Queen Witch Read online

  Queen Witch

  The Queen Witch Trials | Book 1

  Elle Middaugh

  Contents

  Synopsis

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Acknowledgments

  About Elle Middaugh

  Also by Elle Middaugh

  Copyright © 2018

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  Elle Middaugh

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Edited by Hot Tree Editing

  Cover designed by Lori Grundy from Cover Reveal Designs

  Interior formatting by Rene Folsom

  Synopsis

  She has to win the Queen Witch Trials, no matter the cost.

  The world has been divided for longer than anyone can remember. Each of the seven houses of magic has taken control of a single continent on Earth. The Mediterranean kingdom of Terranea has been ruled by the Strand family for hundreds of years, and now that the Queen Trials have begun again, it’s time to see which Strand princess has what it takes. Everyone eligible, magical princess must compete. Only the best of the best will rule.

  Princess Eliza was never interested in being Queen Witch. That is, until she discovers her older sister, the favorite for the throne, is a necromancer with less than savory intentions for the kingdom. Now Eliza must compete in the Queen Witch Trials – and she must WIN – or her beloved kingdom, and possibly the entire world, will crumble to ash and ruin.

  To the people out there with a dream, especially one that seems impossible, this book is for you. Whatever your dream is, don’t be afraid to chase it!

  Chapter 1

  Wispy tendrils of magic floated through the air across a backdrop of early morning sunshine. The tiger lily in my palm wilted as I drained its energy, and crumbled into a fine dust.

  It wasn’t that I particularly enjoyed killing flowers. I just understood that magic wasn’t free. It weighed much lighter on my heart to take life from an easily renewable plant source than from an innocent human being or animal.

  And with the Trials coming up, I needed all the practice I could get.

  Everyone knew my older sister Nerissa would win the Trials, but still. I didn’t want to look like a total dumbass next to her.

  Guiding the magic through the air, I sent the energy into a broken hand mirror on the mossy ground before me. The jagged shards quickly rearranged and righted themselves, fitting neatly back into the silver frame from which they came.

  I lifted the mirror and smiled at myself. My brown waves were styled perfectly. Alluring green eyes stared back at me, but they were perched atop unflattering purplish bags. Frowning, I pinched my skin to brighten it up, but it only made me look like I’d been crying.

  “It won’t do,” I muttered, as I slowly shook my head.

  “Yeah, you kinda look like death,” a voice chimed in on my right.

  Glancing over, I saw my black-and-silver-striped cat rolling around in a bed of dandelions.

  “What are you doing, Catfish?”

  He flipped over onto all four paws and crouched in the weeds, tail twitching. “Nothing.”

  I raised a brow and grinned. “Then why are you in attack mode?”

  He leapt into the air and swatted at the seeds, sending the florets scattering in a soft plume.

  “You’re ridiculous, Cat,” I said, standing and dusting off my rose-gold gown despite the fact that it was already pristine.

  “No, you’re ridiculous, Eliza. You’re the one with magic. Use it to fix your face.”

  I blinked. “You’re being incredibly rude right now, you know that?”

  He pounced at the seeds again. “Oh, you know what I meant. You don’t want your future husband to think he’s marrying a zombie princess.”

  With thin lips, I bent down, grabbed a chunk of moss, and magically crushed it into sparkling dust with a spell. “Greenish moss around this place, let your magic fix my face.”

  Holding it like a handful of water, I scrubbed it all over my skin until my features practically glowed.

  “Better?” I snapped.

  Catfish trotted over and rubbed his whole body across the bottom of my dress, purring contentedly. “Beautiful, as always.”

  I scoffed, but picked him up and snuggled him anyway. As my familiar, the little shit had a hold of my heart no matter how snarky he got, and I had his loyalty no matter what sort of shit I got us into.

  And today’s adventure would be the most important of my life.

  The beginning of the Queen Witch Trials.

  There were seven continental kingdoms across the map, each with their own leaders, followers, and ideas. But every decade, our nations converged just long enough for the princesses to compete for their right to rule, as well as the ultimate title of Queen Witch.

  Every kingdom was secretly ruled by a powerful magical family, and had been for centuries. The humans didn’t know the truth of what we were, but they’d never questioned our blood right to the throne. In return, most of us strived to rule with grace and fairness. Most.

  I bit my lip and immediately thought of my older sister, Nerissa.

  There were four of us competing on behalf of the Strand royal line: Nerissa, me, Laken, and Maren. We had no brothers, and even if we did, it’d be inconsequential. The underground world of magic was a matriarchy. It was the women who wore the crowns, because it was the women who had the strongest magical abilities, not the men.

