Book Two: Chapter 71

“Snow Queen? Is she part of the Society?”

“Not the Society. C’mon.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the trees. “We need to get back to the house and lock the wardrobe. She can’t follow you if it’s locked.”

“Okay.” The light headedness was starting to pass, his numb feet crunching through the snow beneath them. She took him into the trees, ducking her head to go beneath the branches. They had traveled a hundred feet when he caught a glimpse of something bright following them. He stopped for a moment and it vanished. It was likely an artifact of the bright sun above bouncing off the snow.

“Mike, c’mon!” Zel tugged at his hand.

“Wait.” He looked up the hill. “Where is Ratu?”

“She’s buying us some time. If we can circle up the hill, we can get back.”

“But what about her?”

“Honestly?” Zel’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”

“Oh.” He leaned on a tree for support, his body suddenly heavy. He couldn’t think straight, it felt like h