Red Hood's Revenge

until she turned away, saying, “I’m sorry, Talia. I don’t mean to judge.”
    “I didn’t know who they were. Even if I had, I couldn’t have carried them with a broken hand.” Only deep down, she had known. The pain and blood from her loins had been proof enough. She simply hadn’t wanted to believe. “Jihab’s men sent word, and he came for us soon after. He and his mother had already seized power, but I was the key to sealing their rule. He had awakened Sleeping Beauty. Surely he was destined to be king.
    “We were married the day we returned to his palace.” She closed her eyes, knowing better than to fight the memories that followed. If she resisted, they would only grow worse. Their wedding had been a hastily arranged farce at the palace, officiated by a fairy priest with a beard so thick it had creatures living within it.
    “After I killed him, I fled and made my way to Jahrasima.” She remembered the warmth of his blood on her hands, the way it stuck between her fingers as it dried. He was the first man she had ever killed. “I came to this temple, not knowing where else to go. They protected me, even after they learned I had murdered the ‘rightful’ ruler of Arathea. If I was discovered, this temple and everyone in it would have been burned to the ground. Instead, Khardija and the rest did what they could to help me.”
    Few had known the true identity of their patient. Talia smiled, remembering the day Sister Faziya learned the truth. She had erupted with a string of profanity to make even Talia blush.
    Her muscles, already tense, tightened further at the thought of Faziya. What could have been so important as to make her leave? Talia glanced toward the doorway, wondering if she should have pressed Mother Khardija about Faziya’s whereabouts. Not that it would have made any difference. In all her time here, Talia had never once won an argument with Mother Khardija.
    She rubbed her eyes, pushing back the old emotions until she regained her composure. “You should try to sleep, Princess.”
    Before Danielle could answer, the cat in her lap hissed and leaped to the floor, fur raised. He ran to the doorway, then raced back to nip Danielle’s palm. He hissed again, tail lashing.
    “What’s wrong?” Danielle asked.
    Talia was already on her feet. Far in the distance, she could hear the barking of hounds.
    “They’re coming.” Roudette stood and pulled her cape tight. She strode toward the doorway. “I’ll need a weapon.”
    “Who’s coming?” asked Talia.
    Roudette yanked back the curtain and peered into the hallway. “I warned you this would be your last night as a free woman without my help. Zestan has been hunting for you, Princess.”
    The baying of the dogs had grown loud enough to wake even Snow. She yawned and looked around, the magic of her choker brightening the room. “Arathea is too noisy.” She frowned. “Those dogs aren’t natural, are they?”
    “The hounds signal the arrival of the Wild Hunt,” said Roudette. “They’ve come for Talia.”

CHAPTER 9

    R OUDETTE STOOD, EYES CLOSED as she listened to the Wild Hunt: the howling of the dogs, the hoofbeats pounding over the streets, and the screams of those caught in their path. The sounds taunted her, and her limbs twitched with eagerness.
    “This isn’t the full hunt.” She knew too well the sounds of the Wild Hunt and their victims. “Zestan must know you’re in Arathea, but she doesn’t know where. This scene is playing itself out in towns throughout the country. Talia, come with me. The rest of you stay hidden.”
    Talia blocked her way. “You don’t give the orders here.”
    “Have you ever faced one of the fairy hunters?” When nobody responded, she pulled her hood up over her face. “If you want to protect your friends, you’ll do as I say. Who knows, with both of us fighting together, we might even survive the night.”
    Talia looked to the others. “My spell binds her,” Snow said. “She has no choice but to protect us.”
    Talia’s expression was easy to read. I don’t need her protection. But she said nothing.
    Danielle retrieved Roudette’s hammer, pressing it into her hand.
    Talia and Roudette slipped into the hallway. Talia twitched at every cry from the street, her tension visible even through the robe.
    “You knew about this,” Talia said.
    “I knew they would come for you,” Roudette agreed. “If not tonight, then soon.”
    “You should have—”
    “It would have made