James snapped his fingers, green eyes dancing. “If she breaks her oath you could challenge her to a dual.”

Even queens weren’t excluded from the bindings of an oath.

“You’re right. Not that I relish the thought of challenging her to a duel.” Which wouldn’t end well, but perhaps the thought that he could challenge her would prevent any oath-breaking. Steven still felt sorry that Noli had to endure the pain of the stone being broken. “What would I do without you?”

The oak came into sight as they entered the center of the maze. Little wood faeries sat on the roots and branches of the gnarled tree. Some still clutched little wooden swords.

James shot him a silly grin. “I don’t want to think about that. Do you think she’s well now, or do you think we’ll have to leave her for a little longer?”

“As long as she recovers, I don’t care.” Steven greeted the little wood faeries distributing crumbs of a cake he’d brought from the house. The greedy little beasts scrambled over the gnarled tree roots as they fought over the sweet. Crouching next to towering oak, he put his hand on the trunk and reached out to the tree. Time to bring his darling home.

Will you tell me another story? the voice asked Noli. Noli yawned, well, she would if she had a body. The nothingness still enveloped her. She’d been napping between telling stories to the faceless, bodiless voice. Noli liked sleeping here in the mist where the nightmares couldn’t get her.

“Could you tell me a story?” Noli replied, still half asleep. That might give her time to think of something she hadn’t told yet.

I could, if you promise to remember it.

“I’ll try.”

Once, long ago, the Otherworld was different. Only a few people remember, and most don’t remember it correctly. Once, we didn’t need to rely on the blood of mortal girls with the Spark. The high queen wielded a staff, and through it there was enough power for the land to live without blood sacrifice. Some grew jealous of the staff’s abilities and great power can easily be abused. One day, in anger, the Bright Lady broke apart the staff, scattering the pieces across the mortal realm. But even she couldn’t break the staff’s heart, a gem of great power. That, too, was hidden in the mortal realm. Without the staff, the land had to rely on her people to bring her nourishment. Gradually everyone, even the rulers forgot that once we didn’t need a sacrifice …

The impact of the story made Noli’s mind reel. “The artifact? Are you saying that there is an artifact of great power that if reassembled will negate the need for a sacrifice?”

Not needed a sacrifice could be beneficial, however, she knew enough about the Otherworld to know that there would be much, much more to the staff that that.

Keep that piece of the staff safe. It’s in your valise, the voice added. You must keep it out of the wrong hands.

“But how does it work? I don’t understand. And why was it destroyed?” Something must have gone very wrong. Perhaps the wielders of the staff went insane or were easily corrupted due to its power.

Her entire being, well, what she could feel of it in the mist, began to tingle.

No, no, no, you can’t go yet, the voice told Noli.

“What?”

They’re trying to take you. You’re not well enough to go yet … and I’m not just saying that because I like your stories and you’re kind. Also, I haven’t finished my story.

“Wait, who’s taking me, taking me where?” She wasn’t even sure where she was, other than safe and cozy, not hot, cold, or thirsty. The urgency in her voice made Noli’s skin crawl.

The princes. They wish to take you.

“Wait, V? Is V here? But I want to go with him.” The thought of seeing him again made her heart soar. He’d come back for her. Did that mean that his quest was over? She remembered now. A little.

You do?

“I … I love him. I love him so much.” With every fiber of her being. Memories of him flickered through her mind like a zoetrope. “Please, let me see him.”

You do love him, and it’s so beautiful. The voice made a happy sigh. If you truly wish to go, I’ll make you well enough.

“You can do that? I don’t even know who you are?” Her body tingled in a way that almost hurt and lights flashed in front of her eyes. What was happening?

Noli didn’t feel afraid, just prickly.

Don’t forget me and remember my story. You must keep the staff out of the wrong hands. You’re a good person, Magnolia Montgomery Braddock.

“I am?” Sometimes she wondered about that, with everything she’d done of late.

The voice didn’t answer, other voices echoed through the fog. Familiar male voices.

“Noli, darling, can you hear me?” V pleaded.

“Maybe we should put her back in, I don’t think she’s done yet,” James replied.

