The Snow Queen's Shadow

always plan things through,” Talia said. “She acts. Her instincts are usually good.”
    “When she’s not releasing demons from their prisons, you mean?”
    “I said usually.”
    Gerta sighed. “How is this good? The demon took her, and I’m not strong enough to do anything about it. I’m not even sure I’m real .”
    Talia nudged her horse to the edge of the road. She reached out and broke off a small branch, which she bounced off of Gerta’s shoulder. “You look real enough to me.”
    “I’m part of her. She gave me so many of her thoughts and memories. But I’m not her.” Gerta lowered her eyes. Talia wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince. “We’re different. Different thoughts, different desires.”
    Talia stiffened. She had almost convinced herself Hephyra had been wrong about Gerta’s feelings. “How long until we reach this witch?”
    “Another day at most.” Gerta guided her horse closer. “I don’t know what Snow intended for me. But one way or another, she’s going to want me back. If I’m to have such a short time on this world, why shouldn’t I pursue the things I want?”
    “You’ll have time,” Talia said uncomfortably. “Whatever happens, I’m sure Father Isaac can find a way to help you both.”
    Gerta stiffened. “Please don’t lie to me. I know how you feel about her.”
    So much for pretending not to understand. Talia looked straight ahead. “Snow never wanted—”
    “I’m not Snow.”
    Talia squeezed her knees, urging her horse forward. “You were a part of her.”
    “Maybe I’m the part of her that wanted you, that wanted to be able to return your feelings,” Gerta said. “Did you know she considered taking a love potion for you?”
    “What?” She spoke so sharply that Danielle turned around. Talia waved her on. Fighting to keep the anger and confusion from her voice, she asked, “When did—Why would she do that?”
    “Because she trusted you.”
    “She never said anything.” But of course, Snow wouldn’t have discussed it. She would have just disappeared into her library and done whatever she wanted.
    “She chose not to go through with it. Maybe because she knew how you’d react. Maybe because she was scared.”
    More than once Talia had daydreamed about herself and Snow, but she had known such imaginings would never be more than idle fantasies. Snow’s preferences were obvious to anyone who knew her. What would Talia have done had Snow come to her, her emotions changed by magic? “It wouldn’t have been real.”
    “You’re an idiot.”
    Talia blinked. “What?”
    “ I was created by Snow’s magic. Am I real?” Gerta was speaking louder now, earning a concerned look from Danielle. “Snow loved you. So much that she thought about changing who she was, just to be with you.”
    “Shut up.” Talia’s mind was already tormenting her with what could have been.
    “Snow was afraid. I’m not.”
    “You’re not her.”
    “Neither was Faziya.” Gerta’s voice dropped, taking on a new edge. “Snow gave me those memories, too, how you brought Faziya back with you from Arathea. How the two of you spent the weeks together like husband and wife newly wedded. How you moped for days after she left.”
    “I wasn’t moping,” Talia muttered. Had Snow actually been bothered by all of the time Talia spent with Faziya? If so, she had never let it show . . . but again, Snow wouldn’t.
    “Your time with Faziya showed her the kind of love she could have,” Gerta said.
    “And she chose not to,” Talia said, trying to regain her balance. “Instead, she created you. Made you fall in love with me. Why?”
    Gerta shrugged. “Maybe to make sure I stayed close to you, the one person she trusted to protect me. Or maybe she simply wanted us both to be happy.”
    Her voice was different than Snow’s. Deeper, with a stronger Allesandrian accent, but the intonation of certain words was the same as her sister’s. Her hair was flame, but with the impossible softness of Snow’s locks. “So you would have me take advantage of a child little more than a week old?”
    “Do I look like a child?” Gerta’s lips quirked into a crooked smile. “I know you, Talia. Regret has been your bedmate for too many years, and I love you too much to see you alone and in pain.”
    “I’m not alone.”
    Gerta looked ahead. “Danielle has her prince. Beatrice is gone. Snow White has been taken from us all.” She reached out, brushing Talia’s arm with