It wasn't long after leaving her room that Claire realized she had no idea how to find Elysia. It seemed Alek and Draz had assumed as much because after wandering the halls for several minutes, she turned a corner to find them both standing there, waiting.

"I got lost," she said, feeling a flush rising to heat her cheeks.

"We figured," Alek replied, a light smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

Despite this display of joviality, Claire could see the struggle remained in his eyes.

"Would it be alright if we accompanied you?"

He offered his arm to her and Claire moved towards him to accept it. Curling her arm through his, she let her head fall to rest against his shoulder.

With that simple action, Claire decided she was going to savor each moment she had left to share with him. If returning home was inevitable, she wanted as many good memories as she could to bring back with her.

The thought didn't make her heart feel any lighter, but it did make it easier to pretend, for a little while, that everything was going to be alright.

They walked in comfortable silence, Claire taking in the ethereal architecture of the palace as they traveled winding halls and down ornate stairways. It seemed as though everything had been carved from nature itself, melding into it, rather than forcing itself to be part of the landscape.

The walls, the windows, even the floors seemed to flow into one another as though a conscious effort had been made to ensure it would appear as though it had sprung from the earth itself.

When they reached a set of arching, white doorways, their surface smooth as glass, Alek stopped. He extracted his arm from hers and looked down at her.

"I imagine she wants to speak with you alone," he said quietly, his eyes studying her face. "We'll be right outside if you need anything."

Claire didn't think Elysia meant any ill towards her, but she nodded anyway. Knowing that Alek and Draz would be waiting made it easier somehow as she turned and knocked lightly on the doors. They swung inward almost immediately, giving her access to the room beyond.

She moved with slow, cautious steps through the doorway, her eyes taking in the new surroundings in awe inspired silence.

The floors were made of smooth stone that shone pure white, each step producing a shimmer of colors that rippled outward in slow, undulating waves before fading.

The walls were covered in thick vines and flowering plants that seemed both wild and yet purposeful. They wound their way around structural supports, such as pillars and beams, and hung down from the vaulted ceilings in long, flower laden tendrils.

What was most striking about all of it was that the plants were pure white, color appearing only in the form of large blue blossoms that seemed to defy explanation.

In the center of the room, seated in an ornate chair that appeared to be made of frosted glass was the Queen of the Winter Wood.

Elysia looked resplendent dressed in a gown of pale blue which fanned around her in soft waves. Her dark hair hung loose around her bare shoulders and had been twisted into long loose curls interwoven with strands of silver and decorated with tiny blue gemstones.

Once again, Claire found herself taken aback by the ethereal beauty of the fae, and intimidated as well. It was hard to imagine this was the same woman who had been brought to her knees, the same woman whom Claire had saved.

On either side of her stood two women clad in all white with long, thin silver spears in hand. They remained still and made no move to stop Claire when she approached.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were going to come," Elysia said at last.

"Why wouldn't I?" Claire replied.

"Indeed, why wouldn't you?" Elysia replied, a ghost of a smile forming. "I underestimated you, Claire and for that I apologize."

It was the first time Elysia had addressed her as anything other than 'girl'.

Claire wasn't sure what to think, so she kept her guard up.

"I can see now why Alek is drawn to you," she continued, her words bearing no emotion, her expression passive. "I can't say it pleases me, but, what's a woman to do hmm?"

Claire watched as Elysia slowly rose and came down the wide, flat steps to meet her halfway. Their eyes met and Claire saw the conflict that dwelt within them.

"I wanted to..." she began, her facade of unbreakable calm cracking slightly. It succeed in exposing the vulnerable woman the lingered beneath the hard outer shell that was Queen Elysia of the Winter Wood.

She cleared her throat and looked away a moment. "Thank you, Claire. You saved my life and for that I am in your debt."

"You don't have to thank me," Claire said. "Anyone would have done the same."

"Yes," Elysia agreed quietly. "Perhaps they would have, but as it stands, it was you and as you can imagine, I do not like being in debt to anyone, let alone a human girl. So tell me, Claire, how can I repay you? What is it that you desire most? If I can do it, I shall."

Claire felt her pulse quicken.

What did she desire most?

"I wish to remain here," she said at last, her voice quivering slightly.

"In the Winter Wood?" Elysia asked, her eyes growing wide and an expression of tempered disgust creeping across her features.

"No, just... here," Claire explained, fighting the urge to smile.

"Unfortunately, you do not need my permission for that, Claire," Elysia replied with an almost wistful sigh. Claire suspected that if Elysia had the authority to send her away, she would have done so to start with. "If you cannot decide, I could think of something for you. Jewels perhaps? Wealth? Fame? Would you like a palace of your own? Western Oria is wonderful this time of year..."

"It's not that," Claire insisted. She grabbed at the fabric of her skirt, bunching it up between her fingers before lifting it to reveal the scar that traveled up the length of her calf. "If I stay, I'm going to die... or worse. You said so yourself, as did Sevik and Alek might as well have said it."

Elysia's gaze dropped to the scar which stood out stark and red against Claire's pale skin. Elysia sighed again.

"I'm sorry, Claire, I truly am, but even my magic is not strong enough to dispel the darkness now living within you. Shadow magic is dangerous, unpredictable, and it's not uncommon for it to turn on its wielder should he or she grow weak. Going back to your world is the only way to stop it from spreading."

Claire's heart dropped like a rock into a pool, sinking down, down, down until it came to rest in the pit of her stomach, hot and heavy.

Her throat constricted, her mouth felt dry and she struggled to speak.

"It's the only thing I want," she said at last, lowering her head and fighting the urge to cry.

She felt Elysia's cool fingers against her cheek and looked up to see the fae watching her with sadness and concern.

