Scarlett hurried next to Kaelem. They headed toward the prison where Aria was being held. Getting to it was easy enough when he had visited her, but her cell was guarded with extra magic.

“Last time, I hid my trail. No one should have known I’d visited her,” Kaelem said as they walked down a dark hall that got colder with every step. “That doesn’t matter this time. We need to be as quick as possible. If we succeed, they’ll know it was us.”

Kaelem reached out a hand to stop Scarlett. He closed his eyes. “Two guards up ahead.”

They continued, and, as they rounded the corner, two winter guards with swords of ice blocked the way.

“No visitors,” one said.

A cloud of darkness burst from Kaelem’s hands into the guard, who flew backwards.

The other sliced his sword at Kaelem. Kaelem ducked and sent a kick into his stomach. The guard buckled over.

The first guard was back on his feet and headed toward Scarlett.

God, she had no idea what she was doing. What was Kaelem thinking wanting her help? The guard lunged at her. She spun and missed the blow.

He turned around and tried again.

Scarlett felt a burning feeling in her hands. Instinctively, she lifted them and a ray of light shot through the air and hit the guard directly in the chest.

He dropped to the ground.

Kaelem had taken care of the other guard.

“Did I kill him?” Scarlett asked.

A wave of guilt rippled through her. Could she have taken another life?

“No,” Kaelem said. “He’s just out cold. He’ll wake up eventually.” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s keep going.”

It was so cold, Scarlett could barely feel her face anymore. Kaelem tugged her further into the ice tunnel. He paused, holding Scarlett back.

“There are no other guards.”

That was good, right?

Kaelem, reading her mind, replied, “Good, yes. But also strange.”

He went first, Scarlett right behind. They turned the last corner to find the dungeon empty of any guards. Kaelem rushed ahead, crying out when he reached the cell at the end of the corridor.

Kaelem crouched down by a slender body crumpled on the floor. The figure was female, but bald. It had to be his sister, Aria.

Scarlett kneeled next to him. “Is she…” She couldn’t continue.

“Not yet,” Kaelem said. “But almost. I will kill the Winter Queen if it’s the last thing I do.”

“May I?” Scarlett hesitated. She wanted to try and help, but she didn’t dare move too quickly.

Rage poured like monsoon rain from Kaelem. He stepped back.

Scarlett shifted herself next to Aria. Her thin body looked ready to snap, with almost nothing more than skin covering her bones. Scarlett closed her eyes and hovered her hands over Aria’s heart. Frost crept up Scarlett’s hands.

Aria was freezing to death. Literally.

Scarlett channeled the heat inside herself and spread it through Aria. Aria’s cheeks flushed ever-so-slightly. It would buy her some time, but they needed to get Aria out of the cold. Now.

Kaelem twisted his body to face the dungeon entryway. The Winter Queen, still dressed in white, walked toward them, followed by Kassandra and a group of Winter guards.

“I knew you couldn’t help yourself, King.” Nevina stopped outside of the cell.

They were trapped. The Winter Queen could close them in and they’d all freeze to death. Scarlett couldn’t save Aria if she died, too. And Ashleigh would be stuck in the mirror forever.

This was bad. So bad.

“Love makes people so predictable,” Kassandra purred as she stepped next to Nevina. “I don’t think there’s a greater weakness.”

“Fuck you,” Kaelem said. “Scarlett and I are leaving here with my sister.”

Scarlett admired his confidence, but she wasn’t as sure. She sucked out more of the cold inside Aria to buy her more time.

Scarlett’s hands turned blue. She couldn’t risk any more, not if she had to fight her way out of there.

“You are stealing my property,” Nevina said. “That breaks the Court treaties. I have grounds to hang you all.”

“You can try.” Kaelem kept a protective stance.

Scarlett pushed herself from the ground and stood next to him. She’d faced Poppy in the coliseum with courage, and she’d do the same now, despite the less than favorable odds.

“A mortal at the side of the Unseelie King,” Kassandra said. “I’ve never seen anything as blasphemous.”

“I’m not a human anymore,” Scarlett said. “I’m not easy prey.”

Scarlett’s mind exploded. Pain shot through her body. She fought the urge to puke as Ashleigh’s face surfaced, blood dripping from her eyes. Her sister wiped the tears of blood from her face as they fell to the ground.

“No.” Scarlett forced her mind wall up. The pain subsided. She knew it was just in her head, but it felt so real. What if Kassandra found Ashleigh in the mirror? No, Kaelem said he was the only one who could release her. But could Kassandra get in?

“Learned a few things, have you?” Kassandra said.

The Winter Queen took a step forward. “I’ll give you one more chance. Leave now and watch your sister die, and I’ll spare your lives.”

“Never,” Kaelem snapped.

“She will die either way. You’re too late.”

A band of shadow shot from Kaelem’s hands and wrapped itself around Nevina.

She cried out as it wrapped around her like a snake and constricted.

Kassandra shot out a ball of green energy from her hands that cut through the shadow, releasing its grip on the Winter Queen.

Panic swam through Scarlett. Kaelem was strong, but she wasn’t. How would they get out of there, past the Winter Queen, Kassandra, and the guards?

The thought of dying scared Scarlett, but worse, she knew that if they didn’t make it through this, Ashleigh would spend an eternity living the same day over and over again inside of a mirror.

Scarlett couldn’t let that happen.

She’d felt stronger every day. As much as she missed being mortal, her best chance of protecting her sister came from the magic that now buzzed through her veins.

Kassandra and the Winter Queen had underestimated her.

If Scarlett was going down, she would find a way to take them with her.

If something happens to me, promise you’ll take care of my sister, Scarlett thought, hoping Kaelem was listening.

His eyes met hers and he nodded.

Raith froze when Scarlett’s fear shot through the bond, electrocuting Raith’s nerves.

Sage had just cooked dinner for them as she listened to Raith tell her about his life in the Summer Court.

Another jolt spread through Raith. Something was wrong.

“I have to go,” Raith blurted.

Sage set the bowls in her hand on the table. “What’s the matter?”

“Scarlett is in danger.”

“The girl you went to before?”

“Yes.”

Raith’s body cringed as another wave of panic hit him. He wasn’t sure if it was because of the bond between them or simply because of how fond he’d grown of Scarlett, but everything inside him screamed to hurry toward her.

“You’re better, but still not fully healed,” Sage said.

“It will have to do,” Raith said as he reached for Scarlett. “Thank you for everything.”

Sage grabbed Raith’s wrist.

“You can’t stop me,” he said.

“I’m not. I’m going with you.”