" i don't see the difference. "

"Well, one you don't die, the other you do."

She doesnt question it. She just silently prepares to fight.

Tertius's gaze met hers, his eyes blank and dead, looking so much like Ash's it was...heartwrenching. "Forgive me, Princess," he murmured and made a sweeping gesture with his arm. With shrieks like knives scraping against each other, the Iron faeries rushed her. They were appallingly fast, scuttling gray blurs across the floor. The first attacker leaped up and slashed at her face with a twisted wire claw as sharp as any razor.

" if i don't die, i almost do and somehow survive by some tiny bit of luck. "

She lashes out at the nearest one with her knife.

"Haven't you cheated death already, though?"


The Winter prince thrust out a palm, and a jagged ice spear surged out of the floor, stabbing toward the Iron fey. Lightning fast, they dodged, leaping back and giving them time to retreat. Grabbing her wrist, Sage yanked her behind the throne.

"Keep out of the way," he ordered, just as the faeries descended on them again, swarming over the chair and leaving deep gouges in the ice. Sage slashed at one, only to have it spring back. Another darted in from behind, lashing out with steel talons. The prince dodged, but he didn't move fast enough, and a bright splash of blood colored the floor. The prince staggered, swinging his blade in a desperate circle to keep the assassins back. There were too many for him, and they were too quick.

" Exactly. I won't be able to do it again. "

"Why not?"

" Because i have no idea how i did it the first time, and cheating death once should be impossible. "