Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) by Starla Huchton Page A

to see you, but I’m curious. What is it that brings you home?”
    Pulling away from her, I shot a peeved glance at Erata before opening the door once more. I motioned to him, and he stepped inside, greeted by gasps all around.
    “Ladies,” I said. “I present to you His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Leopold Atimen…” I paused, stumbling as I tried to remember all of his names.
    “Dedalus…” he prompted.
    I pinched the bridge of my nose and took another deep breath. “Dedalus Trineal Benforno. The Third.” Too worn out to explain any more, I dropped my pack and headed for the stairs. “Now, if you’d do me the favor of seeing to our guest, I’m very tired and would like to sleep in my own bed for once. That is, if you haven’t pitched it into the forest.” I shot another brief glare at Erata. “Again. We can discuss plans in the morning.”
    It was very poor form to abandon them that way, but it had been over half a year since I’d slept on a real mattress, and every bone in my body felt ready to evaporate from sheer exhaustion. Fortunately, my bed was exactly where I’d left it.
    I collapsed onto it, barely making it under the covers before I was soundly asleep.

    Sunlight warmed my face as I awoke. Not yet ready to give up my comfort, I rolled over on the pillow. Bright green eyes stared at me over the edge of the bed, and I yelped, jumping back.
    She giggled, and her wild brown curls bounced with her laughter. “About time! I’ve been waiting here for ages!”
    I laid a hand over my heart and willed it to slow its rapid flutter. “Do you never tire of scaring me senseless, Belinda? I’ve not the wits to sort enemy from ally when I’m half asleep.”
    Belinda clicked her tongue rapidly five times. “Still half asleep? It’s nearly lunchtime, lazy thing. Get up now. Get up! It’s too exciting with someone new in the house to be sleeping all day.”
    I rubbed my face, already weary. “As chipper as ever, I see. Tell me, which of them is still angry with me for bringing him here?”
    Her head bobbed from side to side as she considered it. “Clarice and Delphine are ever patient. Adelaide fusses that it’s another mouth to feed, but is as agreeable as she ever is. Farah is none too pleased that a stranger is here, but she doesn’t dislike him.”
    “So it’s only Erata then?” I grumbled. “But she’s never overly warm, so I suppose that’s nothing surprising.”
    “She grins at him like a cat,” Belinda said. “I wonder what that means? Cats are so very mysterious. Ever-changing creatures, cats.”
    Chuckling, I shook my head. It was good to know Belinda was much the same as when I left. “And what of this prince, sister? What animal do you see in him?”
    She tilted her head to one side, thinking. “Mmm. Hard to say. Grace of a stag, strong as a bull, yet gentle.” She refocused on my face. “He reminds me of the horses you smell of.”
    I groaned. “And thank you for the reminder of the stench I’ve carried for months.”
    “You are not who you left as, you know.”
    Frowning, I looked at her. “I wear no glamour. I’m the same as I was when—”
    She shook her head. “You aren’t. Parts here and there, yes, but where you were scattered, you are coming together.”
    Only half of what Belinda said to me ever made sense. She spent far too much time with animals and not enough with humans anymore. Even so, she was genuinely pleasant to be around, and was always the first to forgive. I loved her dearly, eccentricities and quirks included.
    She took my hands and tugged me out of bed. “Come on then. We’ll see about a bath and new clothes after you’ve had some lunch.”
    In no hurry to face the rest of my family, I dragged my feet all the way out of the bedroom I shared with her and Farah. Belinda all but pushed me down the stairs she was in such a rush. Still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I trudged through the common area and into the kitchen.
    I pulled up short as I