though you will have to leave my court empty-handed,” Isolde said, her voice heavy with fake regret. “I will have Taran escort you out in a less disruptive manner. I would not have you use your power in my realm again.” She turned her head to the faeries gathered beside her on the dais. “We will secure all our doors, at least until Demian has finished reaping the destruction he so desires. Taran, remove the girl—”
“I’ll fight for it!” Donna shouted, terrified to find herself being kicked out of Faerie with no way back in.
Isolde turned back to her, interest flickering in her eyes. “Fight? You mean to say that you’re challenging my court?”
Donna closed her eyes for a moment. What was she doing? What I have to do, she told herself fiercely.
“If that’s the only way, yes. I don’t know how this works, but I challenge—”
“I will fight her,” Cathal said, stepping forward and cutting her off before she could complete a formal challenge to Taran.
Was that better or worse? She couldn’t fight a faery knight—she didn’t have a hope of winning. But she was desperate, and she’d opened her stupid mouth without thinking. Cathal was obviously trying to help her, drag her out of the hole she was busy digging for herself.
But Isolde wasn’t buying. “Step down, Cathal. There will be no challenges today.” She narrowed her eyes at Donna. “I do not know whether you are incredibly brave or incredibly foolish, Donna Underwood.”
Donna knew the answer to that, but kept her mouth shut. See? she thought. I can be sensible.
The queen smiled. The expression was hard and bright, like glass. “I will send you back to your world, and I will ensure that no time has been lost on your quest to make a new Philosopher’s Stone.” She walked to the front of the dais and one of her attendants, a short man with horns of bone growing from his forehead, handed her an ornately carved wooden box.
When Isolde opened the catch and flipped open the lid, Donna couldn’t hold back her gasp. The Ouroboros Blade. The wicked-sharp blade was pure black and the handle carved of ivory. Her fingers twitched. She wanted to hold it; to take it now and run. She was one step closer to saving everything she knew and loved. If she could just get her hands on that knife.
She forced herself to be still, to wait for the queen’s terms.
“You may have the blade, as much good as it will do you when dealing with demons,” Isolde said. “This is the bargain I offer you, and it will be a bargain sealed with the blood of those you love. You are too reckless. I do not trust any deal made in which your own life is wagered.”
Donna bit her lip. Okay, so now the queen thought she had a death wish. It wasn’t true, but she could hardly blame Isolde for drawing that conclusion, based on her actions so far.
“We will hold the life of Alexander Grayson, born of Cathal, as collateral. Should you fail in the task I set you, his life will be forfeit.”
Donna felt sick. “I can’t bargain with his life,” she whispered. “That’s not fair.”
“Fair?” Isolde laughed, sharp and brittle. “You talk to me of fair?” She shook her head. “No, these are my terms—and they serve equally as punishment for Cathal. I will give you the Ouroboros Blade so that you may create your Stone. If you succeed in appeasing the demons, you must also kill the Magus, Simon Gaunt of the Dragon Order.”
Donna took a step back. What? Kill Simon? Her chest hurt as she tried to catch her breath.
Isolde held out the box. “So you see, Donna. I am nothing if not fair. If Demian destroys all of you, you won’t even need to complete your part of the bargain.”
Cathal took Donna to the edge of a grove of pine trees. The scene was beautiful. The air was balmy and the sky was clear blue as it swept overhead. It should have been the sort of scene to bring peace, but Donna only felt dread. She clamped down on it, keeping everything under control until she got the hell out of this place.
The tall faery knight touched the trunk of a tree that didn’t look any different from its neighbors. The wood shimmered and melted, forming a small doorway.
“Descend the stairs and you will reach a long corridor made of leaf and wood. Follow it