"You saved my life, Claire, and to that end the biggest gift I can offer in return is to save yours," she said quietly. "While my magic is not strong enough, I will find magic that is. You have my word. For your sake, it's best that you return as soon as possible."

Claire nodded, feeling the first hot tear slip from her eye to trace along the curve of her cheek. "Thank you, your majesty."

"Please, girl," Elysia said, scoffing slightly as she lowered her hand, "my friends call me Elysia. I expect you to do the same."

Claire laughed and nodded, reaching out and pulling the fae into a hug. Surprised by the unexpected contact, it took a moment for Elysia to relax and return the gesture, her thin arms surprisingly strong.

After a moment, Elysia pulled herself free and regained her composure.

"Now, I think there is a handsome young man waiting for you in the hall," Elysia said, her expression passive once more.

As he had promised, Alek was waiting in the hall when she emerged from Elysia's chambers.

"What did Elysia want?" Alek asked, catching Claire's hand in his own as they meandered down the hall.

"She wanted to thank me," Claire said, glancing towards him. "Can I ask you something? It's been nagging at me since I woke up."

Alek nodded.

"I asked the cards to help me that night, to give me something I could use to fight with," she began. "They gave me a card with a sword on it."

"Winter Fire," Alek said, his voice soft.

"Yeah, that's what the card said," Claire confirmed. "What is it? I've never held a sword before, Alek, but that night it was like I knew exactly what to do. Sevik seemed surprised that I had it, and so did you, I could see it on your face."

"I am curious about that myself," Alek admitted, looking over at her. "That sword is very powerful, and it requires a great amount of will to wield. It used to be handed down from ruler to ruler, and disappeared after King Hedeon, Rollan's father, was murdered."

How then, had it come to reside within the deck of magic cards, and how had she managed to coax it out? "What happened to it?"

Alek shrugged. "I glanced around for it after the fight, but I was more concerned with getting you to safety. Draz went to look for it after the shades had retreated, but it was nowhere to be found."

"Do you think someone stole it?" Claire asked, feeling an anxious knot forming in the pit of her stomach. The idea of a weapon of that caliber in the hands of the enemy was unsettling.

"No," Alek assured her with a soft smile. "I have a feeling that once you were through with it, the blade returned to wherever it is it has been hiding all these years. As you discovered, the blade has a mind of its own. Some legends claim that its inhabited by the very magician that enchanted it, his soul forever bound to the sharpened steel."

"Do you think that's true?" Claire asked.

"Hard to say," he admitted after a few moments of contemplation. "Stranger things have happened."

"I suppose," Claire replied, her quiet tone suggesting she wasn't entirely convinced one way or the other.

"Enough about all that, I want to show you something," Alek announced. Claire still had questions, but she was also curious as to what Alek had hidden up his sleeve. So, she allowed him to guide her along without question, matching his pace as it quickened from a leisurely stroll to a brisk walk.

He lead her down maze like halls, around corners, and down several flights of winding stairs before finally leading her out into the courtyard.

The wide stone path that Claire remembered being dragged along days before lead towards a pair of arching wrought iron gates twisted into an intricate pattern of sweeping trees with gnarled roots and reaching branches.

The path itself was lined with fae who stood at attention, their white garments pristine, the silver spears glistening in the sunlight. The hostility they had faced previously had been replaced with an unexpected reverence.

As they passed, the fae would bow their head respectfully, an awkward but far more appreciated gesture than menacing glares and unspoken threats.

They veered off the primary path onto a narrower lane of packed earth.

It was the sort of path worn by years of foot traffic, frequently used, but never properly paved.

The path lead to a simple wooden doorway which bore a symbol etched into its weathered panels that reminded Claire of a lotus blossom she had seen in paintings hanging in her favorite Chinese restaurant near her apartment.

There were no guards here which puzzled Claire.

Weren't they concerned someone might try to get in?

Alek stepped forward and pressed his palm against the carved symbol in the wood. It began to glow a soft, white glow that grew brighter and brighter with each passing second. Just when Claire was about to lift her hand to shield her eyes the light faded and the door was gone. In its place was an opening in the stone, a curving archway that gave them access to the space beyond.

"Come on," Alek said with a smile.

He took her hand and stepped through, pulling her along with him. As they passed through the archway and came out on the other side, Claire let out an audible gasp. The world here was green, and the air was warm. Flowers of all colors and sizes bloomed among thick patches of dark green leaves that wove around the wide trunks of ancient hardwood trees.

The canopy overhead was an interlacing of sturdy leaf covered branches. Small gaps allowed thin beams of warm sunlight to poke through and play across the ground in constantly shifting patterns.

"What is this place?" Claire asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

"It's called Summer's Peak by the Fae," Alek replied, guiding her further along the path which wound its way up and around a gently sloping hill.

"It's beautiful," Claire exclaimed.

"Close your eyes," Alek said as they drew closer to the crest of the hill.

"Why?" Claire asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"You always have to argue," Alek insisted with a smirk. "Just do it."

"Fine, fine," Claire said and closed her eyes.

"Cover them with your hand," he added.

Claire scoffed but did as he asked, placing her free hand across her eyes as well. "There," she said, "happy?"

She felt Alek's mouth, warm and soft, press against her own as he stole a brief kiss. "Very," Alek replied after drawing away. She could hear the laughter in his voice. His hold on her other hand tightened and he began to pull her along again. "No peeking."

"I'm not a child, Alek," Claire replied, attempting to sound offended.

Truthfully, she'd been tempted to part her fingers slightly in hopes of catching a small glimpse of whatever it was he was being so secretive about.

About a minute later, Claire felt a warm breeze sweeping across her face. It tugged at her hair and her clothes, blowing them around her in a disheveled mess.

Alek released her hand, leaving her to stand alone.

"Open them," he said at last.