Ever Winter by Alexia Purdy Page A

along it with its fingers.
    “Hello?” Shade called out. She continued toward the woman and hoped she would have some answers for her. Where was she? Where had Dylan gone? How did she end up in such a place?
    The woman turned, her golden skin glowed with a smooth tan and rich amber brown eyes watched her move closer. She was slender and wore a cloak clasped at her neck over a bright yellow dress tied right beneath her breasts. It flowed down to her feet, making her look like she was floating. The woman smiled at her and held her arms out as if waiting for an embrace.
    “Shade, I’ve waited so long to meet you.” She gave her a hug, squeezing tightly and sighing as she pulled her away to look at her. Her eyes glistened with tears, elated to see her. Shade studied her face, throwing her an unsure smile and tried her best to pinpoint where she’d seen her face before. So familiar yet, why did it still feel like it was a stranger standing before her.
    “Have we met?” Shade asked.
    The woman laughed, pulling her in for another embrace. “No, we’ve never met, but I’ve watched you your entire life.” She stepped back again, taking in Shade’s confused look. “You’re my legacy, Shade. You are blood of my blood. The last and only one in existence. Inside, you carry my powers. In you, I live on, even in deep slumber.”
    Shade’s mouth opened, surprised at the woman’s words. Could she be the one from Dylan’s story? The Ancient Summer Queen? It had all felt like a fairytale of sorts, but could that mean that one of the ancient queens was standing before her? There was an Ancient Ice King so why wouldn’t there be a summer queen?
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’m Kilara, I rule the summer court, all the Seelie clans and am one of the ancient faeries of the land. You’re my descendant−my heir. You’re the only one I have now. I need you to find my resting place before Corb does. Do you understand?”
    Shade felt around at her memory, a mention of Corb and a flash of Dylan floated across her mind, like a forgotten errand she was supposed to do. “Corb? Why does he want to know where you are? How’d I get here, by the way?”
    “Because, he seeks to enslave me for all of time as his queen. I loved him once but he has, for the lack of a better word, changed.” Kilara sighed, her own memories flashed behind her eyes as she continued. “He cannot find me Shade. He’s enchanted your memory away, but you’ll remember this, he cannot make you forget everything. There is always a way to remember, Shade. Don’t forget that.” She softly tapped on the memory vials dangling around Shade’s neck before she pushed a strand of hair out of her face and her brows furrowed.
    “Where are you, so I can find you?” Shade stopped, remembering her destiny to stay with Corb. “Wait, if I know where you are, won’t he find out? He has me trapped.”
    The summer queen shook her head and looked behind her. She waved someone forward, presenting Shade’s spirit guides Duende, Elaby and Astrid. Shade gasped with joy and ran to them as they took turns giving her hugs, smiling brightly.
    “They will help you remember. Corb is powerful but he cannot acquire what you don’t want him to never know or understand. Don’t forget what I’ve told you Shade. Always remember, your memories are at your side already, you just have to find a way to remember them.” She reached out and once again tapped the memory vials hanging from her throat. Shade clasped at the necklace containing her grandmother’s essence and the other vial, which held her own memories which Jade, her mother, had made for her before leaving her at the beach. She nodded, smiling up toward the queen and her spirit guides.
    “But Corb will know. He’ll take my necklace.”
    The queen shook her head, a kind smile played on her lips. “He can’t do that. Memory charms are sacred and can’t be removed by anyone in Faerie except the wearer. He’ll think you’ve