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That voice . . . It sounded so familiar.

Do you, child?

Yes! I replied, terrified that whoever this was, she’d leave if I didn’t answer quickly. I’ll do anything.

Give anything?

I swallowed. I wasn’t a fool. Fae were notorious for making tricky and dangerous deals. I could very well be handing over my own life for Anna’s. And yet . . .

Anything, I affirmed.

No living being has this power, the female said, this time sounding as if she wished that I’d reconsider. I ask once more.

I’ll give absolutely anything.

This whispers sounded again, a roar as the female voice melded with others. Burning moon, how many were there?

The moment I asked the question, the whispers stopped.

The price will be paid in due time, the singular, familiar female voice said.

Before I could respond, the heat that I’d been painstakingly pushing into Anna, began to flow out with ease and a brilliant violet-white light flashed. It seeped from my hands into Anna’s chest as snow circled around us in a vicious whirlwind, cutting us off from the the sight of the others.

Were those behind the whispers trying to distract me? Or was this the price, being paid already? Would I die in this tunnel of wind and snow as Anna was reborn?

But then I caught the pulse, the widening of the tunnel, the giving of space. It wasn’t threatening me. Or Anna. The release of my power, or use of another’s magic, or whatever this was between me and the voices, drew the snow, but it wouldn’t hurt us.

Exhaling, I shifted my attention back to Anna. Some color had returned to her cheeks. I checked if she was still bleeding. She wasn’t. In fact, the gap on her neck had knitted together.

Pushing harder, more heat flared in my core, rushed up my arms, and out my hands.

But would it be enough?

The answer came an instant later when Anna’s chest rose ever so slightly. One breath. The second was fuller, larger, more needy. On the third time, she gasped, and her eyes flew open. They locked on me. Around us, the swirling snow fell to the ground.

“Neve.” My name came out as a tremble off her tongue and her hand went to her neck. Though I couldn’t see it, I suspected that it was now fine. That whatever I’d done had healed her. “What happened?”

I let go of her, and began to tremble violently. I felt as if I’d run here all the way from the Vampire Court.

“You died,” Prince Vale whispered to Anna as he came up behind me and lowered to squat. Seeing that I trembled, he slipped a strong hand beneath my arm so that I didn’t collapse on top of my friend. “Neve brought you back.”

“She did . . . but how?” Anna positioned herself on her elbows, only to moan and lower herself down again a second later.

“I—I don’t know.” I forced the false words out, forced myself to stop shaking. I wasn’t ready to admit to the others what had happened. Not yet, maybe not ever. Not if it made Anna feel guilty that I’d pay a price for her. I’d pay a million lifetimes for my friend.

“I think your soul was still inside you, and I felt it,” I lied. “I had to try to bring you back, so I acted on instinct.”

“Interesting, though, right now, that’s not the most pressing question.” Lord Riis’s came closer and looked down at us.

“Lady Neve has never used her power. That seems rather pressing to me.” Prince Vale gazed at Lord Riis.

Sir Caelo came to stand by his prince’s side, sword at the ready. His bright blue eyes narrowed on Lord Riis.

“Although, I suppose you’re right that there are other pressing matters,” the prince continued. “Like, why are you here, Leyv?”

The Lord of Tongues clapped his hands behind him, and in that posture, he appeared disarmed, though a fae of his standing, raw strength, and cunning was surely anything but. Snow dusted his long red mane, standing out in the moonlight, but no more so than his dark brown eyes. Those shone with an intensity that made dread curl in my belly. Whatever Lord Riis prepared to say next, I wasn’t sure I’d like it.

“You ran from my tavern rather quickly, Prince Vale,” Lord Riis said. “That was enough to pique my interest. Particularly when you were supposed to be locked away with the lady here and had seemed so ready to savor every moment at the feast. Why in all the nine kingdoms would you leave your rooms for an ale? No, it was wholly unlike you, my prince.”