Chapter Thirty-Three

Kadie

The wolves disappeared as dawn set in, just like Etienne had said they would. Every night after that we made sure to find shelter where they couldnt get in.

My feet ached as I plowed through the thicket. Thorns tore into my skin. I licked my chapped lips, cringing when it felt like they split. Id been traveling for days now and all I ever saw was snow.

A familiar sound in the distance caught my attention. “Oh God, is that what I think it is?” I glanced at Etienne.

We both jogged forward. There, up ahead, was the river—and on the other bank, I saw beams of sunlight. I walked along the side, trying to find a place shallow enough to cross. At last, I noticed an area where it was only up to my thigh.

With a splash, I stumbled across, the current almost knocking me over. Cool water seeped through my clothing and into my boots. My cloak dragged behind me like a net. Rocks along the bottom made me unbalanced, so I slowed down.

As soon as I climbed up the embankment on the other side, I fell to my knees. My fingers gripped hold of the soft grass. Warm breeze licked at my wet skin. The scent of flowers filled the air. I tilted my head toward the sky: so much blue, no clouds, no snow. Birds twittered in the distance, flying between branches. Bees buzzed around violets and lilies.

But if I thought I was in awe, my reaction was nothing like Etiennes. His face beamed as he raised his hands to the sky, as if he could touch the warmth. He sucked in a deep breath, and his fingers dug into the grass as mine had. I wondered how long itd been since hed seen the sun or stepped out of Winter. Seeing the joy in his eyes almost made me feel bad that wed have to go back someday

A twig snapped, and Etiennes gaze shifted. Paranoid, I climbed to my feet, ready to run.

“Dont move,” a voice called behind me as a blade pressed against my throat.

“P-please dont hurt me. W-weve just escaped Winter.” My legs trembled beneath me. If they didnt buy this, then we were so dead.

“Then why do you carry a pack and supplies?” The guard came around to stand in front of me, his blade still at my neck.

My eyes welled. “I stole it from one of the storerooms a couple of weeks back. Because I was on kitchen duty, I had access to food. Listen, Im just trying to get back to the human world. I-I heard talk amongst the servants that Summer was a safe place.”

He nodded. “Summer is a safe place, and we plan on keeping it that way. However, we dont know if youre a spy sent here by Winter.”

“Im not. I promise.” My voice quivered. “They kidnapped me from the human world. Just please. Help me.”

The guard didnt look convinced. He turned to Etienne. “And what about you? Were you a prisoner, too?”

But before he could answer, the guard shoved gags in our mouths and proceeded to tie us up. “Put them on the horses, Shand. Well let King Nevin decide their fates.” Another man stepped out from behind a tree.

We could have fought back. There were two of them, but with Etiennes fighting skills, we might have won. But we didnt fight back. This was part of the plan. We were supposed to be easily captured. How else would we convince them to let their guard down?

They took my pack after they had bound my wrists. With a nudge, they led me to a chestnut colored horse. Shand climbed up first, then reached down to grab my arm while the other guy lifted me. After a moment, they had me situated in front of Shand. Luckily, they didnt pat down my inner thigh to find the dagger—my only lifeline out here.

Etienne hadn’t been treated as kindly as me, and I saw that hed been tossed haphazardly over a horse on his stomach, with a soldier sitting behind him, keeping him from being able to move.

We rode for a while. The saddle hurt my butt, and it felt like my knees might actually fall off. Id probably walk bowlegged for the rest of the day. The smell of horse made my nose wrinkle. I so wasnt a big fan of animals. Give me a car any day of the week. Hell, Id settle for a bike at this point.

At last, the hills and woods opened to a large white oak gate, which had carvings etched into it. My mouth gaped open as the doors creaked, allowing us to enter. Everywhere I looked there were waterfalls and flowers. Houses were built into trees. Great archways gave way to gardens and fountains. Holy crap. I half expected to see Orlando Bloom step out dressed like Legolas.

