Page 56 of Once Upon a Midnight Clear

“I don’t think you’ll like it,” he said.

She tipped her head to one side as she looked him over. “I think I can guess. You’re dressed as a palace guard, so am I to assume I’ll pretend to be your prisoner as we enter the fortress?”

He nodded. “Something like that.”

She pressed her lips together in a thin line, clearly not happy about the situation.

“There’s something else,” he said, thinking about what his mother said. “You should leave the slippers here.”

“Here? In this cave?”

“They’ll be safe until we can return for them.”

But she was already shaking her head before he finished. “No. My fairy godmother entrusted me with them. I’m keeping them with me.”

His chest tightened as apprehension rolled through him at the thought of bringing the slippers into the fortress. He, of course, knew what her answer would be, but he thought it might be worth a try anyway. Finally, he nodded.

“If you insist.”

“I do,” she said.

He took her by the hand. “Are you ready?”

She sucked in a breath, expelled it. “As I’ll ever be.”

Together, they descended, crossed the bridge and headed for the fortress. They slipped inside the wall and he turned left. They passed the sleeping guard. Ella gave him a curious glance but said nothing as they moved on down the wall, heading for the curve in the walkway. He hoped they would find a way in once they made the corner.

They turned the corner, but it was merely another walkway with torches every few feet, making the stones shimmer in pools of light. But up ahead, he was certain he saw an oversized door with iron hinges leading inside.

“Look.” She kept her voice soft as she pointed to it.

“I see it,” he said with a nod. “That’s our way in.”

As they approached the door, it swung open. Yellow light spilled out onto the walkway and suddenly there were numerous guards charging out with swords drawn. Nicholas halted. Ella moved closer to him, her hand still in his as he gave it a squeeze of reassurance. But they both knew they were caught.

The guards surrounded them in a semi-circle. Only one stood before them.

The figure of a shadow elongated on the wall just inside the doorway and then she was there, moving out from the fortress onto the walkway, her black gown trailing after her as she approached the two of them. Nicholas’s heart clawed its way to his throat as he made eye contact with the Queen of Darkness and Shadow.

She paused in front of him, looking him over first and then Ella with her dark, glittering eyes. She had high cheekbones, blood red lips, a pointed chin, and a thin nose.

“Well, well,” she said. “It appears I’ve caught myself a prince. How fortunate for me. Howunfortunatefor you. Disarm him.”

The lead guard stepped forward with his sword pointed at his chest. “Drop your sword.”

He hesitated only a moment before he unbuckled it from his waist and let it fall to the ground. Another guard stepped forward to retrieve it.

Malvina moved to stand in front of Ella. She took her chin in her hand, turning her face from side to side.

“And who is this beauty?” Malvina asked. She cut Nicholas a sharp glance.

He refused to answer.

Malvina released Ella and stepped back. “Search her.”

The guard to the queen’s left stepped toward Ella, but Nicholas shoved her behind him and blocked his path.

“You stay away from her,” he said.

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