The Stepsister Scheme

will—”
    “She will do what?” Stacia asked. “Declare war on Fairytown? The Duchess’ home is well-protected, child. Imagine poor Beatrice... her son and daughter-in-law taken from her. Then, months from now, her grandson is miraculously saved by some benevolent fairy. Think of her gratitude. Queen Beatrice will embrace the one tie she has to her dead son, and I will have a lifetime to take back what my traitorous daughter stole from me.”
    Danielle looked over her shoulder. Even if she made it out of the cave, Rose could still cast a spell on her. Look at how easily she had taken Snow and disabled Talia. Or she could simply send Brahkop or the darkling to catch her.
    Stacia cast a disgusted look at Charlotte. “Get up.
    Charlotte pulled herself to her feet, her head bowed.
    Danielle stared at Charlotte, unable to feel anything but pity. She had tried twice to murder Danielle, to prove herself so that she could have Armand to herself. “It wouldn’t have been real. He never would have loved you.”
    Charlotte didn’t look up. “It would have been real enough.”
    “Enough of this,” said Stacia. “Drop your blade, and I’ll let your friend Talia live.”
    “So I can sleep for another hundred years?” Talia asked.
    “Give or take,” said Stacia. “These things really aren’t that precise. You’ll sleep, untouched by the years, until some dashing hero arrives to awaken you.”
    “No thank you, Your Majesty.” Talia’s voice shook. “I’ve been ‘rescued’ once before.” She glanced at the river, and in that moment, Danielle knew what she was about to do.
    “Talia, wait!” Danielle started to move toward Talia. As soon as she turned, the darkling raced forward. Danielle spun around, swinging her sword to drive him back.
    Talia could barely walk. There was no way she would be able to swim. “Beatrice will send someone to revive you,” Danielle shouted. “Don’t—”
    “Sorry, Princess,” said Talia. She had moved past the vines, so the sun illuminated the now-plain features of her face. She looked so exposed and vulnerable, like a frightened child. “I can’t do it.”
    Before Danielle could move, Talia stepped into the water. Danielle ran after her. The scrape of claws on rock made her turn.
    The darkling leaped.
    Danielle swung with all her strength, severing the darkling’s arm. His body crashed into Danielle, knocking her down, but he didn’t attack. Shrieking in pain, he raced back to Stacia.
    “Brahkop, take her!” shouted Stacia.
    Danielle backed toward the water as the troll approached. She had to get to Talia before—
    “Stop running,” Stacia commanded. “Drop the sword.”
    Though she fought with all her strength, Danielle could only watch as her fingers relaxed and the sword dropped to the ground.
    In a heartbeat, Brahkop was there. Ropes of hair looped around Danielle’s limbs, hoisting her into the air.
    It felt like Brahkop would crush her bones. Danielle closed her eyes and did her best to ignore the pain.
    Help me, Wind, she whispered silently. On rare occasions, birds and other creatures had obeyed her even before she asked for their help. Like her wedding day, when she pleaded for them to break off their attack on her stepmother and stepsisters. Some of the doves had turned away the instant Danielle realized what they had done, before she had spoken a single word out loud. Please.
    Of the three aviars, only Danielle’s was still in any condition to help. If she hadn’t already fled back to the pixies. If she was willing to risk herself to come to Danielle’s aid. If she could hear Danielle’s plea at all.
    Stacia drew a knife from behind her back. The long, triangular blade was made of a dark metal, almost as black as the darklings. “Don’t move,” she said. Danielle fought, but she couldn’t even blink as Stacia stepped closer.
    A high-pitched scream filled the cave. Hooves rattled against the stone as Wind burst through the vines.
    Brahkop dropped Danielle and advanced toward the aviar. His hair spread out like a bizarre, oversized spiderweb, while other tendrils reached for Wind. Had he attacked like that back at his shop, Danielle and the others never would have beaten him. He had been holding back, deliberately letting them escape so they would come to Fairytown.
    Go, Danielle said silently. Help Talia. Quickly, before she drowns. Take her to Arlorran.
    Wind danced from side to side, seeking a path through Brahkop’s web.
    She’ll die