“Doesn’t make sense,” Wesley chimed in. “You just said she took away our powers at birth.”

“That’s correct, but the power that still ran through your veins because of your royal blood was still there. And that was all she needed.”

“Then why take away our other powers?” Haven asked, totally confused by now.

“She didn’t want you to fight her.”

“Fight her for what?” He would have never fought his mother. Hell, he’d fought to save her—and failed.

“The ritual she had to perform would have left one of you dead; there’s not enough life force left after she extracts the Power of Three from you and takes it into herself for all of you to live. That was her plan: to be the most powerful witch who ever existed.”

Wesley jumped up from the couch at the same time as Haven took a step toward Francine. “You’re lying! Admit you’re lying! Mom would have never hurt us like that!”

“Fucking bitch! You’re no friend of Mom’s!” Wesley yelled.

“Calm yourselves,” Samson interrupted.

Haven glared at him. How could anybody believe such drivel?

“I’m afraid what Francine is telling you is true. Everything points to it: you didn’t smell like witches when Yvette first met you; you started taking on the scent of witch when the three of you were thrown together; the other witch wanted to do what your mother had planned. It all makes sense.”

Haven shook his head, still refusing to believe. “Then why throw us together, if that turns us into witches? Wouldn’t our captor have been worried we’d defeat her with our powers?”

“No,” Francine replied. “Because without the ritual you have no power. Yes, you started smelling like witches when you were imprisoned together, because finally the unity was restored, but there’s another step to get your powers.”

Something still didn’t make sense. “The witch tortured us, trying to find our powers. Why would she do that if she knew we had none at this point?”

“A precaution. A test. For her to be safe performing the ritual, she needed to be certain that you had no powers, otherwise you could fight her and make sure she couldn’t take the Power of Three from you. If that happened during the ritual, the three of you would be so powerful, you’d destroy her.”

Shocked, Haven leaned back against the wall, bracing himself. Was that the truth? Was it possible? “She asked me what the seat of my powers was. What does that mean?”

“It’s a way for you to access your powers and recall them.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The powers your mother took away. They are in another vessel. If you had the key to it, you could get them back. That’s what she wanted to know, if you had the key.”

Frustration built in his chest. “Would you please say that in English?”

Francine sighed. “I’m not sure how to explain this, but if you knew what you had to concentrate on in order to access those powers, then you could call them back to you. You were a child back then. I doubt you would have ever realized what the key was. You were too young, and while your mother would have known, I’m not sure she would have told you.”

Francine swiped her hand over her mouth, looking like she suddenly remembered something. “Even though—” She looked straight at Haven. “To make sure you could defend yourself in an emergency or if anything happened to her, she would have given you a hint.”

Haven searched his memory, but didn’t even know where to start. Fragments of conversations with his mother played in his mind, bringing back memories long buried. But it was useless. There was no key.

“What was Bess waiting for? Why didn’t she perform the ritual right when she’d captured us?” Haven asked, trying to wrap his brain around all the news.

“She has to wait for the next full moon.”

“Do you understand now why we can’t let you leave?” Samson asked, his eyes a fraction more solemn than earlier. “If that witch recaptures you, she’ll perform the ritual and harness the Power of Three.” He looked into the round and pointed at his friends and colleagues. “We would all be in danger. No creature can be allowed to obtain such absolute power. She’ll annihilate us.”

Haven pushed off the wall, looking first at Samson then sweeping his gaze to the others in the room. “Does that mean you’ll kill us instead?”

“The only person who’ll die is the witch!” The female voice coming from behind him sent equal measures of surprise and delight through his bones.