Bergot stands and walks toward the dragon. “You have no idea what you are talking about, Sister.”
“Really? I followed him to your precious Sanctuary.” The dragon seethes air through her razor-sharp teeth. “So, I shattered his heart and destroyed the village from which he hailed.”
“I know you did because I fixed him. I built a cage to protect his fragile heart.” Bergot rests her hands on her chest. “I promise he and I were never lovers; you know I preferred women. Heinrich visited me that day to ask for my blessing to take your hand in marriage.”
The dragon bounds into the air and soars around the courtyard. When she lands, she tilts her scaly head. “Why should I believe you?”
“He loved you. He called you his Liebhaberin.” Bergot shakes her head. “You must believe me. He was planning to ask Stargott for his blessing as well.”
“My Liebhaber.” The dragon releases a deep, smoky sob, and a large tear falls from her eye and splashes onto the pavers. “Now I must go through with my plan. In Gisela’s beautiful form, he would be a fool not to take me back!”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Albert chimes in, strolling toward the dragon with his eyebrows furrowed. “You said she’d be mine.”
“Shut up.” The dragon uses her clawed wing to push Albert back a few feet. “My pet, do you really think that I, after all this time and finally having a perfect form, would only take one lover?”
“What?” Albert asks. “You can’t be serious.”
“It does not matter now, Sister,” Bergot says, hanging her head. “I’m sorry, but Heinrich is dead.”
“What?” The dragon snaps her head toward Bergot. “No! You’re lying!”
“Yes, Sister. His heart cage burst with joy upon seeing Prince Franz in human form.”
Grief takes hold again as I recall Heinrich’s death, but he’s certainly better off than with Hexegot. Would Brahm be better off without me? I shake my head and push the thought from my mind.
While the goddesses argue about Heinrich, Brahm and I squirm, trying to break free from the ropes.
“Albert,” I whisper to get his attention, but he won’t look me in the eyes, “you don’t have to do this. Please, untie us!”
“No, she’ll kill me.” He looks back at the dragon with a sullen and pale face.
Shaking and snarling, the dragon rises onto her hind legs and releases a plume of white-hot fire into the sky. Bergot rushes toward us, but the dragon knocks her to the ground, pinning the goddess under her large talons.
“You will die, Sister. I have found a way to harness all of the magic, using Gisela as my vessel. I simply need more relics,” she says and nods at the bone clutched in Bergot’s fingers. “Give me that.”
“No.”
Whirling around in an explosion of ash and glowing light, Hexegot emerges in her human-sized form. Bergot lifts the singing bone and presses it against her forehead, humming. Her father’s relic glows and transforms into a gleaming-white diadem.
“Sister, you’re only making things easier for me. I need your bones, too.” Hexegot laughs and extends her palm, causing Bergot to fall to the ground. “Albert, tie her up as well.”
Bergot tries to block Albert with a charm, but she cringes and yelps in pain.
Hexegot laughs. “You’re not strong enough.”
Albert is able to grab Bergot, bind her wrists and ankles, and prop her against the wall of bones next to Brahm.
“I know you are lying about our brother.” Hexegot glides forward and gets in Bergot’s face. “Where is Stargott hiding?”
“What do you mean? I have no idea.”
Hexegot roars as she grabs Bergot’s shoulders, shaking her. “Stop lying! Tell me where Stargott is!”
“I swear, I do not know. These two found his house in the woods. They said it was complete ruins, meaning he has not been there in ages.” Bergot tilts her head. “Is he not protecting the mountain passes anymore?”
“Lies. I can make you tell me.” Hexegot presses her thumbs against Bergot’s temples. The goddess screams, and her body contorts. After a moment, Hexegot throws her head back as she stands, releasing a battle cry. “You really don’t know?”
Bergot shakes her head.
“I need his bones for this to work,” Hexegot mumbles under her breath. “I shall meditate inside. We will find my brother.” She turns to Albert. “Come.”
Albert and Hexegot begin walking toward the castle. The witch-goddess raises her hands in the air, making Brahm, Bergot, and myself float with her magic. Gliding through the courtyard and into a large temple inside the castle, a horrible pain sears through my body. I writhe and scream in the air.
Hexegot snaps her fingers, and we fall to the ground with a thud. All around, sconces illuminate the bones forming the structure of the temple. There is a large crystal ball in the center of the room and a stone slab nestled in the apse of the bone-lined sanctuary. Hexegot rummages through her collection of items on a worktable and lights incense. I’ve been here before.
“Are you alright?” Brahm whispers, shuffling his body toward me.
“I think so. Are you—”
“Albert, my pet, keep watch over them.” Hexegot cuts me off and turns to me. “I’ve protected this sanctuary with a curse. If any of you attempt to leave, your little sister will die immediately.”
Thora.
“No, no! You can’t,” I cry out.
Ignoring me, Hexegot kneels before her crystal ball. Her body sways as she meditates. Inside, the crystal swirls with color. A painful vibration fills the air. My temples hurt again, and I lean my head back against the wall. Albert stands before me, staring.
“What?” I ask him with tears in my eyes.
Albert slicks his dark hair out of his face and kneels. Straddling my legs, he touches my cheek with his cold, pale hand. Without looking, I can feel Brahm’s intense glare piercing into Albert.
“Beautiful Gisela,” Albert whispers, still holding my dagger in his right hand.
I try to control my breathing as Albert traces my jaw, neckline, and cleavage with the blade. Why would he do all this just for me?
I’m reminded of what the dark mirror version of me said.
You have an immense amount of power—you just need to harness it.
You really have no idea the effect you have on people, do you?
If the goddesses are correct, and I am a demigoddess, then maybe I can defeat Hexegot and Albert myself.
I soften my face and offer him a weak smile. “Will you help me, my Albert?” I coo his name in a low, whispery voice, maintaining eye contact. “We could be together if you take me back to Thora. I’d do anything for the man who reunites me with my sister.”
“What?” Brahm shouts, snapping his head to me.
I have to ignore Brahm if I want this to work. Gazing into Albert’s eyes, I tilt my chin into his hand and part my lips. His eyes twinkle and gloss over as he leans in for a kiss. Playfully moving my lips and tongue, I press my chest into his. I swallow the vomit rising in my throat and continue kissing the man I hate.
“Please stop,” Brahm whispers. “No, Freckles.”
I feel terrible for making Brahm upset but focus on my kiss with Albert. I concentrate on making Albert do what I want. There. He slides his hand—the one with my dagger—up my spine, pulling me closer. Now drop it. The weapon falls to the stone floor with a clink. Forget the dagger. Focus on me.