Calista’s crimson gaze appeared above me, her mouth spread wide in a smile. She raised a clawed hand.
My foot connected with her shin. She twisted, arms flailing before she fell. I leapt for her, prepared to bury my dagger in her throat, but her uninjured wing flared out and knocked me in the face. I toppled again, rolling on the cold floor as blood ran down my temple.
I turned just as Calista dove for me, claws out, a look of lethal delight on her face.
A burst of ice exploded in front of her face, covering her nose and cheeks with bits of snow.
I froze, eyes wide. A tiny white figure hovered in front of Calista, wings flapping with furious intensity.
Another icy blast hit Calista directly in the eye. She howled in agony, covering her eye with her hand.
Kendra flitted around Calista and shot more ice into her ear. Calista shrieked, trying to swat at the tiny dragon. But Kendra was determined, easily dodging strikes here and there. The dragon’s blue eyes took on a glint I had never seen before. She grabbed at Calista’s hair with her talons, then sprayed ice into her shoulder.
I wanted to whoop with triumph, my heart soaring as this tiny, beautiful creature took on the Queen of the Winter Court.
But my joy was short-lived. With a roar of fury, Calista’s wings stretched open wide, and she swung both arms wildly.
Her claws struck Kendra in the wing, making the small creature crumple and fall to the ground. Calista’s eyes narrowed on the dragon, as if just realizing how small she was.
A savage smile spread across her lips. She drew closer to Kendra, who was too weak to move out of the way.
“No!” I bellowed, racing forward.
But Eira was faster.
With a shout, the princess dived, coming between Calista and Kendra. Cold horror numbed my veins as Eira tackled Calista to the ground.
No.No…
Together, they grappled. Calista’s claws swiped. Eira shrieked, but their shapes were such a blur that I couldn’t see if Calista had drawn blood.
A high-pitched squeal of pain, shrill and piercing, rang in the room. It was a sound I’d never heard before.
Panting, Eira climbed to her feet, squeezing two fingers together, her pale eyes burning with fury.
Calista writhed on the ground, her wings folded inward, her body twisted in agony. “Stop!” she moaned. “Stop!”
Eira bared her teeth as she pressed her fingers tighter together. Calista’s screams intensified.
My mouth fell open. What was Eira doing? And how?
“Blood has power, doesn’t it, Calista? Andyourblood is no exception.”
Realization struck me. I squinted and caught sight of a faint black stain on Eira’s fingers.
Demon Fae blood.
She was using Calista’s own blood against her.
“I can snap your life thread right now, Stepmother,” Eira said softly. “It would be easy. Without your darkness, I can see it clearly.”
“Then, do it!” Calista roared, her body still contorting on the floor.
“You deserve to suffer first.” Tears glistened in Eira’s eyes, but her face was filled with rage.
Frantic footsteps echoed in the hall, and a dozen figures filled the open doorway.
“What is this?” bellowed a voice.
