Read Online Mother May I (Knight Games Book 4) by Genevieve Jack - Free Book Online

a goddess; she has no limitations.” Polina tossed her hands up.
    Poe bobbed his head. “I have to agree with Polina on this one. Hecate could strike you down at any time.”
    “No. I don’t think she can.”
    Every eye in the room fixated on me. “She obviously wants me dead. She blasted a ray of energy through my chest.” I pulled the neck of my shirt down to reveal a scabby burn mark. “If it were possible for her to kill me directly, she would have.”
    “Do you know that for sure, or are you speculating?” Poe asked.
    “It’s an educated guess. When she pulled me into her labyrinth, she said I could challenge her if I reached the center. Why? Why couldn’t I challenge her in the jungle? Behind the door? And then it occurred to me that she must have rules of engagement.”
    “Rules,” Polina said, hands on her hips. “You believe the goddess has limitations, and you felt it was your duty to test them out at the possible expense of my life?”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you at risk, but she admitted as much to us. She said if a witch collected all five elements it would make her as powerful as Hecate—powerful enough to challenge her for her role.”
    Polina nodded. “You’re right; she did. She also said no one who tried has ever succeeded or lived to tell the tale.”
    “She invited me to challenge her today because she knew I would lose. In fact, without your spell to draw me back into my body, I’d probably have died in that labyrinth.” I laced my fingers into Rick’s, and he didn’t pull away. His touch was comforting.
    “Grateful, do you even remember why we went to see her today?”
    I shrugged. “To see if she knew who was behind the Goblin Trinate’s attack.”
    She squinted at me. “And did we learn the answer to that question?”
    I rolled the conversation through my head. “Um. No.”
    Polina held up one finger. “Exactly! However, we did learn one undeniable truth.”
    “What?”
    “Whether or not she can do it herself, after today, Mother definitely wants you dead.”
    “Crap.” My gaze darted from Poe to Rick, but no one disagreed with Polina’s statement.
    Polina gathered her bag from the floor near her feet and headed for the door. “If I were you, I’d put my affairs in order.”

Chapter 9
    Invitations
    I t must have been around two a.m. when Polina walked out. I didn’t blame her for being angry. When I pissed off Mother, it put her at risk as well. She was my only witch friend, and I deeply regretted that my actions might cause her misery. Did they make an edible bouquet for this occasion? Sorry for risking your life. Have some chocolate-covered pineapple.
    “Would you mind?” Poe said, tapping at the window with his beak. “All of this drama has made me hungry.”
    “You could fly out your door in the attic.”
    “Or you could get off your arse and open the window for me.”
    I flipped him off, but Rick complied, sliding the chipped-paint frame on its track just high enough to allow Poe out.
    “You shouldn’t give in to him like that,” I said, standing to grab a set of pajamas from my drawer. “You’ll spoil him.”
    “You need your rest. If I had not let him out, you would still be fighting about it.”
    Rick was right. I’d been up for more than twenty-four hours and was nearing collapse. I hastened into the bathroom to rinse off the bloody remains of my battle with Hecate before bed. “Would you like to stay?” I called through the door.
    He cleared his throat before answering. “I am becoming accustomed to my lack of need for sleep. I fear I would keep you up. I’ll show myself out.” I heard my door close behind him as he left.
    I didn’t take it personally; I was too exhausted to mind. As soon as I was clean and in my most comfortable pajamas, I crawled into bed and drifted into a dead, dreamless sleep.
    For a painfully inadequate amount of time.
    With a start, I awoke to find a dark figure standing over me. A familiar dark