When Faryn awoke, it was to a dark room, and on her first inhale since she opened her eyes, Cassian's scent filled her.

She rolled onto her other side and found Cassian's back to her, his body as close to the edge as the bed would allow without falling off. She hated that it made her stomach tighten. His breathing was relaxed, steady. He had to be asleep.

What had he spoken about with Klaus? Was his mother aware that he was here? Was someone already on their way for him?

But the questions would have to wait.

Morpheus's sands claimed her once more.

*****

Breakfast was delivered by the Snow Maiden, Peter at her side. A few pieces of bread and two bowls of porridge. Peter barely had the chance to say a few words to them before the Snow Maiden made them leave.

When Faryn had awoken that morning, Cassian had been awake and seated in a chair across the room staring at a different landscape painting. His only acknowledgement of her had been a nod.

The first time he had spoken was when Peter had been in the room, and that was to insist the Snow Maiden ate some of their food to make sure it wasn't poisoned, which she refused, and Peter let them know that he had helped prepare it.

A part of her was relieved by his coldness. She hadn't been sure how to act around him, but not acknowledging that his mouth had been on her neck made things easier, even if she could hardly chase the thoughts from her mind.

They both sat down at the small table to eat their breakfast. It felt as if his magic was reaching across the table, wrapping around her. But that was only her imagination. If Cassian was using his magic on her, she'd see it. But still that invisible force was almost strong enough to make words fall from her lips, so she swallowed them down with a spoonful of porridge.

Was it that Cassian was ashamed of what had happened or had Klaus told him something? Maybe he realized there was no hope of saving her. She couldn't blame him if that was the reason.

No sooner had they both finished their meal than the door opened revealing Peter and Clíodhna accompanied by Moroz and the Snow Maide. Had Harumi and Ziva already departed?

"Both of you are needed," the Snow Maiden said. "Cassian, your mother's ambassador has arrived, and Klaus wants to see you, Faryn."

Cassian had never told her what he and Klaus had spoken of last night.

The Fata was taken in one direction, while Peter and Moroz led Faryn to a dining room where her bother sat at the end of the very long table alone.

"Sister."

"Hardly."

Klaus's lips twitched and not in a smile. "Sit." He motioned to the chair nearest her at the opposite end of the table from him. Iron cuffs were attached to the armrests. Two Elves outside the door held Peter back while Moroz forced her to sit. Though she struggled, she was no match for him, and he cuffed her wrists to the chair before taking his leave. The doors clanged shut behind him.

Between her and Klaus, the table was spread with food. None of which she could partake in with her wrists bound. At least she had been allowed to eat beforehand.

Klaus examined her. "You have some of the Morozko hair."

"Much to Jack's dismay."

This time his lips did seem to hint at a smile. "That sounds like our cousin." His expression sobered. "You know I had always wanted to meet you."

"Forgive me if I have a hard time believing that."

"Dad doesn't like you, and I get that, but why did that mean I had to? I rather liked the idea of having a little sister."

"And yet now you think that little sister has killed your father."

He frowned. "I don't know what I think. Mom, she—"

Behind her the doors opened, but Faryn couldn't see who it was until her cousin stalked past her to take a seat in one of the chairs adjacent to Klaus. Immediately he poured himself a glass of a peach-colored liquid into a golden goblet.

"Look at us having a family meal," he said before taking a sip.

Faryn ignored him. "What about Mom?"

The two men exchanged a look before Klaus said, "We don't know where she is."

Faryn blinked. "Was she taken? Do you think I had something to do with that?"

"No," Klaus said. "We know you couldn't have taken her. It was only in the past few days that she disappeared."

Jack gripped the goblet, staring into it. "She's hiding."

"She's a suspect?"

Before they could answer, the doors again opened, and a new man walked past her, sinking gracefully into the chair across from Jack. The new man set his gray eyes on her and tilted his head. "So this is her." He had the same color hair as Jack—Morozko white, but it was longer, pulled into a low ponytail while strands hung loose at the front to frame his face. His beard was closely trimmed, and if he were Human, Faryn would guess he was in his thirties despite the white hair.

"Uncle," Klaus said, "this is Faryn."

Jack's father and her mother's brother then. The former Jack Frost and future Father Winter.

"She's not all that intimidating, is she?"

Faryn bristled. Jack didn't seem too happy about his words either.

"Is there a point to why I'm here?" she asked. "I can't imagine you just kindly wanted to inform me about my mother."

"It was his idea." Jack titled his head to Klaus.

"Did you think I'd have some idea of where she'd be?"

Klaus was silent as if she should have already known the answer to that question.

"You spent much more time with her than me. I hardly saw her more than once a year." Did they truly think they were accomplices?

"Faryn." Her uncle turned in her seat toward her. "Did she say anything to you when you saw her on Christmas?"

She gave me a dagger. Faryn didn't imagine saying that would make either of them look more innocent. Was that why her mom had given it to her? Because she was planning to do something to Nick? And not because she was only worried about Faryn?

"Nothing that stood out," she lied. "She was only there for a few minutes before Nick arrived and told her to leave. When I got back, my mother had done what he'd ordered—she left."

Klaus flinched. What were Nick and Clora like around him?

They threw questions at her as they ate, but by the end of the meal, it was clear by their scowls she'd given them nothing of importance.

*****

Cassian wasn't in the room when Faryn was returned to the bedroom.

She sunk into the seat where she had eaten breakfast earlier and leaned her head back. It wasn't a stretch for her to believe her mother had done something to Nick. Nick's powers weren't ones that he could use to fight or defend himself with. Her mother's were like Jack's. She'd have been able to overpower Nick, but she wouldn't have been physically strong enough to drag him out of the woods, and she wouldn't go so far as to kill him. Her mother had always been clear with her that Nick had never lain a hand on her to hurt her. Never had abused her in anyway. She had been confused when her mother had told her, but perhaps she hadn't wanted Faryn worrying about her.

A ringing interrupted her thoughts. It sounded like it came from a phone, but both hers and Cassian's had been confiscated. Standing, she followed the ringing to the bed and pulled back the pillows and the cover. There, hidden under the sheets, was a cellphone.

She held it to her ear but kept her lips sealed.

"Faryn?"

Her knees buckled.

"Mo—" She swallowed down the rest of the word, trying not to choke on it.

"Darling, I need you to be silent in case someone is listening to you. I'm at your grandfather's." In Franavik? That would have been the first place they looked for Clora . . . unless her mom had waited to go until after they searched it. "If you can get to me, I can protect you." There were so many things Faryn wanted to ask. At the top of the list was how her mother expected her to escape from Ruhnerium. The second was if she did in fact take Nick. "I'll be waiting for you."

What kind of wintery power would you want?