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Chapter One

Keeping Promises

In the shadows of the cave, I watched the Hunter approach Silhouetted black against the snow, it stalked closer, eyes a yellow fla around it like wraiths Ice-blue light glinted off wet teeth and a thick shaggy pelt, darker than ht Ash stood between the Hunter andthe massive creature that had tracked us for days, and now, had finally caught up

“Meghan Chase” Its voice was a growl, deeper than thunder, olden eyes were fixed solely on me “I’ve finally found you”

My nahan Chase

If there are three things I’ve learned inyou’re offered in Faeryland, don’t go swiain with anyone

Okay, sometimes, you have no choice Sometimes, you’ve been backed into a corner and you have to make a deal Like when your little brother has been kidnapped, and you have to convince a prince of the Unseelie Court to help you rescue hi you back to his queen Or, you’re lost, and you have to bribe a sh the forest Or you need to get through a certain door, but the gatekeeper won’t let you through without a price The fey love their bargains, and you have to listen to the teret screwed If you do end up in a contract with a faery, remember this: there’s no way you can back out, not without disastrous consequences

And faeries always come to collect

Which is how, 48 hours ago, I found ht, round I didn’t look back If I looked back, I e of the woods, a dark prince and a pair of glowing, blue-eyed steeds waited for me

Prince Ash, third son of the Winter Court, regarded ht of the moon Tall and pale, with raven-black hair and the unattainable elegance of the fey, he looked both beautiful and dangerous, and my heart beat faster in anticipation or fear, I couldn’t tell As I stepped into the shadows of the trees, Ash held out a pale, long-fingered hand, and I placed my own in his

His fingers curled over htly on ainst his chest and closedin the frosty scent of him

“You have to do this, don’t you?” I whispered, ers clutched in the fabric of his white shirt Ash h

“Yes” His voice, low and deep, was barely above amyself reflected in those silver eyes When I’d first met him, those eyes were blank and cold, like the face of a mirror

Ash had been the eneest son of Mab, queen of Winter and the ancient rival of ht I’m half-fey—a faery princess, no less—and I didn’t even know it until recently, when my human brother was kidnapped by faeries and taken into the Nevernever When I found out, I convinced my best friend, Robbie Goodfell—who turned out to be Oberon’s servant, Puck—to take et him back

But being a faery princess in the Nevernever proved to be extreerous For one, the Winter Queen sent Ash to capture ainst Oberon

That’s when I e o with you to the Winter Court

So, here I was Ethan was hoain It was my turn to uphold my end and travel with him to the court of my father’s ancient enemies There was only one problem

Summer and Winter were not supposed to fall in love

I bit h I had once viewed it as frozen solid, his de our tilassy lake: still and calm, but only on the surface

“How long will I have to stay there?” I asked

He shook his head slowly, and I could feel his reluctance “I don’t know, Meghan The queen doesn’t disclose her plans to me I didn’t dare ask why she wanted you” He reached up and caught a strand of ers “I was only supposed to bring you back,” he murmured, and his voice dropped even lower “I swore I would bring you back”

I nodded Once a faery proh, which is whya deal is so tricky Ash couldn’t break his vow even if he wanted to

I understood that, but… “I want to do so for his reaction Ash raised an eyebrow, but otherwise his expression stayed the same I took a deep breath “I want to see Puck” The Winter prince sighed “I suppose you would,” he htful “And, truth be told, I’ before we ever resolved our duel That would be unfortunate” I winced Puck and Ash were ancient enee, life-threatening duels before I was even in the picture Ash had sworn to kill Puck, and Puck took great pleasure in goading the dangerous ice prince whenever he had the chance It was only because I insisted they cooperate that they had agreed to an extre, no matter how much I intervened