Page 58 of The Never Queen

“He’s here. He came to me.”

“No. That’s not possible. He left. He said he was never coming back.”

“Is Hansel my father?”

Her chin wobbles. There are tears welling in her eyes, but she clenches her jaw as if she’s determined not to spill them.

“Yes.” She inhales and buries her face in her hands and the tears come. Great, heaving sobs.

I pull her into me because despite everything, I’ve always had to be the one who kept it together, who took care of her when the nightmares were so bad, she would shake in her bed.

There was a part of Hansel’s story I had never heard before. The story of a Darling woman who had dreams for herself and she was never given the chance to realize them.

We were both cursed from birth.

I was determined to end that curse with me and I did. I helped Peter Pan find his Shadow, but I helped him with so much more.

Pan and Vane and Kas and Bash.

Most of my life, I told myself I needed no one, wanted nothing, chased pleasure and lost myself in distraction.

Because deep down I thought I didn’t deserve more.

I thought I didn’t deserve to be at the top.

But if they can be at the top, why can’t I?

If Gretel thinks she’s so much better than me, stronger than me, more cutthroat than me, I’m going to make her fucking prove it.

“Mom.” I tuck the hair behind her ear. “Look at me.”

She sits upright and wipes the tears away with the back of her shirt sleeve.

“You did the best you could. I don’t blame you for doing what you had to do to keep us safe.”

She blinks several times. “No. No. Winnie…I…you…I can’t…I don’t think I deserve that.”

I plant a kiss on her hand. “Yes you do.”

A rush of air comes out of her, like decades of regret and shame and guilt has finally been lifted from her shoulders.

“You and me, against the world. Yeah? Two Darling women, stronger than people give us credit for.”

She nods softly, still unsure of whether or not she can believe it.

“We’re going to get out of here. You. And me.”

“Okay.”

I let her go and turn my attention to the ropes and the knots binding me.

I don’t have access to the Shadow or any of the magic I’ve come to depend on.

But I don’t need it.

Because I’m Winnie Fucking Darling.

And not even a rope can keep me contained.