"The guardians are coming, Jack. They will be here soon." I pull my eyes away from the boy who refuses to look at. "You are running out of time, Pitch."

"Am I?" Pitch lifts a dark eyebrow. "You came here for a reason, Elsa. And I doubt that you will leave before you get what you want."

Or get rid of what I don't.

Jack steps to the side, watching as Pitch and I stare each other down. "What is he talking about? I thought your reason was to bring me here."

"Jack!" I cry. "You know that's not true. Don't believe his lies."

"But why else would you come back here?" He flies to my side and grabs my arm. "Tell me, Elsa!" His voice softens. "Please, no more lies."

"I never wanted to deceive you. I wanted to tell you everything, but I was scared. I did what I thought was best. I was trying to protect Anna and Arendelle and...you."

Pitch lifts his hands and black clouds swirl around him. But I can't pull away from Jack's blue eyes. I can see the colors of his soul reflected there, and it is too beautiful for me to ignore.

I've betrayed him. For all he knows, I could have been lying from the moment we met.

And yet, as we stand in my ugly, dark castle, Jack runs his finger across my cheek. His eyes darken. I am lost, drowning in the storm that I see inside of him.

Jack leans forward and rests his forehead against mine. Warmth shivers through me. There is no space left between us, nothing separating my heart from his.

"You are not a monster. I love you, Elsa." He exhales. "I am sorry that I doubted you."

He loves me!

"Enough!" Pitch's shout tears me away from Jack. A swirling mass of black surrounds Pitch.

Out of the dark clouds emerge three gigantic horses with fiery yellow eyes. Their manes twitch with fury. They stomp their hooves on the ground. Pitch sits tall and straight on the largest horse. It shakes his head and fixes his hateful eyes on me.

Fear spikes through my chest.

Jack grabs my hand. "Together?"

"Together." I nod. Because we are stronger that way.

**

Jack loosens his hand from mine. He grabs his staff and spins into the air. He flies above the horses.

Pitch sends black arrows toward him, but Jack weaves out of the way.

I use the distraction to lift my hands. My power tingles through my veins. The prophecy burns through my memory. I must be careful with my powers.

I want to destroy Pitch Black, but not Arendelle.

Dark blue ice shoots from my gloved fingertips. It slashes across the closest beast. The horse drops to its knees and crumbles into black dust.

Pitch glares at me. He walks his horse toward me and lifts his hands again. "I don't care what she says. I've tired of you."

Jack suddenly twists in the air and drops onto the other dark horse. He snatches the reigns. The creature bucks and kicks beneath him, but Jack doesn't let go. His horse gallops between Pitch and I. Jack jerks him to a stop.

I can't even see Pitch anymore. My own guardian stands in the way. Jack is still keeping his promise to protect me.

Suddenly, Jack's horse stops struggling and crumbles into black dust. Jack falls onto the ground.

Pitch looks down at him, then at me.

"I was trying to be fair." Pitch shrugs. He runs his hand across the mane of his own horse. "But this will be so much more interesting."

His black cloud fills the room. I can't see much of anything. Then it separates, forming beasts of every kind. There are several wild horses shifting their hooves on the floor. But there are griffins and ghouls too. A dragon stoops to fit inside the entrance.

Dozens upon dozens, maybe even hundreds, of burning golden eyes fix upon Jack and I.

They don't look like they stepped out of a nightmare-they are nightmares. And it is the first time that I see Pitch for who he really is.

Not a nuisance, but a great king. He truly is the King of Nightmares.

Fear builds inside me. This is one battle we cannot win.

A knock at the front door interrupts my gloomy thoughts.

Pitch frowns. He jerks his head toward the front door. "What?"

"Have you already forgotten our unexpected guests? It would be rude to leave them outside, don't you think?" I throw his own words back at him.