Solara led the man to the bench she and Richard would sit on when they spoke. Her face went from her normal cheerful look to one of anger. “You dare come here and ask to speak with me? How did you know I would not blow your cover?”

Cosmo chuckled at her. “Because if you blew mine, I would blow yours, Solara. And I am sure you are curious about who I am. I came here to tell you.”

She had to admit, this caught her attention. She lowered her arms and leaned forward, keeping her eyes on him. “If you are going to, now would be the time. Out with it.”

“Ah, so impatient. Much like your mother.” He turned his attention from her to the sky. “Your mother is not dead, Solara.”

She furrowed her eyebrows. “What? What do you mean? I saw her hanged right before my eyes. Of course she is dead.”

Cosmo shook his head. “You cannot kill a witch by hanging. Not even fire. The only way to kill a witch is to separate the heart from the body. But even then they are a lifeless husk. They can be revived if given their heart.”

Solara was silent. “Then… Then why did they hang her?”

“It was all a show for the people of the kingdom. Your mother’s heart is locked away in the castle. I thought they would have hidden it in your room. But I was wrong.” He let out a sigh.

It took a moment to process that information. Her mother was not dead… She could save her. “We… We have to get it back to her…”

Cosmo looked at her and grinned. “I was hoping you would say that. You are the only one who can locate the heart without turning the castle inside out. You are her flesh and blood. All you have to do is feel for her energy. Listen for her heartbeat.”

Solara, although having mixed emotions on turning on her kingdom, she couldn’t stand the thought of her mother suffering if she could help her. Michael would understand… He always did. “When should we look for it…?”

“Now is as good a time as any. Everyone is gathered in the ballroom so no one will be able to catch us.” He was just as happy to get his leader back. All he needed was her heart and the plan could commence.

Solara was hesitant but she closed her eyes, focusing hard on a heartbeat. At first she thought what she heard was her own but it was off the beat. There were two, hers and her mothers. “It is faint but I can hear it… I do not know where it is coming from.”

Cosmo was ecstatic. He stood up, grabbing her arm. “Then let us go in search! It should get louder the closer you get to it.”

Solara stood, pulling her arm back from his grasp. “I may be helping you but do not touch me. I have not forgiven you for nearly slitting my throat.”

He pulled his hand back and cleared his throat. “Of course. My apologies.”

Solara looked at the door leading to the ballroom she had just come from. She swallowed and walked around the castle. “We must enter from the front of the castle. They will want to follow if they see us together inside.”

“Of course.” He followed her obediently, trusting that she knew where she was going. He hoped this worked…