Witch Gate

Prologue

Rosmerta

After our attempt to open a gate to the Otherworld had been busted by the Seelie Court guards, those of us in the Unseelie who hadn’t been arrested managed to regroup. Afraid to meet anywhere that we’d been before, we went to Tom and Frank’s house, the owners of the downtown coffee shop. They’d given a hiding place to my daughter Akasha and I before the ritual, and now that our plans had fallen apart, the remaining co-conspirators met there under the cover of darkness.

I’d finally managed to calm myself after my encounter with my older daughter, Rosamunde. Although she let me go in the end, I had been shaking with rage after our fight. It took a long talk with my friend Angelica to get over my anger and disappointment about just how badly things had gone, and how little compassion Rosamunde had for my plight. I’d been a fool to think that I could get through to her when she was so deeply involved with the Seelie Court.

We were all upset about those who had been arrested—Sir Allen, our only faeriekin supporter; Marzell and his mother, Esther; the dryads who had set up the spell that blocked magical interference; and the satyrs who had prepared the ritual site for us to open the gate. We hoped that they wouldn’t turn the rest of us in under pressure to make a deal with the Court, and we feared that other evidence would turn up to link us to the incident. The Seelie would be out for blood now that they knew what we had tried to do.

Mary, who had been watching the ritual and managed to get away without being seen by Glen or his avenging army of faeriekin, explained the whole situation from her perspective. Since I’d been there, only the last thing she said stood out to me. After the others were arrested, he kept questioning them about how they knew what to do and where they were hiding the material. ‘The scale,’ he said over and over. ‘Do you have the scale?’ I have no idea what he was talking about.

I frowned. Could we have overlooked some component that we needed to make the gate work properly? What could a scale do?

Angelica shrugged. Measure something, I guess. Sorcery uses precise measurements a lot of the time. Just the right amount of something or the whole spell can go wrong.

Mary’s daughter Elizabeth stood up and cleared her throat. I think they mean a dragon scale, from the guardian.

I turned to stare at her. Elizabeth had shown up earlier that day, begging for sanctuary, after she’d also somehow escaped from the ritual bust. I wanted to let her get arrested—after all, we’d kept her from being involved in anything illegal for just that purpose, and she would get a slap on the wrist at best—but my promise to Mary had forced me to take her in. Now she could prove her value if she’d gained more information from Rosamunde and her friends than she’d originally told us.

Where did you hear about the guardian dragon? I demanded. Even those who had attempted to cross the Veil without the Seelie’s permission didn’t always encounter the guardian or know about her presence. Why would her scale be important?

Elizabeth shrugged. Well, I just thought that since the guardian is kind of in between both worlds, and she keeps an eye on people going through the Veil, one of her scales might have some kind of powers.

I smiled warmly at the girl. Why, that’s a brilliant idea. Yes, a creature of both worlds would be able to serve as a bridge, just like someone with Fae and human blood. But how would you get your hands on one of her scales? She’s very fierce.

Well, I guess she must be missing one, if they’re so keen on finding it again, she said smugly.

I saw her satisfied grin and laughed aloud. She was boasting about her own accomplishment. You don’t have to tell us how you got it, I said, sidling over next to her and putting my arm around her shoulders. But, my clever girl, you must tell us where it is. Otherwise we may have to flee the state or even the country.

Elizabeth glanced at Mary, who was looking ready to explode in anger at her daughter’s reckless behavior. Well, if I can’t go back to the house, then my mom will have to pick it up. I—I hid it under my bed, she stammered, looking down at her feet.

I gave her a big squeeze and nodded at Mary. Wonderful! We may still have hope of opening a gate after all—and then we’ll rescue those who got caught today. I bent down to whisper in the pookha girl’s ear. I only wish you’d said something sooner, dear. You could have saved all of us a great deal of trouble.

She stiffened under my touch. Yeah, well, you didn’t want me getting directly involved, and you thought I couldn’t handle dangerous stuff like that anyway, remember? If you’d asked me what I could do, I might’ve told you. She looked up at me. One thing you gotta promise me, though. If you can use this thing to open the gate, and we get to take over like we want, then you have to punish Rosa for what she’s done. She’s hurt too many people with her games.

I smiled. Of course. My smile faded and I shook my head sadly. She deserves to learn a lesson for what she’s done.

1

Rosa's Confession

Rosamunde

I used to have the perfect family. Then witchcraft made everything fall apart.