  Even so, every queen needed a king, every princess needed a prince. It didn’t matter what your sexual orientation was—during the First Trial, you absolutely would choose your male counterpart, and that man would be your partner for life. You weren’t required to be romantically involved if you didn’t want to be, though. I’d heard stories of pairings occurring simply because the couple was an efficient governing body, and they each had lovers on the side.

  Either way, the choice was up to the princess... mostly. The other part consisted of a little fate and a lot of magic.

  I didn’t exactly want to be married anytime soon, and to be honest, I didn’t even want to be Queen Witch. But I had no choice in the matter—every eligible princess had to compete, regardless.

  I glanced up at the warm rays of sunshine, and with a nervous knot in my stomach, I knew it was time to go.

  I left the palace courtyard and str
olled across a breezy sandstone archway where scents of salt and seaweed tickled my nose. Cat and I both glanced at the pure blue sea across the rocks and sand. His thoughts immediately drifted to fish. Mine settled on the image of a faceless man wearing a crown.

  Who would I choose?

  Laken met me on the breezeway. She was dressed in a streamlined buttercream gown and had her own cat tucked into her arm—an orange-and-brown-striped tabby named Lucy. I couldn’t hear any animal’s thoughts but Catfish’s, but if I had to guess, I’d say Lucy was completely unenthused.

  “Today’s the day!” Laken sang with a wide smile.

  We usually passed for twins even though I was twenty-one, a year older.

  “I’m gonna pick the hottest guy I see,” she continued, “and cash in that V card tonight!”

  I laughed out loud. “As if you were a virgin!”

  She popped her hip into mine. “Well, it’ll be kinda like starting fresh, right?”

  “Clean slate,” I agreed with a nod.

  “You can’t just erase all those guys you girls fucked,” Catfish piped in matter-of-factly.

  “Shut up, Cat.”

  Laken laughed. “If he’s saying what Lucy is, then he probably thinks we’re whores.”

  At the end of the hall we took the spiral staircase down to the ground floor. There, on the cobblestone pathway outside the palace, we were joined by our youngest sister, Maren. She was eighteen, two years older than the cutoff age for the Trials.

  She frowned, tugging at the turquoise taffeta of her dress. “This shit is so itchy!”

  “Maybe you won’t be wearing it very long?” Laken hinted, nudging her in the ribs.

  Maren’s cheeks instantly flushed and she averted her gaze to the sky, where her hawk, Helia, was soaring high above us. “Great,” she muttered, after glimpsing what she saw. “Nerissa will be joining us in T minus ten seconds.”

  Sure enough, we rounded the corner and Nerissa slipped in line beside Maren. She was older than me by two years and taller than us all by almost a head.

  “Morning, girls,” she practically purred, despite not being a cat person. Her raven, Midnight, was perched possessively on her bare shoulder. Her gown was strapless and silky black.

  “Good morning,” I replied, knowing full well I’d be the only one to make an effort.

  “An exciting day, isn’t it?” she continued, apparently oblivious to her cold reception. “Today’s the day I choose the future king. I’m sure you all can’t wait to meet him!”

  Laken cocked her head. “You’re choosing the king? How do you know I won’t be choosing him?”

  Nerissa laughed, but it came out more like a cackle. “You’re hilarious, Laken.”

  Catfish meowed. “I didn’t think it was all that funny.”

  I sniffed to hide my giggle. Me either, Cat.

  At the end of the cobblestone pathway we were joined by four guards in black suits and shiny sunglasses. When our procession reached the gateway in the towering stone wall surrounding the palace, we were ushered into a sleek black limousine.

  A note was folded over on the center seat, surrounded by four unique gemstone necklaces.

  Nerissa snatched the note and read it aloud as the limo started moving. “A gift for the Strand princesses. Choose your stones well. The First Trial begins at the Dry Salt Sea. The rules will be explained when you arrive.”

  A silence passed over us as we contemplated the note and the necklaces.

  Choose your stones well.

  Catfish sniffed the air and leaned closer to the stones. “I like the blue one best.”

  You can barely even see the colors, I argued. They’re so pure.

  He meowed in annoyance.

  “No, they’re definitely different. Smell this,” he said, offering to join our senses.

  I closed my eyes and reached deeper into his mind. Suddenly the colors came to life with vibrant scents accompanying them. Blue smelled like the sea. Pink was sweet like a rose. Yellow was tangy like lemon. Green was fresh like mint.

  I opened my eyes and nodded. You’re right, Catfish.

  “Anyone mind if I claim the blue stone?” I asked, hoping it wouldn’t provoke Nerissa to take them first.

  To my dismay, her hand reached out, but she grabbed the green stone instead. “Only if no one minds that I take the green.”

