buried here at all,” Seelie said. “Well, not a…human person. This is a witch’s trial. A Eurysthean Labor.”
“If you were a witch,” the ghoul on her left said, “you would have come to us before you dug and bargained for passage.”
“Shown us the proper signs,” said another.
“Said the proper words,” said a third. “You’re no witch at all. You’re nothing but food that talks. Why are you really here?”
Seelie swallowed. Her mouth was bone-dry. She had the truth on her side; either she would save the relics tonight, or they’d fall into Leda Swan’s hands, and all of history with them. She didn’t know if these creatures would believe her. Or if they’d care.
She looked deeper. Into her own depths. She saw her dark reflection in Dergwyn’s eyes, and she forced herself to stare at it. To see it, and herself, and who she was. Her mission was the truth, but it wasn’t the only truth.
“I’m here because I have something to prove,” she said.
“Prove?” The ghoul princess cocked her head. Her opal eyes glimmered. “Prove what?”
“I’ve always been on the outside, looking in. If I’m ever invited inside, it’s just to be the entertainment. My value has always been…it’s always been what I’m good for, to other people. What they can get out of me, what they can use me for. If I’m not useful, I’m useless. And it’s been that way for so long I started believing it myself.”
Seelie looked to the bone-white moon, gathering her thoughts. Trusting herself to speak them out loud.
“I wanted—I’ve always wanted, more than anything—a home. A real family. A place where I belong. And I’ve done some really…really dumb and self-destructive and hurtful things to myself, trying to win the approval I thought I needed from people who were never going to give it to me. And now, in the middle of the craziest week of my life, I made a couple of friends. Real friends. People who care about me.”
“You’re here for them,” Dergwyn said.
“No.” Seelie gestured to the half-dug grave. “I’m here for all of us. I’m going to prove that I can be like Aislin Kendricks. I’m going to prove that I have value, and that I have power, and even if I never find my home, I’m stronger than anyone ever gave me credit for. If I survive this night, I will never forget my power again. And no matter what happens, no one will ever be able to take that from me.”
She gazed into Dergwyn’s glittering eyes.
“I’m here to prove that I can be a witch,” Seelie said. “And I’m here to do a witch’s work.”
The ghouls erupted with wet chortles, snickers, raining mocking laughter down on her head. All but Dergwyn. The princess studied her, silent and thoughtful. Seelie kept her aching shoulders pushed back, her chin high.
“What’re we waiting for?” one of the ghouls asked. “Let’s gut her already. I’m hungry.”
“Shh,” Dergwyn snapped. She held up a clawed hand. A bracelet dangled around her wrist; the bangles were made of human teeth, some with blood-caked roots, drilled through and strung on silver wire.
Seelie heard it, too. More dogs, braying in the distance. Closer than before.
“She’s near,” one of the ghouls said.
“Near,” Dergwyn mused. “Waiting. Watching. Not intervening. Interesting.”
“Who is ‘she’?” Seelie asked.
“The divine power who has left your fate in my hands, little one. Or between my jaws. Your life belongs to me now. What will you give me for it? One chance to make an offer. Going, going…”
“When your back is to the wall,” Aislin told her, “do as I would do.”
“Let’s make a deal,” Seelie said.
Dergwyn tilted her head, catching the moonlight in her eyes. “Listening.”
“I’ll admit I’m not much of a witch right now—”
“We smell your weakness,” the ghoul behind her growled.
Seelie slammed her foot down on the shovel and drove the spade into the soil. Staking her claim.
“—but I am not weak. I’m here to go the distance, and I’m just getting started. Look in my eyes, princess. You wouldn’t be in charge if you couldn’t read people, right? You know I’m telling the truth.”
Dergwyn squinted. “Continue.”
“Someday I’m going to be a powerful witch. Maybe even as strong as Aislin Kendricks was. And that means I’ll be useful. You might need my help. So, this is what I’ll offer you: a boon, of your choice, to be cashed in at a time of your choosing. My only rules are that it has to be something I’m actually capable of doing and