Reign (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, #4)(52)

“Serves her right.” Annalora spoke up from her reclined spot. She didn’t seem at all unnerved with the assassination attempt. “She was about to ruin my chance of becoming future queen.”

Ever turned and spoke up a bit heatedly. “Don’t you mean ruin any of our chances of falling in love and marrying Prince Teague?”

Annalora shrugged. “That too, but it’s not what they’re hoping for. They are looking for family lines and power. If Teague knows what’s best for him, he’ll choose me.”

“You seem awfully confident about that.” Ever confronted her, hands on her hips. The wind in the room began to whip as her wings fluttered, mirroring the temper that was about to get the better of her.

The two girls bickered back and forth while Mina paced, biting her knuckle with worry. This wasn’t good. She hated waiting, knowing that at any moment, she could be sent spiraling into the future without having solved a thing.

Pretending her feet were hurting, Mina sat on a cushioned chair and slid off one of her mirrored shoes to rub her foot. She turned the shoe over and held the mini hourglass toward the light to see if her time was running out.

Annalora stomped past Mina snapping her attention back to the room full of young women. “I’m of royal gnome blood which means I do not have a pointy head,” she fumed, pointing to her perfectly coiffed hair. “Only the mining gnomes have pointed heads.”

Ever raised her chin and dripped sarcasm. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot your kingdom lies deep underground. No wonder they think you’re beautiful.”

“You insubordinate”—Annalora snatched the glass shoe out of Mina’s hand and approached Ever, threatening her with the heel—“poor, pathetic excuse for a pixie. Someone should teach you manners.”

Mina gasped and immediately jumped up and ran after the gnome to grab the shoe. Her hand grazed the smooth glass side. She almost had it when Annalora turned, abruptly yanking the shoe out of reach.

Her attention was fully on Mina, and she grinned when she realized that she had her in the palm of her hand. “What? Do you want this?” She held the slipper high in the air, just out of Mina’s reach. Mina swiped for the shoe, but with the other still on, her balance was less than stellar.

Annalora laughed at Mina’s attempt to get the shoe back. “Ah, ah, ah. If you want it back you need to get on your knees and beg.”

Mina felt hampered by her beautiful feathered dress and a single shoe. Annalora tossed the glass slipper Tawny, who threw it to Fuchsia. Then Annalora got it back and smirked at her. It was a triangle of insanity.

“Stop it, Annalora. Just give her the shoe back,” Dinah said.

“Oh hush up, you nymph. I’m just teaching her a lesson.”

Mina didn’t have time for games. She slipped off her other shoe, gathered it in the folds of her dress and snuck up behind Annalora. She tapped her on the shoulder just after she caught another toss from Tawny. The gnome turned to look over her shoulder, and her cocky expression fell mere seconds before Mina’s fist made contact with her face.

“Sorry, but school’s out,” Mina sneered.

Annalora fell backward into a cushioned footstool and slid to the ground in an ungainly heap. She was too shocked to say anything but put a hand over her eye.

Mina picked up the slipper from the floor and hurried away from the now-recovering drama queen. Any minute she would either wreak havoc here or call for the guards.

Mina quickly checked the slipper for damage, inwardly chewing herself out when she saw a small crack along the heel. Did the timer still work? She wasn’t sure.

Part of her wanted to break down and cry, the other part wanted to get back up and give Annalora a second black eye.

Annalora had gotten up and was red in the face with fury. Tawny ran forward, her sympathy making her sound like an injured bird.

The others whispered quietly and gave Mina a wide berth.

But Ever started laughing and came over to sit by her. “That was phenomenal. I’ve wanted to do that to her forever. Only now, I don’t know if I want to be in your shoes. She’s going to have it out for you. There’s no way you’ll make it to the end. She’ll make sure of that now.”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t be chosen anyway. It’s not in my cards.”

“Why do you say that? Is that one of your gifts? Can you see the future?”

“Sort of,” Mina grumbled. She slipped the un-cracked slipper on her foot.

“Did it break?” Ever asked, pointing to the shoe. “They’re beautiful. I would love to have a pair like that. If I owned those I’d never take them off. These ones I’m wearing are killing me.”

Mina had to stifle a laugh, because in the future, Ever preferred black army boots. It seemed she would eventually choose comfort over fashion.

“You’re laughing at me? You’re the one who was hobbling around on one shoe while you took on Annalora. You looked like a gimp, by the way.”

“What did you say?” Mina snapped. “Why would you say that?’

“Relax, I’m a pixie. I call it like I see it. And speaking of ‘see it,’ will you tell me my future?”

“No.”

“Oh please, puh-lease,” she begged. “At least tell me if I’m going to end up with Teague or not. I know it’s a silly request, but play along with me.” Ever leaned forward with a huge, eager smile on her face.