The murmurs silenced completely, and my eyes widened. That was a hefty bargain. To know someone’s true name was an enormous amount of power, and Frisk was offering to give that up.
“I give you my word,” Nyra said at last.
“Then, our bargain is struck.” Frisk’s voice was loud as he called out, “You can join us, Snow!”
Steeling myself with a deep breath, I dropped my invisibility. I trudged through the snow, rounding a corner and squinting against the burning brightness of the pixies’ magic. It glowed as brilliantly as the sun, illuminating the crowd of pixies clustered along the mountain ledge. A fire crackled in the center, but it wasn’t amber—it sparked with dozens ofdifferent colors that shimmered in the air. And somehow, the pixies’ magic repelled the blizzard, leaving a huge protective bubble around the encampment.
As my gaze took in each pixie standing around the fire, my heart lurched in my throat. I’d pictured tiny sprites with wings, but these creatures were quite different. Tall and elegant, the pixies resembled fae with great translucent wings stretched behind them like butterflies. Their skin glowed, ranging in color from bronze to violet to crimson. One pixie had fuchsia-colored skin, and another was forest green.
Every single one of them had all-black eyes that stared emptily at me. I suppressed a shudder at the endless depths of those animal eyes.
They reminded me of Calista.
As I moved forward, the wind instantly calmed as the safety of the pixies’ magic surrounded me. I uttered a soft gasp. I hadn’t realized how biting the wind had been until it vanished completely. I strode to the center where Frisk stood, and one pixie flashed a grin at me, revealing sharpened fangs.
“This is my companion, Snow,” Frisk said, and I said a silent prayer of gratitude that he didn’t give them my name. “One of our traveling companions is in urgent need of your medical assistance.”
The pixie closest to us uttered a harsh laugh, and my eyes snapped to her. The pixie queen—Nyra—had rose-gold skin that glimmered like stardust and pearly white hair that flowed in long tresses down her back. A long, emerald dress covered the front of her body in two long swaths of fabric, but the entirety of her back side was left exposed.
“That would betwofavors you’ve asked of me today,Frisk,” Nyra said, her sharpened teeth flashing. “And we do not share our magic with strangers.”
“We are embarking on a mission that will forever change the future of this court,” Frisk said. “If we succeed, it means a better life for everyone who is not a full-blooded seelie fae.”
My mouth fell open in surprise as I gazed around the crowd of pixies with dawning realization.Of course.The pixies were fae—unseeliefae. They were likely part Demon Fae just like Frisk, and these were their bestial forms.
It would explain why they shared so many similarities to the Demon Fae.
It would also explain why they were bound to bargains, just like us.
The vastness of my ignorance brought a blush creeping up my cheeks. How much did I not know about my own kind? I had been so focused on defending humans that I had completely neglected the fae side of my lineage. The world was far bigger than the Demon Fae we had encountered in the forest. There were many different species of unseelie creatures, like Frisk and Mauro and these pixies.
How many more creatures lived out there, being painted as monsters by stories and folklore?
“Do not speak to me of fae bloodlines,” Nyra growled, her face darkening with rage. “You do not know half of what my people have suffered for our heritage.”
“We can change that,” Frisk promised. “But if our companion dies, our mission is doomed to fail.”
Nyra considered this, then angled her head toward me. “And what role do you play in all this,Snow?” She emphasized my name as if she knew full well I was hiding my true identity.
“She’s not—” Frisk began.
“It’s all right, Frisk,” I said, relieved that my voice came out steady and even. “If we are asking them to share their magic with us, the least we can do is be up front with them.”
“Snow,” Frisk warned.
I lowered my hood and scarf. My heart drummed an erratic beat in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm. This was a gamble… and I prayed it would pay off.
“My name is Eira. I am the rightful queen of this court.”
It didn’t take longfor Mauro to slump into unconsciousness. Truth be told, I myself hadn’t been able to remain fully awake for the entire journey like I’d hoped. I had been fading in and out of consciousness, so there were some gaps in my memory. But I’d heard enough.
So, the Snow Princess intended to take back the throne. And she was afraid of Demon Fae.
I could use this to my advantage.
I carefully eased myself off the stag’s back, trying to suppress a groan of agony as icy wind howled around me. Despite the cold, it felt like my very blood was on fire. Every move prompted searing pain. I gritted my teeth so hard my head throbbed, trying to push past the agony.
Blood and ice, Demon Fae poison was a bitch.
