Snow blankets the seemingly endless expanse of snow-covered terrain around the cabin, which was crafted from the towering trees in the midst of a silent forest. The silhouette of mountains in the distance reminds us how small we really are in this extensive world. The lake nearby is frozen by winter’s touch. The morning air is crisp and it prickles on your cheeks. The smell of pine and the remaini...

Their eyes bore into me, standing tall—with my head held high. I’d sooner walk myself to the gallows than yield to a monster. The iron shackles heavy, tearing into the raw skin of my wrists. My nails dug into my palms, the knights at my back. There was no escaping this.

“You keep the king waiting, bend girl!” The knight behind me pushed me forward roughly—nearly slipping, the muck caked to my b...