For weeks, we’d met for secret trysts in the woods, the thrill of our undiscovered dalliances only fueling the fire between us. But we had both agreed it couldn’t last, and after Huck had almost discovered us taking each other against an oak tree, we decided it was time to end it.
It was uncomfortable now. Mostly because I could tell he wanted more.
And I didn’t.
But, of course, I had to pretend things were perfectly normal, because no one knew what transpired between us. I was the princess, and he was a noble of the Dahl Province. Our goal was to usurp my stepmother and establish myself as the rightful queen of the Winter Court. The last thing we needed was for word to spread of the Snow Princess and her secret human lover.
So I kept my gaze steady as I looked at him, my eyes roving over his tan skin, his milky brown eyes, and the light stubble on his chin that often tickled me when we kissed. “What do you suggest?” I asked him.
“Each of the provinces has a small band of followers,” said Denton. “And we’re human. We can lie, and we can avoid faerie bargains. Surely, that should amount to something.Can’t we try to sneak into the palace and start a riot from the inside?”
I spread my hands and scoffed. “How? The queen has tripled the guard since we started robbing her coffers. Andyoumay be immune to faerie bargains, but I’m not.” I self-consciously tucked my dark hair behind my rounded ears. Sometimes, I blended in with my human friends. Other times, I was reminded of how different we were. I was half fae, which meant that, biologically, I was bound by fae laws. Even if I looked like a human.
“But you have your magic,” Stella pointed out, her eyebrows raised. Her pale eyes appraised me with part amusement, part awe.
“Yes, and as soon asonesoldier discovers me, everyone will know what I can do,” I said. “I can’t risk it. It’s the only thing I have over the queen.”
“And what good is having an advantage over the queen if you never use it?” Denton said.
My nostrils flared in frustration. I opened my mouth to argue, but Tansy interjected. “Snow, aren’t you friends with the King and Queen of the Shadow Court? Can’t they help us?”
“Shadow Fae are scary,” Lark said seriously.
“Definitely scary enough to chase the false queen away,” Stella agreed.
But I shook my head. “Sybelle can’t help. Their court is still at odds with the Earthen Court. If they send soldiers to us, it will leave them exposed, and the Earthen Court might attack.”
No one spoke for a long moment. I glanced over the dejected expressions of my friends, feeling my hope dwindle.
Then, a soft voice to my right said, “I have an idea.”
My gaze shifted to Penelope. Her cheeks immediately flushed when every eye turned to her.
“We utilize our connections,” Penelope said simply.
Silence met her words. I cleared my throat. “What connections?”
“The creatures.” Penelope gestured to the window, through which I could barely make out a trio of black-capped chickadees circling each other. Behind them, Mauro the great white stag pawed at the snow at his feet. Rogun still snoozed softly, with Kendra perched on his back. I knew Frisk was out there, too, though he was hidden by his snowy surroundings.
“I’m fairly certain sending a stampede of forest animals would draw a bit of attention,” said Huck, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Shut it, Huck,” Gareth said. “Let her speak. Go on, darlin’.”
Penelope’s face flushed a deeper scarlet, but she plowed on. “Our goal is to give the lands back to the humans. But humans aren’t the only ones the queen has outcast. She also hates the unseelie.” Once more, she pointed toward the window.
I flinched, then despised myself for it. Unseelie fae were known for being feral, unhinged, and often dangerous. But some of my best friends—these sentient creatures who lived in the forest with me—were technically unseelie. And I trusted them with my life.
Penelope had a point; Calista was determined to create the perfect empire of seelie fae. Which meant disposing of the humans and unseelie, who would taint the bloodlines.
The cruelest irony of all was that Calista was a DemonFae. Which meantshewas tainting the bloodline with her black magic.
Unseelie fae were as gentle as lambs compared to the Demon Fae.
“We already have connections to the unseelie, thanks to Frisk and the others,” Penelope continued. “I suggest we utilize those connections. Call in our allies, and reach out to others. Band together with those who have been shunned by Calista.”
Tansy was nodding eagerly, and Stella had a spark in her eyes. I felt my own heart lifting at the thought of rallying more forces.
Allies can come to us in the most unlikely of places,my father had said.
