My hopes were plunging into valleys when I neared the back of the vault and spied a cabinet. It was familiar, muchlike the one my mother had in her room to display crowns, though this one was all wood.
Was this used for the same purpose?
I darted over and opened the first door of three. My heart leapt.
Many crowns stared back at me, glimmering and lovely despite being underground for at least two decades. None resembled the Frør Crown, though, so I shut the first door and opened the second. A quick glance yielded the same results. Praying to the stars that the third time would be a charm, I opened the third door.
All my breath left me in one go.
In the center sat two silver crowns, heavy with amethyst gems. Like the hawk on the door, neither piece was tarnished. I scanned the others, all beautiful but not the ones we were risking our lives to find.
“I have them!” I announced.
“Thank the Fates!” Caelo shouted. “Do you need help?”
“I don’t think so. You can go to the front. I’ll figure out which is the true Hallow and meet you.” With trembling hands, I reached for one crown, and upon the first touch a spark ran down my arm.
Daughter of Winter.A male voice whispered.Don the crown.
I pulled my hand back. This crown possessed magic, and had belonged to my family, but was it wise to do as it wished? Maybe this was another spell to protect the contents of the vault?
And yet, we’d come here for the Frør Crown. I’d do all Icould to not leave without it. So slowly, I reached out and touched the headdress again.
Will you hurt me?I hoped the Frør Crown could hear me like I could hear it.
I will not. Don the crown, Daughter of Winter.
Throat tightening, I lifted the headpiece. With a trembling hand, I placed it upon my head, and the world exploded.
Snow swirled, disorienting me further, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust and see that I stood in a forest before a Drassil tree. A male fae with a sharp nose and strong square jawline was captured within the tree, just under the bark somehow.
“Are you here to make good on your bargain?”he asked.
“I—I don’t know,” a voice that did not belong to me replied, making me jump. I twisted, looking for another, but found no one else in the vision.
The male cocked his head, clearly shocked by the answer. Being trapped in a tree, it was the most movement he could make. Or at least I thought so until shadows began to spool around him.
A Shadow Fae! In a Drassil? Was I in Winter’s Realm like the snow indicated, or was I seeing the Shadow Fae Isles?
“You used me. I allowed it because I loved you,” he growled. “And for my love, you took my power and trapped me. But you promised one day I’d be free. Are you here to deliver?”
My fingers and toes felt like ice. Danger rippled from the fae in the tree. I didn’t like being here, in front of him.
“It is not that time,”the feminine voice replied.
He roared, the sound loud enough to rattle the stars, and his darkness expanded menacingly.
I ripped the Hallow off my head and stared down at the sparkling amethysts, chest heaving. Who were those fae?
“Neve! Everything is fine?” Vale called from the front of the vault, ripping me fully into the moment.
We were still in danger, deep within the coinary and about to take something from my family vault. While it wasn’t thieving, I was a wanted fae.
And I was wasting time. I glanced down at the Frør crown again, sure that I held the Frør Crown, but unsure if I should bring it with me. The vision had scared me and taking an object when we did not know its full scope of powers did not seem wise.
Someone shifted behind me, the faint noise indicating that I was being watched. I twisted to find Tanziel watching. Recording me, as was her task.
Bleeding skies.
