“You up, Alanna?” Mrs. Field’s asked. “Hurry up, or you won’t have time to eat breakfast.”

“I’ll hurry.”

“I made French toast. You better hurry, or there won’t be any left,” she called out, her voice moving farther away.

Even though she was no longer touching the pane of glass, the chill settled back into her bones. There was no magic left in the world strong enough to make the coming days pass quickly. At fourteen, she was too old to still believe in magic. Her life was no fairy tale, and she wasn’t a princess, nor would any prince be coming to her rescue.

After hurriedly dressing, Alanna was tugging on her shoes when the door opened without warning.

She fearfully glanced at the doorway to see an older girl, who didn’t share the same lack of confidence, saunter inside. If anyone considered herself royalty, it was the teenager who was looking at her in irritation.

“Why aren’t you ready yet?”

Staring at the angelic blonde who could be a Victoria Secret model with an inferiority complex, Alanna jumped off the bed to shrug on her backpack. “I’m ready.”

Irritated, Kate put on a sweet smile, as if she were royalty bestowing a reward on a peasant. “Good. I’d hate for you to miss out on French toast.” She gave an encouraging wave of her hand to motion for her to go first.

Alanna started to move past Kate to head to the door when Kate flashed out a fist. Alanna didn’t have time to react, other than to drop to her knees as the air was knocked out of her lungs.

She was still trying to catch her breath when Kate sauntered back to the open doorway to close the door. Shutting them both inside before returning to her side, Kate buried a hand in her hair to drag her head backward.

“Our games aren’t any fun for me if I can’t find you.”, she snarled.

“We’ll be late for school,” Alanna gasped out, not trying to twist away from her sister’s touch.

“I won’t be. Jackson is picking me up to drive me.” Kate twisted her hair tighter in her grip. “Where did you hide your birthday money?”

“I didn’t. I asked Mrs. Fields to keep it for me.”

Kate cruelly arched Alanna’s neck farther back. “Then you better get it back before I get out of school.”

Alanna knew the pain she would be made to experience would be worse than the money was worth.

“I will.”

Shoving her aside, Kate went to the door. “Jeez, you’re such a slow poke. Come on.” Kate opened the door. “If you’re done eating by the time Jackson gets here, I’ll let you ride with us.”