Just earlier that day, I’d confronted my mother at last. When she ran away from the law of the faeriekin after I turned her in for performing illegal magic, she took my little sister, Akasha. Since then, everything I’d done had been trying to get Akasha back. I’d lied, stolen, traded Court secrets, and even let Mom kidnap my best friend, Ashleigh, and almost open a gate through the Veil to the Otherworld. I risked every relationship I had and my own personal safety. That all culminated in today, when I finally had the chance to stop Mom once and for all.

Well, things didn’t exactly go according to plan. And now I had to explain why I’d let things go so wrong to the people who had helped me, the ones on my side: my friends. I didn’t know if they’d still be my friends once they knew the truth.

I’d spent the day running through the snow and flying in freezing winds, so I needed to warm up. Curled up in a huge overstuffed armchair in Ashleigh’s rooms at Doe’s Rest Castle, with a fuzzy blanket and a mug of hot chocolate, I felt like I was finally starting to thaw out. In that comfy warmth, the stress of the long day was melting off of me, and I wanted nothing more than to close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

Ashleigh, Glen, and Heather were all there, waiting patiently for me to be ready. I looked around the semi-circle we formed in front of the fireplace to see where everyone was sitting, because I was secretly curious about where their complicated relationship stood today. Ashleigh and Glen had been betrothed for years because of Fae politics, while Glen had tried to get Ashleigh to fall in love with him. She considered him a close friend, but never returned his affections. Recently, Ashleigh confessed to me that she thought Glen was finally giving up on her because he was attracted to Heather—which added all kinds of problems, because Heather was a human, but her parents were vampires, and they planned to turn her when she became eighteen, the legal age of consent. And if there was anyone who didn’t get along more than the Seelie and the Unseelie, who were really just rival political factions, it was Fae and vampires.

But my three friends all sat in their own chairs, each an equal distance apart from the rest, and no one was touching or looking at anyone but me. So Glen wasn’t pretending to be attached to Ashleigh, but he also wasn’t showing any interest in Heather. I didn’t know if Glen and Heather were already having a relationship in secret, or if they were still in denial about their feelings, and I didn’t think I’d get many details from Ashleigh. She was loyal to both of them and didn’t want to betray their trust. What a mess.

But I couldn’t stall any longer. I took a deep breath and looked down at the swirls of pale brown chocolate liquid in my mug, and prepared to explain what I didn’t fully understand myself.

I let my mother go.

No one made a sound, and I didn’t dare look up to see their faces, so I rushed on to finish before I lost my nerve again.

She told me that the reason she used the spells was to keep my dad from leaving her after she had an affair. I was trying to force her to tell me where my sister was, but then she said that Dad has no right to take Akasha from her because he’s not her real father, and I—I let her go. I couldn’t believe it, but at the same time, I remembered when it happened. She’d buried all of our memories, but mine came back when she said it.

I felt numb as I talked, as if I were watching myself speak from somewhere outside my body, or telling the story of someone else’s tragedy. The impact of my words wasn’t penetrating my heart. I didn’t try to question that, because it just made it easier to keep going.

She told me that I was just like her, because I—I cheated on Kai, too. That’s why I broke up with him. With Zil, even though I knew she was working for the Unseelie. So I thought, what if Kai and I had been married when it happened, and we had a child? And then I finally understood why she did it. It was wrong, but she felt like she didn’t have a choice. Dad was going to leave her and take me with him, and she would have lost everything. I didn’t think that the Court should punish her, because she already feels guilty for it every day of her life. So I let her go. I hung my head. So basically every choice that I made was really bad, and I screwed it all up.

I’d expected them to yell at me, or at least to give me some kind of lecture about how I’d thrown away months of work to let a dangerous criminal go free, but when I finished telling everything that had happened, Ashleigh touched my arm and smiled warmly.

We’re not surprised, Rosa, she said in her soft, gentle voice, and melted away a piece of icy fear that had lodged in my heart when I thought about how my friends would react.

I blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears, and stared at her. Really? Because I promised everyone that I’d stop her for good this time—

She rubbed my arm under the blanket. I was afraid that it was too much to ask you to turn in your own mother, and I guess I was right. You’re always going to have a soft spot for her because she raised you. She was a huge part of your life for a long time and you can’t just switch off your feelings for her, no matter how much you want to. Ashleigh glanced at the others. Dealing with my own mom is simple by comparison, because she’s never given me a reason to like her.

