The Snow Queen's Shadow

Princess?”
    Talia stepped closer. “Your darkling will obey us until we are safely returned home.”
    “Yes, yes.” She waved a hand, clearly growing bored.
    Danielle didn’t speak. She reviewed the terms in her mind, searching for omissions the Duchess could exploit. What was she missing? “When he comes of age, this bargain ends.”
    The Duchess pressed her fingers together. “When he is a man, he may choose for himself where he wishes to reside.”
    “A man by my culture’s rules,” said Danielle.
    “And which culture might that be, my dear? Human or fairy?”
    Her jaw clenched. “Human.”
    Gerta cleared her throat. “The longer we delay, the more likely Laurence or his Stormcrows will return.”
    Danielle nodded. “We’re prisoners in the winter palace in Kanustius. Can your darkling help us escape?”
    The Duchess’ smile was visible even through the rug. “Once you are free, he will bring you to those who can help you save your son.”
    “Who?” demanded Danielle.
    “Bellum and Veleris, fairy queens of the underworld in Allesandria. They can protect you and help you rescue little Jakob. I imagine they may even be able to help you save Snow.”
    Fairy queens in Allesandria. Danielle stared into the illusory pit. “I don’t understand. Allesandria drove the fairies from their land.”
    The Duchess laughed again. “My people are not so easily banished. We can be defeated. We can be pushed into hiding. But we existed long before your kind claimed dominion over this world, and we shall exist long after your age ends.” She leaned closer. “If you agree to my terms, spill three drops of blood into the portal.”
    Danielle looked to Talia and Gerta. Gerta sat against the wall, staring into the pit. Talia’s jaw was tight, but she nodded ever so slightly.
    They had no weapons. Danielle searched for a way to provide the blood to seal the bargain, but nothing in the room appeared sharp enough to cut skin.
    “Your nails,” Talia said softly.
    After a week of travel, Danielle’s nails were a ragged mess. She bit one, tugging the corner until the skin tore and blood seeped from the skin.
    As she held her finger over the carpet and squeezed blood from the tear, she wondered if Armand would be able to forgive her . . . or if she would ever forgive herself.
     
    Talia inhaled sharply, then slowly forced the air from her lungs. It was a sik h’adan breathing exercise designed to control fear and anger before a fight. It had never worked very well for her. Her jaw was tight. Her fists clenched as she waited.
    The darkling didn’t climb from the hole so much as he flowed . His limbs were shadow, the edges of his form a blur. Long fingers yanked the illusory rug aside.
    “What is he?” whispered Gerta. Snow must not have shared those particular memories when she created Gerta.
    “A darkling, a child of the Dark Man.” A single drop of sweat trickled down Talia’s back. The Dark Man was both bodyguard and assassin. His touch could wither a limb or turn a man’s eye to dust in the socket. He served none but the queen of Fairytown, and nobody knew how the Duchess had come to control his children.
    The darklings they had faced in Fairytown had been little more than children. This one was older, a slender adult with overly long limbs. His movements reminded Talia of a sea creature, sinuous and boneless.
    “The king may have sensed the darkling’s arrival,” said Gerta. “The palace’s wards may be damaged, but if he holds his scepter, he’ll know magic was used to transport something into these walls.”
    “Can you get us out of here?” Danielle asked the darkling.
    It stepped to one wall. Illusion melted away like ice shying from a fire as he reached out, revealing bare stone walls. He touched the wall, then drew back.
    “The prison was built to contain magic,” Gerta said. “Even fairy magic. Entering is easier than leaving.”
    “So we fight our way out.” Talia slipped out of her jacket, wrapping it tightly around her left forearm as a makeshift shield. “The walking ink stain should help. If the king sensed this thing’s arrival, he’ll be sending his people to investigate.”
    Talia kept most of her attention on the darkling as she stepped toward Gerta. “You were able to pass through the city walls. Could you also control this room enough to create an exit?”
    Gerta tugged the chain around her neck. “I might be able to, if not for this.”
    “Good.” To the darkling,