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Chapter 11

E lla shivered under the thick cloak, despite its warmth. She pulled the hood down on her head and bowed it to keep the falling snow out of her face. They’d been walking for hours. At some point, the wall of the city had ended, leaving them in the thick forest with nothing but trees and bracken and more trees. As the day turned into night, snow fell thicker and heavier. Her breath plumed white in front of her.

Nicholas glanced back to make sure she was keeping up. “We’re almost there.”

“Almost where?”

“There’s an abandoned cabin ahead.” He waved ahead of him.

“How do you know?” She was leery of his information as she squinted into the distance, as if that would help her see better. She saw nothing but trees and shadows and snow.

He grinned. “I know these woods.”

If he was walking a path, she was unable to see it. But she followed him, the bag bouncing against her hip every so often when she took a misstep. At last, the trees seemed to thin and there was a small clearing. In the distance, a cabin. All the windows were dark, so it was safe to assume this was the abandoned cabin he mentioned. She was relieved to see it, to know they were coming to the end of their hike and they’d be in shelter for the night.

But then, what would tomorrow bring?

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To the cabin,” he said.

“No, I mean, after that. What is our destination?”

He paused, turning toward her in the shadowy moonlight. “I’m taking you to safety while I work on a way to get you home.”

Her brows drew together. “Where is safety?”

“The royal castle.”

She stared at him in shocked silence. He turned back and continued on but she had more unanswered questions.

Nicholas’s boots left deep tracks in the snow. She did her best to step in them and follow, quite literally, in his footsteps. He hurried up the creaky wood steps of the porch. He swung the door open and stepped aside, waiting for her to enter.

Once she was inside and he closed the door behind her, they were plunged into darkness. Ella clutched her elbows and tried not to shiver. Even though they were out of the elements, it was freezing inside the cabin.

“I’ll get a fire started.”

He struck a match and lit an oil lamp near the door. It bathed the small one-room cabin in a pale-yellow light. On one side was the fireplace. On the other an old, tattered sofa that had seen better days. Behind it, a narrow bed with a stack of blankets neatly folded on the end of it. In front of them, a small kitchen that didn’t offer much. Only a sink. No stove.

Next to the fireplace was a full log rack. As if someone had chopped wood one day and then disappeared the next. Nicholas set about placing the logs in the fireplace. He struck another match and held it to the end of one log. A tiny flame started. He did the same on the other end.

She wandered into the kitchen. The overhead cupboards had seen better days. They were covered in dust and cobwebs. She pulled one open. Empty. She was glad they had the hearty beef stew and bread earlier that day, but she was still a little hungry.

“There. That should warm us up in no time. Are you hungry?” he asked, as if reading her thoughts.

“Not really,” she lied. Since there were no provisions here, she didn’t want him to feel as though he had to provide for her. He already did that at the tavern, after all.

He moved to the bed and picked up the top blanket. He shook it out. Dust clouded in the air around him, making him cough and sneeze. Once he had the dust out of that one, he picked up the one under it and shook it out. It wasn’t as dusty as the top one. Then he handed one of them to her.

“These blankets should keep us warm by the fire,” he said.

“Thank you.”

She didn’t want to remove her cloak yet. But she was tired of carrying the bag with the slippers. She slid it off her shoulder and placed it on the edge of the sofa. Then she grabbed one of the better-looking cushions and tossed it to the floor by the fire. She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and plopped down on the cushion, watching as the flames took off.

Nicholas did the same. He placed a cushion across from her and dropped the thick blanket. Then eyed the bag on the edge of the sofa.

He pointed to it. “May I?”

She nodded.

He opened it and pulled out one of the glass slippers. He held it up to the firelight, watching as the rainbow of colors danced in the glass. He reached in the bag and grabbed the other one, inspecting it much the same way.

“Remarkable,” he muttered.

“Are they?” she asked.

“Well, yes. Not a scratch or crack on them.” Gently, he returned them to the bag.

She chewed her lower lip. “Nicholas, I think there is much we need to discuss.”

He moved to sit on the cushion. “There is?”

“Isn’t there? I have many questions,” she said.

Like, how did the slippers bring her here? How would she get home? Why did the queen want the slippers? And if he arrived by magic, could he then return to her world by the same magic? They had only just begun to discuss everything at the tavern when they were interrupted and Malvina arrived.

He took a deep breath, expelled it. He picked up the poker and nudged one of the logs to encourage it to continue to burn. “Yes, I know you do.”

She waited with her hands clasped in her lap and watched him. A pensive expression was creased on his handsome face as he searched for the words.

“Have you tried to use the slippers to return home?” he asked suddenly.

“How would I do that?” she wanted to know.

He rose, reached for the bag and brought it to her. “Try them on. I have an idea.”