I stared at her, shocked that she’d used the word simple to describe her own mother-daughter relationship. All faeriekin had a Fae relative somewhere in their family history, but most of them were like Glen, who came from old bloodlines of mixed Fae-human heritage. Ashleigh’s mom was the Duchess Auriana, a terrifying Fae noblewoman. Ashleigh’s human father raised her alone, and her mother only showed up to tell Ashleigh what to do with her life or show disapproval. I couldn’t imagine having that kind of pressure.

But there were more important things to worry about right now. I looked over at Glen. I know you tried to cover for me with the Faerie Court by telling them that I was an undercover spy for you in the Unseelie, I said. Am I going to get in trouble now because I let my mom go?

Glen coughed and looked over at Ashleigh, who sat back and hid her face. I don’t think it’s your fault. It sounds more like your mother used her typical manipulation tricks on you so you would let her go.

Hey! I put down my mug on the table next to me. There’s no way she had a spell on me.

He shifted in his chair uncomfortably. I’m not saying it was a spell. Rosmerta never just used magic to get her aims. She used emotional and psychological blackmail, too. I think she was trying to make you feel guilty so you wouldn’t turn her in.

I shook my head in disbelief. Mom said harsh things sometimes, but that didn’t mean she was psychologically manipulating me. You just don’t know her like I do, I insisted. You don’t know what our family is like. And I mean, don’t all families do that? You know stuff about each other and you can use it to hurt them when you’re angry or desperate, but that doesn’t mean you’re plotting to.

I’d hurt my friends before without really meaning to. And surely they were all hurting each other with their own messed up love triangle. None of them had planned on being in that situation, but it happened, and sooner or later there was going to be fallout from it. I was afraid that my whole group of friends, the only support system I had since my family fell apart, would be wrecked by their heartbreak when whatever was happening between Heather and Glen finally came to a head.

Glen just shrugged off my protests. Whatever you think happened is up to you. But I’m promising you that I’ll try to put your case in the best light possible when I go before the Court. You’re going to have to confess everything that you did, and testify about the people you knew were involved in the Unseelie. We made a lot of arrests today, but they’re going to get a fair trial, and you’ll be a witness to give evidence of what you saw.

I stiffened when I heard that arrests had already been made. I’d promised that I’d turn Zil in for what she’d done, but I didn’t really know who else was working for the Unseelie. Who did you arrest?

He rattled off a list of names, only a few of which I recognized: the dwarves, Marzell and Esther, and Esther’s husband was under suspicion as well. And of course, Sir Allen. The rest were all other magikin, satyrs and dryads.

I remembered how shocked I’d been to see Allen there. When the Unseelie told me they had a spy in the Court, I thought it could be a bluff. I never suspected Sir Allen. Did your grandfather ever suspect him before? Do you think he could have been working with anyone else?

Glen shook his head. He was just as surprised as the rest of us. My grandfather would have never made him one of his personal guards if he ever doubted Allen’s loyalty. He’s got a bit of a reputation as a, um, ladies’ man— He looked apologetically over at the other girls. But otherwise his service to the Court has been outstanding for years. And everyone who had prior ties to the local Unseelie has been watched closely ever since my grandfather became count. He knows they would tear him down again if they had the chance. So if Allen has any other accomplices in the Court itself, we’ll only get them through his confession.

Or the confessions of the others who worked with them, I thought. I knew without asking Glen that the satyrs and dryads were probably denying any authority among the Unseelie. Whoever had been orchestrating the whole thing wouldn’t have been at the ritual itself, so they were still at large. And with my mother and anyone else still on their side also out there, the Unseelie were still a very big threat.

Glen nodded as if he could hear what I was thinking. We only caught some of the worker bees. The queen is still out there, and we don’t know what direction they’ll attack from next. We stopped one attempt, but if the dragon scale is still out there, then they can try again.

I tilted my head to one side. What made you think that they ever had the dragon scale in the first place? They knew of a way to use your magic to open the gate without it. If they could find another faeriekin like you, one who knows sorcery as well, then won’t they be able to do the same thing again?

He gripped the armrests on his chair. The dragon scale’s disappearance at the same time as your mother’s sudden resurfacing was too much of a coincidence, he said with a shake of his head. And there aren’t many faeriekin who study sorcery. I know that I’m the only one in Golden Forest County. They’ll have to go far to find another one, and if your mother has stuck around here for so long even with us hunting her, she’s pretty determined to stay. I don’t think she’ll run away now.

So there was still danger—and hope, as painful as it was to think of it again. In the past month and a half, I’d put myself through so much to try catching my mom and saving my sister. But just when it was supposed to be over, I was back at square one. I couldn’t bring myself to try again.

