Chapter 1
The throne room was large, bare, and meant to make anyone who entered it feel small and inadequate. With its parquet floors and stone walls deep shadows were a constant despite the use of several balls of witchfire. A single runner of rich purple spanned the room from the double doors to the dais where two unadorned thrones rested.
A beautiful middle aged woman with ebony hair and jet eyes sat on the centered throne while a more delicate version lounged on the throne set a little to the left. They both surveyed the crowd that consisted of most of the powerful members of the Witch Hierarchy but it was obvious only one of them was enjoying the gathering.
Airon Danvers stifled a yawn as she watched her mother, Witch Queen Madara, rise from the thrown and motion for silence. “Today is a day of great celebration for not only are we welcoming the Spring Equinox, we are rejoicing that my daughter, Witch Heir Airon has reached the age of majority.” A cheer went up and Madara smiled. “Come Airon. Say something to your future subjects.”
Before she could move the double doors burst open and a woman carrying a child was shoved into the room. The crowd quickly parted to allow three guards to force the pair towards the dais. Her mouth thinned when she saw who the woman was.
One of the guards, a man she knew to be nothing more than a cruel bully, bowed before Madara then announced. “We caught these two trying to get off the island. The child is a half-breed.”
The entire room went silent as all eyes turned the Madara expectantly. “Elena Redgrove, do you have anything to say against these accusations?”
“Yes I do,” spat Elena. “My child is an innocent. As such he does not deserve to be condemned for what is not his fault.”
The child turned glittering eyes towards the dais and bared baby fangs that damned him in the eyes of everyone present. Then he tucked his face in his mother’s neck.
“Elena Redgrove, you are guilty of high treason to the Witch Hierarchy for consorting with a Vampire and bearing his abomination. For this you and the issue will be executed.”
Airon jerked in denial. The child couldn’t be more than three or four. Instantly she smoothed her expression as she realized exactly how corrupt her mother had become. Elena caught her attention and their eyes locked.
“You will die by fire as is traditional.”
Ignoring her mother’s verdict, Airon focused on Elena’s desperate eyes and connected them so that they could communicate telepathically.
I kept your secret, Elemental. You owe me.
She paled as she inclined her head slightly.
Don’t let them kill my son. Take him to his father, Jonas McKnight.
Her eyes closed briefly, and then Airon rose from her chair. “I claim the child.”
Madara gaped at her before turning bright red in fury. “The child dies, Airon. He is an abomination to our people.”
Airon made her way down the dais stairs to where Elena stood. She waited while Elena hugged her son then stared intently into his eyes. Those knowing dark eyes filled with tears but he obediently held out his arms to Airon. She gently took him from his mother and tightened her arms around his warm weight as her mother snarled.
“Kill her! Airon release that filthy creature.”
The guards erupted into action and Elena’s blood sprayed across the two of them before Airon could react. Shielding the child’s eyes from his mother’s mutilated body and staring eyes, she forced her voice to be steady.
“Mother, you have become the abomination. The Witch Hierarchy has turned its back on the old ways and I can no longer be a part of it.”
The boy whimpered softly into her neck and her eyes narrowed as a man appeared from the shadows beside the dais. Hatred flared white hot at the sight of her mother’s most trusted advisor, Darius Nightshade. A bitter smiled twisted her lips as she announced.
“I renounce my claim to this throne.”
The throne room erupted into whispers as the Witch Queen was speechless. Then her mouth snapped shut and her face tensed.
“Airon Taliesin Danvers, having renounced your claim to the throne you are now subject to the common laws that govern the Witch Hierarchy. I hereby sentence you to death for treason against your Queen.”
A cold wind whipped through the room at those words. “The day is coming when all Witches will answer for what they have become. Goodbye, Mother.” The wind swirled around them and she and the child vanished.
