“You see how compliant she is?”
With a wave of magic, she healed the wound on her own hand but left the one on Snow’s open and oozing.
Tears burst from Snow’s eyes and trickled down her face. Her breath hitched on a sob. She hated herself for giving the queen what she wanted, for swearing a blood oath.
“Now give him the antidote and let him go,” Snow said, her voice clotted with tears.
“Oh, no,” Seraphina said. “I will do no such thing.”
“But you—”
“I made no promises. You, however, promised me everything.” A wicked grin erupted on her face. “For that, I thank you.”
Fury erupted through her as she stared at the queen. Suddenly the corridor was swarming with guards. Two of them grabbed Roderick and started to lead him away. Snow glanced his way. Their eyes met. She saw the despair deep within the depths of his eyes and she knew in that moment she made a mistake. She should never have promised Seraphina she would abdicate her throne. Worse, she let down the people of Westfall and Lighthill. The people she promised she would take care of once she returned as the rightful ruler of the Mystic Vale.
The fight hadn’t left her, yet, though. Despite the blood oath, despite her promise to abdicate, there was still a fierce devotion to the Mystic Vale deep inside her. She turned back to the queen, saw the smugness on her face as she watched them lead Roderick away. Something inside Snow snapped.
“Why do you hate me so much?” she asked, tears still in her eyes.
Seraphina looked momentarily taken aback by that. “Hate you?”
“You must. You’ve taken everything from me now,” Snow said.
There was deep contemplation on the queen’s face. “Because you are the fairest in the land. Because people love you more than they love me.”
“You did all this because you’rejealous?”
A dark fury creased her face. “I am not jealous. I wanted to elevate myself to someone of substance. I did. But you stood in the way of that.”
“By murdering my parents and stealing my throne,” Snow snapped. “Admit it. You wanted nothing more than power and glory. The people willneverlove you. You willnevergain their loyalty.”
“Be quiet!” She pressed a hand against her head, massaging her forehead. “I grow tired of you, girl. Captain, take her to the dungeon with the blacksmith.”
The queen waved her hand and released her bonds as a man stepped up next to her. He took her by the arm and led her away.
“You may have my blood oath, Seraphina, but this is far from over,” Snow said over her shoulder.
“You may think that,” the queen said. “But you will never beat me.Never.”
Seraphina’s anger-lined face was the last thing Snow saw before the captain led her away.
Chapter 36
Itwascoldanddark in the dungeon cell. There was nothing but a pile of straw in one corner and a disgusting chamber pot in the other. It looked as though it hadn’t been emptied since the last prisoner occupied the cell, whenever that was. Snow’s stomach churned acid. She refused to look at either corner and preferred to hover near the bars.
Across from her, the guards deposited Roderick. But he hadn’t made an appearance. He concealed himself deep in the shadows of the cell. Snow grasped the cold iron bars in her hands and peered through them across the way.
“Roderick?”
“She’s won, Snow.” His disembodied voice filtered across to her.
Snow refused to believe that. She gripped the bars tighter, took a deep breath, and tried again. “I was wrong to agree to her terms. But I thought she would give you the antidote and let you go.”
“What would letting me go accomplish?” he demanded.
“You could go for help,” she suggested. “Back to the villagers.”
A long beat of silence passed. Then he said, “To what end?”