Shand tugged on the reins of the horse, bringing us to a stop. More guards met us, and I was handed down to them, while others worked to secure Etienne beside me.

“We found them crossing the river from Winter into Summer. She claims they escaped and are seeking refuge,” Shand said.

“Ill have Camlin take your horses—why dont you bring them into the palace,” the other guard said.

Shand slid from his mount, his dark hair hanging to his shoulders and his armor gleaming in the sunlight. “Thanks.”

He gripped my arm tightly and pushed me up a marble stairway into a huge foyer. Four sets of staircases jutted to upper levels. Marble tiles covered the floor, while streams ran through arched doorways.

“Come along.” He jerked me forward.

My mouth went dry. Now came the true test. If they didnt buy my story, Id end up either imprisoned or dead. “Wh-where are we going?”

“The throne room. The king and queen are holding court as we speak.”

“Good, youre doing great,” Griselle said in my mind. “Youre right where you need to be. Dont be scared. Im with you. And Ill be with you when you make your move.

Dont be scared.

But she knew exactly what her voice in my head would do to me. She wanted me scared—just not of Nevin and Salome.

Two guards met us at a set of double doors. They nodded at Shand as we approached, and then they opened the doors for us. Heads turned to watch us as we made our way down a crimson carpet.

“Your Highness, we found this human crossing into Summer near the Winter border. She claims to have escaped, but we thought itd be best if we brought her in for questioning.”

My gaze shifted to the raised dais, and my breath caught in my throat. There, sitting on one of the thrones, was Salome.

Kadie?” Her eyes widened as she stood. “Release her at once. I know her.”

Shand glanced to the king who nodded. “Go ahead, untie her.”

The guard held out a knife and cut the bindings on my wrists. I rubbed the raw spots and twisted my hands to get the feeling back in them.

“I want to see her in private,” Salome said.

No, I don’t think thats a good idea.” The king caught her arm.

She glared. “Nevin, Ill be fine. Shes my best friend.”

Gareth moved from his place behind her chair. “My queen, you need to take precautions. Regardless of your relationship with Kadie, your safety is our utmost concern.”

She moved from the dais and came to my side, wrapping me in her arms. Everything about her smelled like summer: flowers, rain showers, freshly cut grass. Gone was the familiar coconut lotion she used to wear. She squeezed me tighter, as if she thought I wasnt real. And for a moment, it comforted me—made me feel like I was at home. I savored the sensation. This could be the last time I felt like this again.

She drew back, her eyes welling with tears.

Oh God. Salome…I couldnt do this. Maybe if I told Salome everything, shed be able to arrange to get me out of here.

But then I felt Griselles presence in my mind once again. I felt the weight of my hidden dagger. More than anything, I felt the fear of what Grisselle would do to me if I failed.

Salome released me, then turned to Gareth as she started to guide me along by my arm, her golden gown dragging behind her. “Please see us to my drawing room.”

Gareth sighed but fell in behind her, then turned to the king. “Ill post guard outside her door.”

Nevin watched me closely. “If you do anything to harm her, I promise you wont leave our dungeons, is that clear?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Dont worry, I will get you out of there should something go wrong,” Grisselle said. “So long as you prove your loyalty to me, I will show my loyalty to you.”

“And what about this one, Your Highness?” Shand drew Etienne’s head back.

I heard any audible gasp from Nevin as I moved away from him. “It cant be…Etienne?

But I wasnt able to stay and see how Etienne would handle Nevin. Salome reached for my hand. She was quiet as she led me from the throne room and down a hall decorated with marble statues. We came to a stop outside a door etched with roses. She pushed it open and pulled me inside.

As soon as the door drew shut, she hugged me again. “Im so glad to see you. I-I just cant believe youre here.”

I hugged her back, my throat constricting. “Me too. God, Ive missed you.”

Truth in lies. It made what I had to do all the harder.

