Wait. What was it he just said?
I removed our only obstacle to the top.
“You killed Maribel?” I shout.
Luisa’s glare is pure venomous rage. “And you silenced the Nox at the funeral so that she wouldn’t tell us how she died.”
“Well, I didn’t kill Maribel alone.” Salvador’s eyes settle on his only daughter.
My breath catches in my throat. What the fuck? Luisa is staring at Beatriz, and when I peer through the glass-like bubble, my mother and everyone else is too.
Tears gather in Beatriz’s eyes, trickling down her cheeks.
“I didn’t mean to kill her,” she says, giving Luisa a pleading look. “Please, believe me.”
“She’s telling the truth,” I say quietly.
“My father made me plant dreams in Maribel’s head that would make her sleepwalk. He said if I made her wander around aimlessly at night and forget things, the MA board members would start to question her ability to do her job. That maybe they could force her to abdicate from her post.” She glances around her, her eyes pleading. “Maribel wanted to pass laws that ban Warlocks from the MA. I was thinking of my father,” she sobs. “And you, Rafi.” She looks around her wildly, desperately trying to make us understand. “She was so bigoted and mean, she hated Shifters too, and all I could think about was my relationship with Xavi. I thought that if she was gone, then things would be better for all of us… I didn’t…” Beatriz’s confession morphs into tears. “I didn’t know.”
Luisa puts a hand on her shoulder, and Beatriz’s violent sobs start to ebb to quiet hiccups.
“Know what?” I ask.
“I didn’t know she would sleepwalk right into the sea,” Beatriz says quietly. “My magic was too strong. She clearly didn’t wake up when she hit the water and drowned.”
She sinks to her knees, but Luisa catches her just before she falls. Salvador looks down at his daughter, but there’s no pity in his gaze.
“You’re not that powerful, hija. Once that bitch was in the sea, I was able to cancel her powers and ensure she stayed sleeping. I watched her wade into the waters and watched as my Siren contacts dragged her body to the deep.” He points at me. “But then your little prince brought her back.”
Beatriz’s sobs are unbearable now, as the weight of what her father has done crashes upon her.
“No, Papa,” she whispers as if she could undo it all. “It can’t be true.”
“Cheer up, hija,” he looks at her through the barrier. “We are here for a joyous occasion.”
Salvador pulls a knife from his pocket, and my mother gives a muffled scream, her hunched figure scuttling into the corner. Rafi and the triplets look on, faces blank and helpless.
“What are you doing?” I cry.
“At the Ascension, I thought it was all over for me, but then you,” he points the dagger at me, grinning. “You had the Fairy make it snow. Genius, really. Your mother always made you sound so dim, but she was wrong. The Ascension was foiled, the moon no longer visible. I looked at your lovely mother, all dressed in white like a bride and…” He pauses. “It dawned on me. A wedding! And I knew the perfect venue.” He points his dagger at the ceiling.
My skin creeps at his voice, as if it were nails on a chalkboard. He’s going to force my mother to marry him, thereby becoming an instant Second upon their joint Ascension. Partners and firstborns are the only ones who can Ascend automatically, they don’t have to be chosen. If he’s her husband, he doesn’t need an elaborate ritual, he just needs a full moon and her blood. My eyes narrow on the dagger in his hand, the reflection of the moon above us glinting off the blade.
“That’s right,” he says, following my gaze. “You did me a favor with the snow, Saskia. In all that chaos, I was able to silence Solina’s powers and drag her here. After that, I only needed Rafi to get you and Luisa to join the party.”
He Silenced my mother’s power? Is that why her control over me broke on the roof?
Luisa’s still cradling Beatriz, who is now weeping silently.
“We won’t have anything to do with this shit!” Luisa screams from the floor. “This is between you and that bitch. Keep me and my friends out of it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, little Junior,” he says. “A Mage union needs a witness and an officiant. You,” he points at me, “will be the witness, and you,” he points at Luisa, “will be an officiant.”
Luisa jumps to her feet, fists bunched. “Like hell I am!”
“Only a Touchmage can bind weddings,” Salvador explains, “and only a Verity Witch can witness, for only she can see the truth.”
He’s not lying. Back in New York, I make a pretty penny during Para wedding season. I didn’t expect to be side hustling at my own mother’s forced wedding, though.
The more Salvador talks, the more Rafi, Alba, and Jan, fight against their restraints. Not Ramon though, he remains as still and blank as death. Jan edges closer to Rafi, his bound fingers grasping at his. Rafi stares ahead, his expression void of all hope. He’s right. There’s nothing any of us can do. Beatriz, Luisa and I on one side of the partition, and Salvador and his ability to silence magic on the other.
Salvador turns to my mother and clasps her trembling chin. “Welcome to your wedding, cariño.” With the silver dagger, he rips away the white silk scarf he was using as a gag, then uses it to wrap it around both of their hands.
“We won’t bother with all the usual pretty pomp, let’s get straight to the action. You,” he points at Luisa. “Pronounce us as Married Mage or your friend dies.”
“Ves a la merda,” she spits, telling Salvador to fuck off.
His face turns to stone as he leans over to where