  Laken and Maren shrugged.

  “I guess I’ll take pink?” Laken sort of asked.

  Maren nodded. “And I’ll take yellow.”

  We put our necklaces on, and I immediately felt more relaxed. The ride to the Dry Salt Sea practically blurred by in a peaceful haze. Before I knew it, the limo had stopped and I was being ushered out into a windy, whitish desert. Our familiars were to wait in the vehicle.

  A group of about twenty princesses gathered around an ancient-looking witch with long white hair. Her dress was more tribal than formal, but I supposed at her age she probably didn’t give a damn.

  She nodded at me and my sisters and began speaking.

  “Thank you to Queen Chelsea and King David Strand for offering their kingdom as the host for this decade’s Queen Trials.”

  Polite applause carried softly across the sun-bleached plains.

  “This is the first of seven trials,” she continued, folding her hands. “For this first one, you will not be permitted to use magic. It will not be timed, nor will it be rewarded with points. Your only objective is to choose your prince. Do you understand?”

  We all nodded. Laken grabbed my hand and squeezed. I couldn’t tell if she was excited or starting to get nervous.

  The ancient witch motioned to the wasteland behind her. “Everyone will complete this task alone. You’ll find potions scattered about the desert floor. They are all exactly the same. They contain hallucinogens that will mentally transport you to another place. Where is up to your own subconscious mind and the deepest desires of your heart.” She paused, letting that last bit sink in. “Find a potion, sit down, and drink every last drop. Are you ready?”

  Everyone nodded again. Our silence was evident even over the wind.

  The ancient witch bowed her head and spread out her arms.

  “Begin!”

  Chapter 2

  I briskly strode across the desert floor, my high heels wobbling with nervousness.

  Up close, the milky potions actually looked pearlescent. Rainbow sheens wavered like oil against the white. I brought it to my nose and sniffed. It had a strong coconut scent, but also underlying hints of vanilla and jasmine. A strange brew. One I’d never seen or tried.

  I took a deep breath and noticed my heart was pounding. My ears pulsed with each nervous wave of blood that rushed through my system.

  Suck it up, I told myself. It’s what Cat would’ve said if he were there. The thought made me smile.

  I sat down and tucked my legs off to the side. Nervous, and without much grace, I chugged the entire bottle. I figured it’d be better to get it over with quickly.

  My stomach rolled, causing me to burp—a strange little thing that sent out a burst of citrusy-scented bubbles. I blinked at the strange sight and felt my head wobble and sway. The desert was multiplying and rocking on its sides. The princesses surrounding me began winking out of sight, one by one, until I was well and truly alone. Cliffs popped up in random places, as well as charred trees with half their branches missing. Dirt replaced the sand beneath me, and smoke filled the air high above with a haze.

  I pushed from the ground and stood, surprised to find my balance and clarity back so soon.

  A few shirtless men were gathered around a fire. Each was covered in beautiful black tribal tattoos that ran up their arms, across their chests, and down their backs.

  One of the men smiled and sauntered over when he noticed me standing there. He had brown eyes, dirty-blond hair, and a matching goatee.

  “Well, hello beautiful,” he said, taking me in.

  Was this my future husband? He was certainly attractive. He
looked strong and capable of ruling.

  I smiled back. “Hello.”

  I had no idea what to say or do. Was something supposed to happen? Was I supposed to just take the initiative? Hi, sexy stranger, do you feel like getting married today?

  He smiled curiously at my dress. I stared heatedly at his washboard abs. They looked hard as the rocks on the cliffs.

  “Why are you dressed so... strangely? Your clothes shimmer like a pink river.”

  I scrunched my nose and frowned. Seriously? The guy had never seen a silk dress before?

  I glanced around us at the mountainous landscape littered with pines and oaks and boulders. Maybe these people weren’t a part of modern civilization?

  Suddenly, a loud roar echoed off the clifftops.

  The blond man turned around and shouted, “Spears!” Then to me he said, “Wait here.”

  “I’m not waiting anywhere,” I scoffed. Grabbing his arm, I felt his muscles flex beneath my fingers. I swallowed hard. “Tell me what that sound was.”

  He stared at me, brown eyes hard and clearly unsure.

  “A dragon,” he finally said.

  My eyes widened. “A what?”

  Dragons weren’t real. And the closest thing to them had died off millions of years ago. Surely even these sexy cavemen knew that.

  Another roar boomed through the clearing, rattling the very earth beneath my feet. The scent of pine filled the air as hundreds of the needles fell off their limbs.

  “Stay,” the man said, backing away slowly. “We’ll take care of him, and I’ll be right back.”