Page 15 of Blood of the Fairest

"What?"

"If you're not the true Reinhilde pulling another of her many intricate, cruel tricks, prove it."

"Aw shucks—too bad I left my picture ID in another world, or I would."

Not that it would really help, since I look exactly like the queen. Plus, it would be a fake ID anyway, showing a different name than the real one I just gave him.

His lips twitch slightly. "There is another way to prove yourself, but it requires your blood. Coincidentally, your hand appears injured."

Is this a DNA test or something?

Lifting my right hand, I study the crusted-over cut from the glass headstone. All it takes is clenching and flexing my fingers a couple of times for that wound to reopen enough that it starts oozing again.

I make a face and hold it up for the mirror to see. "Ta da. More grossness."

"Smear it on the glass."

I do. It stings.

"This isn't a Bloody Mary thing, is it?" I check. "Because I already tried that at a sleepover in middle school, and all that happened was me getting my first period. Worst legend ever."

"Either you've devolved into speaking nonsense, or those are truly references to another world that I don't understand. Now, repeat these words exactly. By this fair blood by which thou'rt bound, I free thee from this mirror's ground."

Fuck it, why not? I repeat after him.

The instant the last word is out of my mouth, the gorgeous ghost vanishes like smoke in the wind.

"Did it work? Hello?" I check with the glass.

This room stays silent. The only thing in the mirror is me, clutching the blanket around myself with a perplexed line between my brows.

"Yoo-hoo."

Still no answer.

"Mirror, mirror, what the fuck?"

I'm starting to think that Adonis just pulled one over on me, somehow. What a waste, because I was really hoping he'd have the answer for getting me home.

Perturbed, I stick around for another second just to see what happens. When it becomes clear that I'm really alone, I drop the blanket and head for the washbasin. The water is cold as ice, but at least I finally get all the damned blood off of me.

My first night in Queen Rhinestone's room sucks ass.

Over the years, I've spent countless nights getting out of bed to triple and quadruple-check my locks and security cameras. I know what it's like to try to fall asleep when the last thing I feel is safe.

I've just never done it in another world before.

Here, I had to check the magic mirror, the massive windows, the doors, the entry to the secret passageway—you name it, I got up at least ten times to check it.

So when I finally wake up to a beam of cold morning light streaming between the heavy curtains onto my eyelids, I'm anything but well-rested.

Wrapping the silky dark sheets around myself, I curl up and sigh. Maybe I can just go back to sleep again. I'm the evil queen, after all. Surely if I say I don't want to get out of bed, everyone will leave me alone out of fear for their lives or something.

A loud knock on the locked double doors breaks my morning solitude.

"Your Majesty?" a man calls.

"Not today, Satan," I call back through a yawn.