Her brows drew together in suspicion, but she took the bag from him nonetheless. Placing it in front of her, she pulled off her boots and her thick socks. She slipped the shoes out of the bag. She put one on, then the other.

“Now what?” she asked.

He held a hand down to her. She grasped it as he pulled her to her feet. She pitched forward a little. He caught her in his arms. Heat fluttered to her face as he held her for that brief moment as he set her back on her feet. She straightened, smoothing her suddenly damp palms down the front of her cloak.

He took one of her hands in his. She hoped he didn’t notice the dampness.

“Close your eyes,” he said.

“Why?” Now she was suspicious.

“Humor me. Please.”

She did as he asked. Then he said, “Now think of your home. Picture it the way you remember it. Are you seeing it in your mind?”

She nodded.

“Tap your heels together.”

She cracked one eye to glare at him. He gave her an encouraging nod. She closed her eye again and tapped her heels together once.

Nothing happened.

The crackling fire was the only sound in the silence. Her eyes were still closed as he released her hand. She heard the swish of his clothes and then he gripped her by the upper arms. His touch was gentle but firm.

“Try again,” he said.

“This is ridiculous,” she said.

“Once more. For me?”

She sighed. She pictured the home she shared with her stepmother and stepsisters. Living in the drafty third-floor bedroom. Cooking and cleaning and doing all the things they made her do. The only happy memories she had was when her father was still alive and those were becoming more and more distant.

She clicked her heels together again.

Still nothing.

She opened her eyes and met his blue gaze. Firelight danced in the depths. Finally, he dropped his arms to his side.

“Well, it was worth a try anyway.” He gave her a weak smile as he plopped down on the cushion.

She lowered herself down and pulled off the slippers, placing them on the floor in front of her. She pulled on her thick socks, but left her boots off.

“What did you think was going to happen?” she asked.

“I was hoping it would send you—us—home.”

“Is that why you took me by the arms?”

“Yes. I thought it would help.”

The firelight danced in his chestnut hair, making some of the strands appear gold. “Why does Malvina want the slippers?”

“Because they are powerful,” Nicholas said.

Ella snorted uncertainty. “Are they?”

A ghost of a smile flickered over his face. “They are. For someone who knows how to use the magic inside them.”

She eyed them, wondering what sort of magic they truly had. Why wasn’t she able to use the magic inside them to go home? Because she, herself, did not have magic?

“And I don’t know how to use the magic inside them,” she said.

He pressed his lips together in a thin line and shook his head.

“So, how are we going to get back?” she asked.

Absently, he poked the fire. He looked thoughtful, working on how to answer her.

“You don’t know, do you?” she said.

He shook his head. “Not yet. I’m working on a plan.”

She thought of her fairy godmother, Noella. If she could call her, get in contact with her somehow, then perhaps she would be able to help them.

“What about Noella?”

His head snapped up. He stiffened and went still as he peered at her. “What about her?”

“She said she was my fairy godmother.” She clamped her mouth shut then, pressing her lips together. She’d said too much.

He tipped his head to one side, question flickering across his face. “Your fairy godmother.”

She emitted a nervous laugh. “I know it sounds silly but…she…I think she had something to do with me coming here.”

And the ball, but she didn’t want to talk about that. She didn’t want to tell him the woman had used some sort of magic to dress her and get her there. And even though she didn’t want to admit the same magic brought her to Rovenheim, there was no denying that it did and the slippers had something to do with it.

“I don’t think your fairy godmother can help us,” he said. “I have a feeling we’re on our own.”

Her previous idea of handing over the slippers to Malvina in exchange for the girl still seemed like an option. She dragged her lower lip through her teeth.

“What about the girl Malvina kidnapped?” she asked.

“What about her?”

“Well, don’t you think we should do something about that?”

He blinked as he looked at her, as if he didn’t believe she suggested such a thing.

“Malvina still has her,” Ella went on. “Perhaps if we take the slippers in exchange for the girl—”

“No,” he snapped. “Malvina cannot have the slippers.”

“Why not?”

“Her magic is too powerful.”

“Well, what does she plan to do with them?” Ella asked.

He remained silent. Something about the way he looked made her think he knew what the Queen of Darkness and Shadow intended to do with them.

“We cannot give her the slippers,” he said in a cagey response.

“But what about the girl? We can’t just leave her. We have to do something.” What, she didn’t know, but her conviction was strong that they should rescue her.

“I’ll think about it,” he said, poking the fire again. “We should get some sleep. In the morning, I’ll find something for us to eat and some water.”

Ella wrapped the blanket tighter around her frame as she moved to lay down, her head on the cushion. She wasn’t certain she had convinced Nicholas. Not yet. In the morning, she would try again. And, truth be told, she was exhausted from the day. Her eyes were heavy and before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

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