Chapter 35

S he flung a bolt of magic toward Roderick. Snow did the only thing she could think to do and shoved him out of the way while she dove in the opposite direction. He landed on the stone floor a few feet away. She managed to break her fall by throwing out her hands, which was a mistake. When she landed, the jarring sensation went through her palms all the way up her arms to her shoulders. She cringed and rolled to her side, before getting back to her feet.

Seraphina scowled and threw another bit of magic at Snow, this time wrapping her upper torso with tendrils of purple smoke that held fast.

"A binding spell," the queen said. "I was a fool not to use that on you both before."

As Snow struggled to get out of the bonds, Seraphina used the same spell on Roderick as he was climbing back to his feet. He'd taken the fall harder than she had.

"I thought to kill the two of you right away. But then I decided it would be much more fun to play with you for a while. My captain didn't tie your ropes tight enough, I see. For that, he will be punished. How you escaped the locked room, though, is a bit of a mystery."

She eyed Roderick with a wicked glint as she approached him, looking him over with disdain. "You have been nothing but a disappointment from the moment I met you. If you had complied with my request, I would have given you the antidote to the poison. Now, you will never get it."

"It's me you want, Seraphina. Give him the antidote and let him go," Snow said.

"How sweet," the queen said, her voice dripping disdain. "While I appreciate your sentiment, the answer is no."

"Please," she said. "I'll do what you want."

"Snow, don't," Roderick warned.

Seraphina angled her body toward her, intrigue written on her face. "Anything?"

Snow cut him a glance. He shook his head. She took a deep breath and returned her gaze back to the queen.

"Anything," she said.

The queen moved toward her with slow, methodical steps. "Will you abdicate your throne?"

Pain sliced through her. "Yes," she said, the word ice.

"No," Roderick said. "Don't do it, Snow."

The queen moved a step closer. "Will you recognize me as the true and rightful ruler of the Mystic Vale, willingly?"

Her mouth went dry as she met the queen's gaze. She lifted her chin a little higher. "Yes, I will."

"Snow!" Roderick shouted. There was desperation in his voice.

The queen smiled. "And will you announce this to the entire kingdom? That you are willingly stepping down?"

Her stomach churned as she stood there, looking deep into the queen's eyes and seeing nothing but greed, vanity, and pure evil. If she did this, her reign was over before it had a chance to begin. And likely her life would end. She would join her parents. Finally, she nodded.

"I will."

"Swear you will do this. Swear it by your royal blood."

She waved her hand to release the bond a bit and reached for Snow's hand. She brought it out, palm up, and held it in her icy one. The queen was cold through and through. The enchanted dagger materialized from thin air and landed in her other empty hand. She held it up, at the ready.

Roderick sucked in a sharp breath. "Don't do it, Snow. I beg you."

"Silence!" Seraphina said, snapping her heated glare in his direction. A gag appeared around his mouth.

The queen had learned the dark wizard's magic well.

"Swear it," she repeated.

Snow inhaled a deep breath, then let it shudder out. "I swear."

With that, the queen pressed the tip of the enchanted dagger into her palm, drawing a line until blood swelled. There was a hiss from the cut and then an image of steam formed in what appeared to be a leaf drifting upward from Snow's palm. Moments later it disappeared.

Seraphina used the tip of the blade to cut her own palm, then pressed it against hers. A heated sizzle went through her. Dark magic poured into her, suddenly at war with the light magic residing inside her. She had never felt it before. Not like that. It had always just been there. Snow cried out as the pain lanced through her. Her blood oath was complete.

Roderick made a muffled sound of agony behind the gag. Seraphina merely chuckled as she pulled her hand away. Then she turned to Roderick.

"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're jealous ?"

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 will never love you. You will never gain 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.