, green flames swirling.
“HER baby should have died with her.”
Sorien steps in front of me instantly.
“If you want her,” he growls, “you go through me.”
Hegar facepalms. “Please don’t say that to a homicidal witch—”
The cursed witch shrieks at the sky.
“Oh, how adorable! The princes of Resan fall in love with pretty little Andromedas. AGAIN!”
I freeze.
Sorien freezes.
Hegar chokes on his spit.
“EXCUSE ME,” I croak.
The witch continues, voice poisonous with truth:
“Your father,” she spits at Sorien, “was also in love with Drew’s mother before she vanished and married the man I love instead! Before the Queen—”
Her eyes gleam.
“—forced him to marry her instead.”
Silence.
Then—
BOOM.
A shockwave of green fire erupts from her, scattering witches, uprooting trees, and sending the gargoyle charging.
Sorien grabs my wrist and yanks me behind him, sword flashing.
“Enough!” he shouts.
But the witch’s fury is tidal.
“The witch’s eyes blaze, her hair writhing like smoke.
“AND NOW YOU—THE SON OF THE KING WHO LET MY LIFE BURN—DARE TO LOVE HER CHILD?”
My stomach drops.
“Hold on—WAIT—WHAT—WHO SAYS ANYONE LOVES ANYONE—STOP SHOUTING!”
Sorien stiffens beside me, outrage and embarrassment wrestling on his face.
“I—THAT IS COMPLETELY—YOU ARE MAKING BASELESS—WE ARE NOT—THIS IS—STOP MAKING THINGS UP!”
He gestures violently, accidentally flinging a fire-scorched branch into a bush.
I groan into my hands.
Perfect.
Amazing.
Peak romance moment.
Ten out of ten.
The witch sneers.
“Do not lie to me, little prince. I can smell devotion like rot on your skin.”
Sorien turns scarlet.
Then pale.
Then scarlet again.
“I DO NOT SMELL LIKE ROT—AND THAT IS NOT—WE ARE NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WHILE YOU’RE TRYING TO KILL US!”
The cursed witch raises her hands.
“Let blood repay blood,” she hisses.
The gargoyle lunges.
Sorien leaps.
I cry out—
And the forest erupts into the beginning of a war so violent, even the moon trembles behind the clouds.