I took a step back. And then another, heart pounding in mychest.
“It looks as though a male cannot even depend on his own flesh and blood.” King Midas grabbed the arrow and yanked it from his son’s flesh. I squeezed my eyes tight and glanced away. “My own son betrayed me. My own son stole my Redcap away fromme.”
“I’m not a Redcap,” I shouted into the wind. No more hiding. No more cowering. I threw back my shoulders and stared into the King’s devilish eyes. No more standing behind the memory of my mother. “I am the Princess of Otherworld, and you are not welcome in thisrealm.”
He barked out a laugh. It started out soft but then grew louder and louder until the sound was so deafening that it bounced off the towering mountains that surrounded us. His smile went razor sharp, and then he pulled another arrow from hisquiver.
“Well, then if you’re not a Redcap, there is nothing stopping me from killing you right here andnow.”
I kept my body tight as the King began to raise the bow. Unfortunately, I was unarmed. I had the power running through my veins, but I didn’t know how much that would help me now. I could pull the shadows around me and run, but the tracks in the snow would give meaway.
Besides, I didn’t want to run. I wanted to stand andfight.
Breathing in the scent of Otherworld, I let the magic of my world fill my head. The blood in my veins pulsed with life, and the soft caress of winter whispered across my skin. I called to Summer and basked in the glow of the sun, and I smelled the sweet scent of Spring flowers bursting to life. The last to call was Autumn and its colorful tapestry of oranges, yellows, andreds.
Every single part of Otherworld had filled me with the kind of strength that King Midas would neverhave.
And then he loosed an arrow. It was aimed right at myheart.
I stepped to the side to dodge the hit, and the steel tip clattered against a large rock behind me. Smiling, I watched the King curse as he grabbed another arrow. This time, I ducked down so that the arrow soared over my head. He gave it two more attempts before he decided he wasdone.
He snapped the bow in half and stormed towardme.
King Midas moved much faster than I could comprehend. He was a blur of motion. One moment, he was still standing within the circle of rocks. The next, he was before me with his hand wrapped tight around myneck.
Eyes wild and heart racing, I jerked away from him, but his strength held me in place. His fingers tightened around my neck, chocking the breath from my lungs. Horror shot through me, and logic fled from my mind. I kicked at the King, twisting and turning and screaming against my bonds, though no sound could escape from my gaspinglungs.
The King began to cackle as he stared at me. Stars dotted my eyes. My whole body yearned foroxygen.
A scream ripped through the night, and something slammed hard into the King’s side. He loosened his grip, just long enough for me to twist out of his meaty hands. Alwyn stood panting beside me. Her eyes gleamed as she tossed me Silverclaw, and a slight smile turned up herlips.
“Alwyn?” My heart pounded. “What are you doinghere?”
“I heard the Dark Fae were attacking. I couldn’t let you face them alone. I know we’ve had our differences, Norah, but I’ve always believed in you. And I’d do anything to keep you safe.I—”
The King shoved his blade into Alwyn’s throat. For a moment, all I could do was stare. Alwyn’s eyes met mine. Our gazes locked. A tear slid down my face. And then her life-force whispered into thewind.
She wasgone.
Pain roared in my head, drowning out everything else around me. Alwyn was dead. And she was dead because of me. If she hadn’t come here to save me, then she’d still be alive, leading the Academy changelings through the training that would help themsurvive.
I squeezed my eyestight.
No, I thought. I couldn’t keep blaming myself for things that weren’t my fault. Yes, she’d come here to save me, but I wasn’t the one who had killedher.
My eyes flewopen.
This was all on theKing.
Gritting my teeth, I raised Silverclaw. A wicked smile spread across the King’s face. His eyes glittered as the swirling mist stormed aroundus.
“You truly think you can beat me?” He belted out an ominous laugh. “I am an experienced swordsman. I am King of my realm. You...” He spat. “You are just a human dressed up in a fae’sbody.”
I didn’t let his words get to me because they didn’t matter. Yes, I had come from the human realm. And yes, I still had much to learn. But I was strong because of what I’d been through, and I was more than sick and tired of fae underestimating me simply because of where I’d grownup.
With a deep breath, I swung my sword at his face. He spun and met my blade with his own, the steel ringing loud in the silence. Before he could brace himself, I lobbed another attack. He blocked yet again, tapping my sword away as if it weighed nothing atall.
I danced a step back, eyeing him up. He must have some weak spot. There must be something about his fighting style that I could use to my advantage. But before I could gather my wits, King Midas swung his sword at myhead.
