Mido jumped off Lily and fought his way through the panicked crowd. Librona's soldiers fought in hand to hand combat with Asmar's army. King Sloan's voice roared to his army and called to Asmar's cowardly king. Mido took in his surroundings; King Rowan had vanished as soon as Librona made their appearance, but Mido's mind was on Calliope, burning on the stake. His heart raced as he pushed his way through, dropping his sword and running as fast as he could. He leapt onto the platform and pulled out his dagger. The straw was completely engulfed in flames, but he ignored the searing burns to his legs as he stumbled through and cut at the rope that bound her wrists. Calliope fell limp against him. Mido threw her body onto his shoulder. He jumped out of the flames and collapsed on the floor, the witch still safe in his arms. Calliope's face was still. Feeling a presence, Mido looked up. Asmar's soldiers surrounded him, their swords drawn.

Mido's eyes darted between them, looking for an escape. They had him blocked; he could only fight his way through, but his time was limited. Calliope needed help fast. He lay Calliope down and drew his dagger – he felt naked without his sword – and readied himself for their attack, ready to protect Calliope at all cost. At that moment, the Earth shook. Soldiers hollered to each other over the screams of the citizens. A blinding light flashed around them and a voice echoed off the city's walls.

“Enough!”

The crowd grew still and silent. Anxious eyes darted around, looking for the source of the voice. Mido turned to see a frail woman approaching his side. Her angry eyes assessed the city.

“This has gone on long enough,” she shouted. “Drop your weapons.”

King Rowan pushed his way through the crowd towards them, his sword in hand.

“What are you doing?” he barked to his frail mother.

“Enough, Rowan. I will not let you lead my kingdom to their death.”

“Your kingdom?” he echoed.

The woman bent over Calliope and examined her. “She needs immediate aid,” she said. She closed her eyes and let her hands hover over Calliope's body. She mumbled under her breath and a light began to glow around them.

Calliope's eyes fluttered open. Mido dropped to his knees and let his hands run through her hair. The woman stood and looked over her citizens once more. They gawked and murmured in fright. She met her son's gaze.

“What is this?” he yelled. “Who are you?”

“Rowan. I cannot let you kill an innocent witch.”

“You're one of them!”

“You are, too,” she said to him.

He shook his head, furious. “I am not one of those things,” he hissed.

“Rowan, you are my son. I am a witch. You are a wizard.”

He shook his head again. “Don't lie to me. What have you done with my mother?”

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The woman approached Rowan, her hand on his shoulder.

“I'm sorry you had to find out this way,” she said quietly. She looked to her son with sadness in her eyes.

Rowan looked her over for a moment, his gaze hard. He twisted out from under her touch and turned away.

“You're the reason my father is dead,” he hissed.

“Rowan, I am not Scarletta.”

He turned towards his mother, angry. “Did he know?”

She hesitated. “No.”

“You've been lying to your kingdom this whole time.”

“I had no choice, Rowan. This kingdom murdered my mother.”

Rowan stared at his mother in shock. His face was pale. “Your mother?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice low. “Scarletta was my sister.”

Voices of Asmar rose at the news. Some shouted at the witch in anger.

“Traitor!” they yelled.

“Burn them both!”

King Rowan felt the fury boil inside of him. “How could you do this to us?”

“Rowan, I have done nothing but serve your father and this kingdom. I haven't used an ounce of my magic since my mother was burned.” She lowered her voice. “I am not Scarletta.”

Voices continued to shout amongst the crowd. King Rowan turned and looked over his citizens. His mind raced and he felt torn. He only wanted to bring justice to his kingdom. He never would have imagined that the very things he was trying to kill lived right in his castle walls. And that blood was in him.

“You betrayed us,” he whispered. “In this kingdom's war with Scarletta, you stood by and did nothing. You let them die.”

“You can't think that,” she begged, the tears mixing with the rain that dripped down her face. “When I had you, all I could think was to keep you safe and away from this. I couldn't do anything, don't you understand that? I would have been killed, and you would have had no one. This kingdom would have had no one. This kingdom would not be here today if my secret were known.”

The city grew quiet around them. Mido watched as the witch and the wizard locked their gazes on each other. He felt Calliope take his hand and he met her gaze. He forced a reassuring smile and pushed stray strands of hair out of her face.

“What are you going to do, Rowan?” his mother asked.

“I can't put my kingdom under such risk,” he said, his gaze falling on Calliope. “She could turn on us any minute.”

“Calliope is different.”

“You don't know that.”

“Do you trust me, Rowan?

King Rowan hesitated, his gaze shifting to his feet. “I don't know,” he muttered.

“Whatever you do to her, you have to do to me.”

“There could be more out there. How am I supposed to know this isn't a set up?”

“What if there are more? Wouldn't you want us on your side? Wouldn't you want them to see that you are not a threat to them?”

King Rowan turned to his kingdom once more. They looked at him with anxious, trusting eyes. He looked at Calliope, lying helpless in Mido's lap. He looked at his mother, the only family he had left. He had trusted her his entire life. From the time he took the throne two years ago, at only sixteen years old.

His stomach churned as he turned back to his kingdom. She had so many opportunities to strike; to get revenge on her fallen mother and sister, and to make the kingdom hers. And she could still strike at any moment. He and his people would never be truly safe as long as she lived amongst them. She could turn and betray them at any moment. If he learned anything over their long battle with witches, it was that they could not be trusted.

“No, Mother,” he said slowly and softly, meeting her gaze with confidence. “You are the threat.” King Rowan raised his sword above him. The rays of the emerging sun caught the blade's sharp, sleek edges and flashed across Kaya's face.

Kaya stood her ground, bracing herself. She wouldn't dare use magic on her son. If she was going to leave this world, she was going to do it proving that she was not the same with Scarletta was. She held her head high and waited for the blade to meet her throat.