The Stepsister Scheme

had truly loved him. “I’m glad you found one another.” The broken blade slid easily from her stepsister’s body. Danielle set it on the floor with the hilt of her sword.
    Movement in the shadows on the stairs made her jump. The Duchess smiled as she followed her darkling bodyguard down the steps. “Stacia played a dangerous game.”
    Both Talia and Snow started to cross the room. The Duchess waved her hand. “I wish to speak with Princess Danielle.”
    Princess . Danielle nodded to her friends. She was safe now.
    “Great rewards require great risks,” the Duchess went on. Danielle wondered if she was talking about Stacia or herself. “She was a strong, resourceful, intelligent, and determined young woman. More like you than her own sister, in truth.”
    Danielle shook her head. “They both tried to murder me. They used magic and deceit to take Armand. They—”
    “Yes, yes, you’re a nice girl and they were evil,” said the Duchess, a touch of impatience in her voice. “They tried to steal your man. You simply slaughtered my servants, killed several of my guests in my own dining room, ripped one of my bridges from its mooring, terrorized my poor goblins, and interrupted my dinner.”
    On the other side of the table, Snow cleared her throat. “Actually, I did most of the slaughtering, Your Grace.”
    The Duchess ignored her. She glanced at the chandelier, and the candles flickered to life. A pair of darklings scurried out to begin clearing the debris from the floor. “You killed several of my children as well.” This time, the threat in her voice was clear.
    “Your children?” Danielle repeated, trying to hide her revulsion.
    “Not in the same fashion as your own son. But the darklings are mine. That which I can create, I can also destroy. They know that, and they obey me.” She waved a hand. “Fortunately, midsummer will be here soon, and I will be able to restore what you’ve taken from me.”
    “I had no choice,” said Danielle. “I came to save my husband. I killed her to protect my son.”
    “And you took her husband in the process. There’s an almost fairylike justice to it.” She stepped over Armand and walked toward the table. “Once this mess is cleaned, would you care to join me for dinner, Princess? We were about to begin the main course when you and your companion... arrived. Griffin tongues roasted over dragon fire, glazed with honeysuckle sauce. My own recipe, and quite good.”
    “Stacia wasn’t the only one playing a game, Your Grace,” said Danielle.
    “What are you doing?” Snow whispered. Danielle ignored her, all of her attention on the Duchess.
    The Duchess turned around, spreading her fingers on the edge of the table. “Of course, Queen Rose played a role as well. A powerful witch, to postpone death for so long. I wish I’d known her while she lived.”
    “You came so close to usurping the fairy queen, years ago,” said Danielle. “When the king took you as his slave, you escaped him as well. Yet I’m to believe such a master of deception was fooled by my stepsisters? By a pair of young, spoiled humans? How humiliating that must be for you.”
    If she hadn’t been watching so closely, Danielle would have missed the slight stiffening of the Duchess’ features. The Duchess straightened her robe, brushing away imaginary specks. “Fairies and humans have always played at such games, child. This time, your stepsisters and Queen Rose were the losers.”
    The terseness in her words told Danielle she had scored a point. Whether or not that was a good thing was impossible to say.
    “Actually, Charlotte is still alive,” said Danielle.
    The Duchess blinked, the only sign of surprise. “I see.”
    “Once we’re gone... ” Danielle glanced at Talia. Charlotte had already tried to murder Danielle, as well as her unborn child. She had helped kidnap and enchant Armand. She and Stacia had destroyed the hazel tree which held her mother’s spirit.
    Talia nodded once. Danielle would be well within her rights to have her stepsister imprisoned, or even executed.
    “Yes?” asked the Duchess.
    “Please give her whatever she needs, then send her on her way,” said Danielle.
    Talia cleared her throat. “Princess, your stepsister is still a danger. You can’t—”
    “I can,” Danielle said. “Charlotte is alone for the first time in her life. My birds killed her mother. I killed her sister.” She turned to Snow. “When we get home, I want you to use your