She felt as if she were being tugged like taffy. The nothingness slipped away and the prickly sensation ebbed. Hands gripped her and a breeze caressed her skin.

Noli’s eyes fluttered open, and two very concerned princes came into focus. “Not done yet? What am I, a cake?”

“Oh, Noli!” V’s unspectacled green eyes grew as wide as saucers as he pulled her to his chest. “You’re alive. I’m so glad you’re alive and well.”

Noli wrapped her arms around him. “You came, I knew you would. Everyone said you wouldn’t, but I had faith in you.”

“That makes me so happy.” V buried his face in her hair. “I feared I’d lose you.”

“Where was I?” It felt so nice to be in his arms again.

“We put you in the tree because you were sick.” James leaned back on his hands in the soft moss surrounding the big oak. Wood faeries encircled them, some even had swords.

“How did I get to the Otherworld?” She waved at the wood faeries, who waved back. A pink one perched on her outstretched hand, translucent wings flapping, dress resembling flower petals, pointed ears poking out of her brown hair. They were in the grove at the center of the maze at the big house. She was also wearing her nightdress.

“We brought you here.” James crouched beside them.

V stroked her hair. “Are you feeling better? We were so worried.”

Noli nodded. She’d been in a tree? But she’d been someplace … memories of where she’d been hung like a haze—present but not quite tangible.

“Oh good.” V caressed her face.

“Why did you put me in a tree?” Something nagging at the back of her mind, something she wasn’t supposed to forget … but she just couldn’t remember. More things escaped with every second she tried.

“Let’s return to the house, I’m hungry,” James groused, standing and shifting his weight from foot to foot. “I’m glad you’re better, Noli.”

V moved her off his lap and they stood. He took her hands and pulled her to him, gazing so deeply into her eyes it was as if he were looking right into her soul.

“I’m sorry I hurt you. I love you so much. When I saw you so ill …” he shook his head, eyes misty. “I never would have forgiven myself if something had happened to you.” V leaned in, his lips soft and sweet. Her toes tingled in delight as she savored his deep and gentle kiss … and kissed him right back.

Breaking it off, she caressed his face trying to remember him with her fingers. “Apology accepted.” She punched him in the arm. Hard. “Never, ever do that to me again, Steven Darrow, or so help me … ”

V rubbed his arm, eyes meeting hers. “I’ll try not to, I promise.”

“Good.”

“First one to the library wins.” James took off through the maze.

V took her hand. “I think we made him uncomfortable.” He turned to the faeries and saluted them, eyes gleaming. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

Noli’s heart jumped. He thanked the faeries for saving her. The faeries chattered in response. She still couldn’t understand them.

“Shall we?” He held out his hand to her and looked in the direction James had run.

“He misses her.” Noli leaned her head on his shoulder as they wove through the hedge maze and returned to the big house. She’d missed V, and the idea that he’d worried when she’d been ill made happiness bubble inside her.

“James misses Charlotte so much.” He put an arm around her waist as they walked.

“I miss her, too.” A little piece of her had died that day. After all, it could have been her.

He squeezed her. “We all do.”

“We’re in the Otherworld, together. Does this mean your quest was over, were you successful?” The dirt under her bare feet felt sinfully delicious and part of her expected her mother to yell at her to put her shoes—or clothes—on at any moment.

“Yes, we were successful. May I tell you all about it as we eat? Are you hungry?”

Her belly rumbled in reply and she laughed. “That sounds perfect. Will you please explain to me how I got here? The last thing I remember was … ” She froze as she recalled the previous events. “Your uncle. Your uncle attacked me, and threatened me—and you, too.”

Steven pulled her close. “You’re safe, Noli. I won’t let my uncle hurt you.”

“I won’t let him hurt you, either. Will you teach me to use magic to defend myself? And can we continue fencing lessons?” Anything to be able to protect herself—and those she loved.

“Of course.” He took her hand and they resumed walking.

“But how? Mama went to Boston and you can’t be with me.” She sniffed at the thought. It wasn’t as if she needed him, but after being without him, she knew that she liked being with him. It felt … right. It always had.