As Yirrie helped her to her feet, Snow saw Arden held a sharp dagger in his hand. A dagger that had likely saved her life. A dagger with the most unusual shimmering blade. Tasnia moved into their circle of light, concern pinching her aged face.
“You saw this black mist?” she asked.
“I did.” Ardan turned to Snow then. “It was trying to kill her.”
Yirrie gasped and then whimpered, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her tight. Elator made his way over to them, then.
“Where did it go?” he asked.
“Back into the shadows,” Snow said, her voice weak and rough.
“What was it?” Yirrie wanted to know.
“Magic,” Snow whispered. “Dark magic.”
“Where would dark magic come from?” Elator asked. His gaze was firmly on Tasnia.
The first thought that came to her was that it was Seraphina. As far as Snow knew, though, she didn’t know she was still alive and living in the Wyldwood Forest.
Or did she?
How could she have discovered this truth?
And did she use Snow’s friend, Annilen, as bait to flush her out of the elven village and find her?
Annilen?she asked, sending the thought toward the forest sprite.
There was no answer.
Tasnia’s eyes glinted hard as she looked at Snow. “There hasn’t been dark magic in these woods in a very long time. These woods are safe.”
“Well, they are no longer and the dark magic is back,” Elator snapped. “We must do something to protect ourselves.”
“To protect Snow,” Ardan corrected. “The black mist came for Snow.”
She cut him a glance. He had a firm look on his face as though he was certain he knew what he saw. But how did he when all the others were frozen in time?
“Then Snow White must leave this place,” Tasnia said.
Snow stiffened, sucking in a sharp breath as she peered at the woman she had known most of her life. Tasnia’s hard gaze was on hers and there was something about her stance that told Snow she was not willing to budge. How repulsive it was to see the woman was so willing to throw her out of the village.
“No!” Yirrie said, her voice hard and firm. She squeezed Snow tighter. “I will not allow it.”
“She is—” Tasnia began.
“She is part of this village and my daughter,” Yirrie insisted.
“And mine,” Elator added. “We will not allow you to send her away.”
Snow flushed hot at the vehement words from her adoptive parents who were determined to keep her alive and safe within the confines of their village. She knew, as Tasnia did, that she did not belong. She was, after all, human. The pendant with the rose and crown was a stark reminder of that and her true identity.
Tasnia’s eyes flickered from Yirrie to Elator, then back to Snow. It was clear the Elder was not enamored with Snow. If it was up to her, Snow would have never been allowed to stay in the village in the first place.
“We, the Elders, will use our magic to protect the village. But only if Snow White promises to remain within its borders. It is the only way to safeguard her and our people.”
“She promises,” Yirrie said, her tone taut.
A hot flush went over her as Snow shifted from one foot to the other and Yirrie squeezed her tight. There was no way she would make such a promise. The forest called to her. It made her whole again to return night after night and be a part of nature and with all the nocturnal animals that inhabited it.
