My hands clenched into fists.
Stay calm, Druella!
“You won’t kill me, though,” I managed to say.
“Do not be that certain—”
“Theseus told me you are the one who saw me. The reason he began to search for me. You’re his mother. You do not want to hurt him, so you won’t hurt me.”
“Are you using my son as a shield!” she snapped.
“I’m just telling the truth.”
For the first time, she smiled, and I really, really wished she hadn’t. She was intimidating enough with a scowl or an emotionless expression, but the smile on her face made her look sinister. Like I’d fallen into a trap.
“Truth?” she repeated, rising from her chair and walking over to me—no, circling me. “I’m also capable of giving truth. Would you like to hear it, witch?”
“Do I have a choice?” I asked, observing her as she walked around me.
“First truth, no, you do not have a choice.” Her cold voice spoke from behind, making my body tense, only slightly relaxing when I could see her in the corner of my eye again. “Second truth, you are madly in love with Theseus. Even far greater than you seem to realize. I see him imprinted all over your little mortal heart.”
“Thanks for stating the obvious to me. I was clued into that a little while ago, and the fact that I followed him here kind of hammered it home for me. Though I’m glad I said the words to him right before we came, or you would have spoiled it.” I bit the inside of my check, really not liking this at all.
“Third, truth.” She spoke again, now directly in front of me, staring deep into my eyes. “You, like so many Wiccan, are selfish and avaricious for magic.”
My eyes narrowed as I glared up at her. “I am learning not to judge all vampires by the horrible ones I have met. Maybe you should learn to do the same with witches.”
“I do not care about all witches. I care about my son and, therefore, you, which means you cannot remain a witch!”
“I will not be told what to be! Not by you or anyone else!” I hollered back at her, feeling my fingers spark.
“And that selfishness is the reason why you will hurt him. Do you know what it is to live a thousand years of loneliness? It is like a darkness that consumes from the inside out. And here you are now, finally shining a light on his life, and then what? You will die, and he will be alone again? Eternity remembering you fondly—that is what you want?”
“Mother, stop it! Arsiein enough!” I heard Theseus’s voice, frantic and angry, but I still couldn’t see him.
“I-I…don’t want him to be hurt.”
“But that’s what you are going to do, not just him but everyone else. You are playing a risky game, little witch! And for what? To hold on to your coven? To keep playing with magic? Is your love not worth more—”
“Get out of my face!” I sneered. I shook in anger and threw her from me, her body flying toward the other side of the room from me.
Before she could hit the doors, she was caught in the arms of another vampire, then one by one, more vampires just appeared. I didn’t know from where or how, and I didn’t care. I was sick of this!
“Druella, wait!” Theseus called out for me, grabbing my wrist.
“Let go!” I called as I yanked for my hand back.
“What my mother said to you was wrong,” Theseus replied, holding my wrist tighter. “I apologize on behalf—”
“I don’t want an apology from you!” I yelled as my eyes filled with tears. Dammit! I was not going to cry right now. “I want one from her. I can’t help that I’m a witch! She was once a witch, so were you, so were all vampires! Why would she call me selfish for not wanting to change? I don’t want to be immortal yet!”
“I know,” he whispered, placing his hands on my face. “And no one is going to force you. I like you mortal.”
“You’d like me no matter what,” I grumbled, looking away. “Your mother, on the other hand, was very clear, and I will not hate myself because of her.”
“Nor should you have to,” he replied, kissing my forehead. “Let’s go.”
“Go? Where?”