Kate scoffed. “Me?” She touched her chest. “A witch queen?” The words felt foreign in her mouth, absurd even. She scoffed again, shaking her head as she stood. “What are you saying?” A nervous laugh bubbled from her throat.

  The room suddenly felt smaller, the walls inching closer.

  A shiver rippled down her spine, the very idea of being a witch making her skin prickle as if unseen hands clawed at her. Maybe they have no idea what they’re talking about. She tsked and sneered.

  “This is who you’re meant to be,” Isabel said, her voice gentle yet firm. “That’s what the late queen—your grandmother—told me when I asked why.”

  Kate swallowed hard, her throat dry.

  Isabel entwined her fingers together, exhaling heavily.

  “She said that’s what the oracle told her, and a queen’s words must never be taken lightly.”

  Kate’s chest tightened. “What if I don’t accept it?” she challenged, looking straight into Isabel’s eyes, her nails digging into her palms.

  Her heart pounded, hammering against her ribs. “What if I say no?”

  “We can’t force you, Kate. But listen—”

  “Why me and not Aurora?” Kate cut Isabel off, her voice sharp. “Why was I the one chosen?”

  Isabel sighed, pressing her lips into a tight line. Isabel thought to herself.

  Isabel bit her lower lip. She let go of her lip.

  Isabel stood from the chaise longue, the floor creaking beneath her weight. She approached Kate and gently took her hands, her touch warm but heavy with unspoken sorrow.

  “This is your destiny, Kate. You can’t run away from—”

  Kate yanked her hands away, her heart pounding harder now, a drumbeat of fear echoing in her chest. A wave of unease churned in her stomach, cold and relentless.

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  “This is not my destiny,” Kate said, shaking her head, her voice barely more than a whisper. Yet it trembled with the force of a storm.

  “Kate—”

  “No,” she cut her off, stepping back. The room suddenly felt suffocating, as if the air had thickened, pressing down on her. “I don’t want this.”

  Isabel nodded slowly, her expression unreadable, though her eyes glistened with understanding.

  “I knew you would feel this way…”

  “You don’t!” Kate snapped, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. “You have no idea what you’re asking of me! Seriously telling me that becoming a witch queen is my destiny? If you had any idea, you wouldn’t have even dared to mention it.”

  The faint sounds of training outside suddenly grew louder, ringing in her ears like war drums.

  Her stomach twisted, nausea creeping up her throat as the realization settled in, heavy as a boulder.

  Balling her hands into fists, she bit her lip hard enough to taste blood, trying to steady herself.

  “I don’t belong here,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “I belong where my people are. I… I belong where I was born.”

  Isabel turned away, staring out the window. A lone bird swooped past, its wings slicing through the open sky. The blue expanse, once beautiful, now felt like an ocean, endless and overwhelming.

  “But I fear it’s too late to run now,” Isabel murmured, her voice tinged with sorrow. She let out a dry laugh, one filled with bitter acceptance. “Aurora is after your family—just for the throne. She’s been envious of you since the moment you were declared the successor. Why did the oracle choose you? We don’t know. After all, you never grew up among us. You didn’t even know we existed. Many witches believe the late queen chose you simply to find and reunite with her daughter. But even if that were true, no one could go against the queen’s word.”

  Kate’s breath hitched. Her fingers curled around the fabric of her cloak, gripping it tightly.

  Isabel sighed. “That made Aurora furious. She turned into a rebel, defying our traditions. And now…” Isabel took a deep breath. “She wants to eradicate us—the white witches—and bring back the black witches we once wiped out because of their dark sorcery.”

  Isabel paused and looked back at Kate. “She’s after you now. The danger looming over your loved ones—it’s because of you.” Isabel’s voice cracked, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Because Aurora is after you. She’s searching for powerful sorcery.” Isabel hesitated. “We don’t know yet if she’s found it. But if she has…” Isabel pressed her lips into a tight line. “What do you think will happen to your family?”

  Kate’s blood boiled, rage and despair colliding inside her. Her face burned, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. The fresh air rushing in through the window pricked her skin like thorns. A deep chill seeped into her bones.

  “Then… find your queen,” Kate choked out, trying to sound strong, but her voice cracked. “Why?” she whispered, tears spilling freely now. “Why did you have to do this to me? Why didn’t you stop her? Just… just give her the crown. Why… why did…”

  Kate collapsed to the ground, her sobs shaking her small frame.

  Isabel watched as Kate buried her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling.

  Isabel thought and blinked away tears, sniffled, and wiped her damp cheeks.