Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 5)

Mina’s mind was flooded with questions, but she didn’t want to interrupt.

“So you’ve come expecting what exactly?”

“Nothing more than a second chance.”

“That’s an interesting proposition.”

“One only a fool would turn down in this predicament,” Annalora answered. “And you and I know that neither of us are fools.”

“No. That we are not,” Teague answered respectfully. “I didn’t think ruling would drain me this fast.”

“It’s because you’ve brought your armies across the planes and back again. That takes a lot of power, and the balance is off. But if you accept me, we will be unstoppable. I’ll help you destroy the human plane.”

Mina tried to hide her shock. If taking his whole army across the planes and coming back weakened him and drained him, that must be why he’d kept them away from the palace. He couldn’t risk being further drained, and he would never risk losing control.

If there was even the slightest chance that he would take Annalora up on that offer, then Mina needed to get back and warn the others. Maybe she could escape and get away if she caught him at a weak moment.

“You give me much to think about Annalora.” Teague stepped up onto the dais and turned to sit on the throne with Annalora standing near the other chair.

Mina couldn’t handle the rush of emotions she felt at seeing them next to each other, when she’d done all this work to make Teague smile, so she spun and left the room.

Once again, Annalora wasn’t going to stop until she ruined everything. Mina had no choice but to stop her.

Chapter 23

When Mina entered the hall, the yeti and the Fae lights waited just outside the doors as if they’d been there the whole time.

“Thank you for all of your hard work. I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m tired, and I think we should all take a break for a while.”

She wasn’t sure, but she thought they looked a little sad at their dismissal. Mina looked down the hall at the tall double doors that led outside and found herself moving toward them. She pushed open the right hand door, stepped into the sun, and let its rays shine on her. The warmth felt wonderful, but a shadow fell across her face, and she looked up to see a griffin glide overhead to land in a large tower above.

It was the one reminder that she needed to keep her on track.

She looked down and realized she had walked within feet of the bridge that led across the lake and to freedom. She stared at the bridge and then down at her enchanted cuffs. If she crossed, her promise would be broken. She quickly moved back away from the bridge and turned to walk beneath a covered alcove which led around the side of the palace but still overlooked the lake.

Mina leaned on the stone banister and looked out across the water. In the distance, she could make out the waterfall she and Nix had come down. Both the falls and the lake had receded in size. She could tell from the water lines along the rocks.

“That can’t be a good sign.” Mina’s skin tingled, and she turned to see Teague watching her.

“I’m surprised you didn’t try to run away.”

“You would have gone after my brother if I did.”

“You’re absolutely correct.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. I won’t run away.”

“You did before,” he said softly, reminding her of the time she tried to run away during the choosing ceremony.

“I was scared. I wasn’t supposed to be here, in this world in the past. I was on a mission to save my family, and the shoes didn’t give me a choice on when I went back.”

“But you didn’t save them. You failed.”

“No, I did. I saved them. But you took them away from me one by one. And I won’t fail the only family I have left.”

“Why is family so important to you?”

“Why isn’t it to you? I know that your parents cared about you in their own demented way. When I lost the Grimoire, your mother demanded that I do everything in my power to save you.”