“How did you get here?” She pulled back, wiping the tears from her face.

“After I caught Zac cheating on me, I left school. When I got home, my parents and I got in a huge fight. So I went to your house, but you werent there. I got a message from you to meet you at Club Blade, but Im guessing now it might not have been from you.” My lip trembled, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I decided to go to Club Blade by myself. Thats where I met Etienne, a fae prince. He brought me through to Winter. I—I was there for a long time.” I swallowed. “The things I saw. The things they did to me… It was horrific.”

She clutched me tight as I sobbed, telling her about the blood and sacrifices and Demetrias death. I even told her about falling for Etienne, though I left out his true identity.

“Now, Kadie. You must do it now.” Grisselles words echoed through me.

Salome stepped back but held my hand in hers. “Im sorry you had to go through all that. If Id known you were there I wouldve found a way to come for you.” She stroked my hair, reminding me of my mom.

“I know you would have come for me,” I said. “It isnt your fault. You didnt know.”

“I cant help but feel guilty,” she said. “Id do anything to keep you safe.”

I swallowed. “Its too late for that,” I whispered.

She stopped and looked at me. “What do you mean?”

“Now,” Grisselle shouted in my mind. “Do it now!”

“Theres something else I need to tell you,” I said.

“What is it?”

I moved away from her, fumbling to tug the dagger from its sheath on my upper thigh. My eyes blurred as salty drops raced down my cheek. It was either her or me.

Her gaze flicked to the dagger. She went still. “Kadie?

“Dont worry, itll only hurt for a second.”

She took several steps away from me. “Kadie, you dont have to do this.”

I don’t have a choice,” I whispered. “You dont know what shell do. What shes already done.”

“Whatever threat she made, well find a way to keep you safe. You still have a choice. I promise. Just hand over the dagger, and well figure this out.”

Grisselles essence flowed through me, a reminder that the situation wasnt so simple. I would never be safe again. Wherever I went, whatever I did, Grisselle would be with me.

Someone began to open the door, but Grisselles power lashed out of me and shoved the door closed then knocked over a cabinet to bar the door and keep anyone from entering.

“Salome!” Gareth shouted from outside. “Whats going on?”

“Gareth, help me.” Salome staggered away from me and toward the barred door. She attempted to push the cabinet out of the way. When it wouldnt move, she spun to face me, her skin draining of color as disbelief painted her features.

“We have her, Kadie. Finish it.”

I raised the knife to do as Grisselle ordered, but I hesitated, and Grisselle made me pay for it. My mind flooded with images of what she would do to me.

My body laid on a board as the skin was stripped from my bones one limb at a time—

A glimpse of myself being shoved into a boiling pot still alive, while trolls beat me back down every time I tried to climb out.

Musicians seated in the ballroom, playing a song until I bled to death.

I focused on blackness, nothingness, anything to shut out the wave of fear. Only then did I realize what Grisselle had done, filled me with nightmares of torture so powerful that while I focused on keeping them at bay, her power surged through me, forcing me forward as easily as shed closed and barred the door.

Unable to stop myself, I lunged forward with the blade and stabbed it in Salomes chest.

She screamed, her face already pale. She reached for the knife, trying to take it out, but I pressed forward, and she stumbled backward.

Kadie…” She stretched her fingers out toward the wall to steady herself, but she fell to her knees then sagged to the floor in a heap, her sunshine colored hair spilling out around her like a halo while blood soaked into the ends of it from her wound.

My hands trembled as I stared at her, watching her gasp for air. “Im sorry. I didnt want to. I didnt mean for this to happen. I—”

The door burst open. Gareth took one look at me. I knew then that I was screwed. Thered be no clean getaway.

“Take her to the dungeons. Now. And get the king.” Gareth dropped down beside Salome.

Hands dragged me toward the door. “Let me go. Please. Listen to me. I had no choice. I had to do it. Please. Let me go…”