“How?” I glanced around. “There is no way out. The Shadow Guard are everywhere.” I hoped Uncle Gabriel would find me in time. I couldn’t live with myself if I got Kalen killed because he was dragged into my mess. “Where is Snow?”
“She is circling the castle. I don’t think the guards saw her. If we can get to her, maybe we can escape.”
The door to the dungeon opened suddenly, and four black-robed Shadow Guard came in.
“Make sure her hands are secure,” one guard said in a raspy voice. “Do not let her remove the amulet.”
Two of the Shadow Guard grabbed me, and the other two grabbed Kalen. We both struggled, but they were strong, and I could feel dark magic radiating from them. They checked my hands to see if they were still tied. Even with my hands bound behind my back, the Shadow Guard had their magical shields up, as if I might suddenly break loose and kill all of them.
I hadn’t forgotten about the amulet, but how could I take it off? All this time it had been around my neck, and now it seemed it would be the thing that got me killed. I had no idea what would happen if I did ever get to remove the amulet again. I remembered the rush of power and the overwhelming fear of helplessness when I couldn’t control my magic. But now I didn’t even have the option to choose; my hands were tied, and so were Kalen’s.
We were dragged up an old, crumbling stone stairwell covered in vines and wild, gnarled creepers that invaded the stone walls and clung to them like parasites, and into the moss-covered ruins of the old castle. Parts of the castle had completely caved in, and moonlight streamed into the rooms, lighting up the dark stone corridors.
We were led into an open courtyard, surrounded on three sides by the crumbling ruins of the castle and leading to a sheer drop down the side of a mountain crag upon which the castle had been built.
I looked over at the end of the courtyard, among the dilapidated ruins and fallen stones. There, at the edge of the cliff, the wind whipping at her dark, glossy hair that flowed about her shoulders and bled into the blackness of her robes, stood the usurper, my aunt and archnemesis, Morgana.
I was pulled forward, stumbling across the moss-and-weed-covered floor of the crumbling castle.
One of the Shadow Guard hit Kalen across his shoulders and pushed him to the ground. “Kneel before the High Queen of Avalonia, you worthless fae,” he sneered.
Kalen fell to his knees.
The Shadow Guard behind me did the same thing, and pain shot through my shoulders and knees as I was roughly shoved to the ground at Morgana’s feet.
“So!” said Morgana, her green eyes flashing and glaring at me as if I were a little bug to be crushed. “Azaren’s little whelp. Did you think you could run from me forever?”
I pushed myself off the ground and got to my feet, but Morgana backhanded me, and two Shadow Guard pushed me down again. I felt something wet on my chin; my lip was bleeding, and I tried to wipe it on my sleeve, but it was difficult with my hands tied behind me.
“You will kneel before your queen, you insolent wench,” said the Shadow Guard behind me.
“And so will your little fae friend,” Morgana said, looking over at Kalen and then back at me. “Did he think he would . . . What, help you escape again? I know the fae were involved in the escape at Oblek’s castle. Well, this time you will not be so lucky. I will make you watch as we kill your little friend slowly.”
“Let him go.” I sounded much braver than I felt. “He has no part in this. You wanted me, and now you have me. Kalen has nothing to do with it.”
“No.” Kalen struggled with his jailers. “You won’t get away with this, Morgana. The Duke of Silverthorne is on his way here as we speak. He will destroy you if you hurt her.”
Morgana snorted. “Silverthorne is a doddering old fool. His powers are no match for me. I look forward to his arrival. But as long as my brother’s heir lives, my claim to the throne will always be weak. The girl must die, for there can only be one Queen of Illiador.”
As she said that, she raised her right hand and hit me with a push strike so forceful that I flew a few feet. I hit my head on the wall and scraped my back. I could feel blood trickling down my neck from the gash on my head. My head throbbed, and I could barely see straight. Kalen cried out and tried to get to me, but the Shadow Guard swarmed around him and held him back. One guard held a knife to his throat.
My head swam, and I was dazed. I instinctively put up a hasty shield around myself. Then I went about healing myself from the inside. I knew my mage powers were not enough, so I pulled magic from the earth, mending the gash on my head, as I had done before in my healing test.
I looked over to the other side of the courtyard. Four of the Shadow Guard were pulling a struggling Snow. She was tied with coarse ropes, and even her wings were bound so she couldn’t fly off. She was covered in terrible red cuts all over her beautiful white wings. I was horrified. What had they done to her?
“Snow,” I whispered faintly in my mind. “What have they done?”
“I am all right, little one,” said the pegasus, “do not be afraid. I am much stronger than you think. Concentrate on Morgana. Never take your eyes off her.”
My hands were still tied, so I couldn’t even get up properly. I managed to maneuver myself off the ground and tried to stand up on my now
