Red Hood's Revenge

of Whiteshore Palace. Zestan must have imbued it with her own magic.
    She considered trying to catch the rest of Zestan’s servants, but trapping even a single glint of moonlight had been enough to make her eyes water. She sat down and rested her head against the wall until the pain eased. She would be fine as soon as she had a chance to rest, preferably in a real bed, with real food and drink.
    Shouts alerted her to Talia’s return. The black horse trotted lazily through the sand. The raqeem was the first to approach them. He and Talia spoke too softly for Snow to hear, but when he turned around, his relief was obvious.
    He raised his voice. “Talia Malak-el-Dahshat has renounced her claim to the throne of Arathea. In exchange, the queen has generously agreed to spare Talia’s life.”
    Talia raised her eyebrows. “Something like that, yes.” She jumped down, holding Roudette’s cape bundled beneath her arm.
    “The ebony horse will take us to the coast,” Danielle said. “Captain Hephyra and the Phillipa are waiting for us.”
    “What are you going to do with that?” Snow asked, indicating the cape.
    “Lock it away.” Talia rubbed her arms. “When I wore it, the only thing I wanted was to fight. I didn’t care who.”
    “Oh.” Snow blinked, feigning confusion. “So it didn’t really affect you, then?”
    “Hush.” Talia exchanged a look with Danielle. “I could have killed my own son. My next blow would have snapped his spine.”
    Danielle smiled and reached out to take the cape. “Find me a mother who hasn’t wanted to strike her child at one time or another. What matters is you stopped.”
    Both Snow and Talia turned to stare. “You’re joking,” said Snow. “Princess Danielle Whiteshore, the most foolishly forgiving woman in all Lorindar?”
    “Do you remember last month when Jakob stole my glass slippers?” Danielle asked, still smiling. “He refused to give them back, screaming loudly enough he woke Beatrice. He tossed one down the stairs. Then he smashed the other against my knuckles when I tried to take it away. I was ready to lock him in the dungeon.”
    “Talia!” Faziya hurried toward them, her robe bloody from tending the injured. Snow and Danielle might as well have turned invisible. Talia stepped past them both, wrapping her arms around Faziya.
    Danielle took Snow’s arm and tugged her away. “Come on.”
    Snow didn’t fight her. She did, however, cast a small spell to allow her to listen in.
    “So you’re to leave again?” Faziya was asking.
    “Lakhim suggested it would be best for all involved if I were to leave Arathea as soon as possible,” Talia said.
    “I had hoped . . . I thought with you having killed Zestan—”
    Snow could imagine Talia’s sad smile. “That only makes things worse. Sleeping Beauty, Protector of Arathea. I might have given up the throne, but she’ll always fear me.” Talia hesitated, then blurted out, “You could come to Lorindar with us.”
    Snow stumbled. Danielle caught her arm. “Are you all right?”
    “A little dizzy,” said Snow. “It will pass. Have you spoken with Armand yet?”
    Warmth suffused Danielle’s face. She touched two fingers to her bracelet. “I’ve told him we’ll be returning home soon.”
    Snow nodded absently, still listening to Talia and Faziya. Faziya was inspecting Talia’s hand, chiding her for not wrapping it. Snow snorted. She could have taken care of Talia’s hand if Faziya hadn’t come running.
    She almost walked into Danielle, who had stepped around in front of Snow. “What’s wrong?”
    “Stop eavesdropping on your friend,” Danielle said.
    Snow stuck out her tongue.
    “She’s not going to leave you, you know.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “The two of you have been uncomfortable with one another ever since you learned of Talia’s feelings for you.” Danielle gave a mock-scowl. “I’m getting a little tired of it.”
    Snow matched her pose. “Oh, really?”
    “You’re not upset because she’s attracted to you. You’re scared that’s all there is. That if she finds someone else, she won’t need you anymore.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Snow said, keeping her voice light. “Who else is going to save her hide the next time she gets herself into more trouble than she can fight?”
    Danielle simply folded her arms.
    “Do you know why happily ever after is a lie?” Snow asked. “Because life is change. When it was just Talia and me working for Queen Bea, I loved it.