I’ll tell the Court everything that I know, and I’ll testify at the trial, I found myself saying aloud. But I don’t think that I can do much more. I’m tired of lying and sneaking around, and I’ll never get the Unseelie to trust me again. Besides, I don’t think that there’s anything I can do to help. This whole thing has gotten so much bigger than just my mom and me. I don’t know the first thing about finding a missing dragon scale or stopping rogue magikin from opening a gate into the Otherworld.

Ashleigh made a sympathetic noise in her throat. No one is expecting you to do more than you can, dear.

Glen’s phone chimed in his pocket with a new text message. He glanced at it and then looked back up at me. Like it or not, you’re still involved. The guards just arrested Elizabeth, and her family is being investigated for harboring your mother.

After my emotionally draining confession, I thought I would fall asleep right away. But when I followed Ashleigh up the stairs to a guest room and looked in the door at the bed all made up for me, I suddenly panicked at the idea of being alone with my thoughts. I grabbed Ash’s hand as she turned to leave. Don’t go just yet, I begged her. Can we talk for a little longer? Just you and me?

Sure. She gave me a tired smile and followed me into the room. It was a smallish room for the castle, without any extra seating, so we plopped down on the side of the bed together.

I just wanted to say I’m sorry, again. I looked down at the floor. Today was such a crazy day. I don’t want anyone to be mad at me, you most of all.

Ashleigh reached out and took my hand. It’s okay, Rosa, nobody’s mad at you. And we’re all gonna help you fix this, you’ll see.

I sighed and flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I just don’t see how anything can be fixed at this point. Mom, Akasha, Kai…

Ashleigh lay back on the bed next to me, still holding my hand. Did you want to fix things with Kai? I know you guys were having problems before.

I swallowed, but I still felt a lump forming in my throat. I don’t know. You’re right, we had our issues, and when I ended it with him, it felt like the right thing to do. I squeezed my eyes shut. But it’s not like I want to be with Zil, either. I can’t trust her. Getting involved with her was a mistake.

I felt Ashleigh shaking her head at me. I still can’t believe that happened. Why didn’t you tell me what was going on? I turned my head, and I saw her lower lip stuck out in a pout. You’re supposed to tell me stuff like that.

I turned away from her look of disappointment. I’m sorry. I was afraid you guys would get mad if you knew what I was doing with the Unseelie, and it was too hard to explain the situation with Zil if I didn’t tell you everything.

Ashleigh propped herself on one elbow so she could look me in the eye. Why did you do it? Not the spying, you already explained that. But the cheating.

I’m not really sure. I could still remember the way that Zil smelled, the way her ears twitched when she was unhappy, the thrill that I got when I knew I was meeting her again. Have you ever thought about cheating on Glen? I mean, especially now that you know he loves someone else?

Ashleigh’s face turned red, but she shook her head. I couldn’t! I mean, it could cause so many problems for both of us if people found out. Fae take oaths very seriously.

That didn’t answer the question. Her blush meant that she had thought about it, and I wanted to know with whom. I wanted to ask more about Glen and Heather, and if he’d broken his oath to her. But after all the lying and secrets I’d kept, I didn’t know if I had the right to ask her those kinds of questions anymore.

I tried to focus on how to explain myself better to her. Affairs are, um, extra exciting, I said bashfully. I guess the dangerous rebel thing was exciting, too. For a little while, she had me half-convinced that the Unseelie were right about some things. Sneaking around and talking in code—but maybe I was just confused. I wasn’t happy with Kai, so I was looking for an excuse to escape.

Ashleigh smacked me on the shoulder, just hard enough to sting. How could you trust the Unseelie? You could’ve gotten yourself hurt! Or killed!

I winced away from her. I know it was stupid. And I did get you hurt, today. I’m really sorry for that.

She shook her head. I knew the risk going in. A smile spread across her face. Besides, you saved me in the end.

I looked at her closely. Even without my lost lie-detecting charm, I could feel that she genuinely meant what she said, and it filled me with warmth. I smiled back at her. I’m just glad that you’re okay.

When the tension faded, I felt drained once again. I stifled a yawn.

Ashleigh sat up and tugged at the covers on the bed. Time for bed, sleepyhead. We’ll talk more tomorrow.

I made a faint noise of protest that I could take care of myself, but I let her tug off my shoes and get me under the blankets. I was still dressed in the clothes she’d leant me, warm fuzzy sweats to replace my own clothes wet from the snow, but I didn’t want to bother changing. I was really too tired to argue with her, and it was comforting to have her tuck me in.

She bent over and planted