ides next to her. It only took him a few seconds to peel himself from the

were left as celestial music from an unknown source pumped through the massive hall. The already tipsy fairies began ebbing and flowing with the music. Lilli quickly joined them, winding her way through

ion as she purposefully st

les under the taught fabric of his shirt. He tilts his head toward hers. His red hair falls in

g her own arms. Ready for a stand-off that he indulges. Their bodies are inches from each other, a

aises an eyebrow at her, “

d,” Freya says i

ion,” the last word dripping in sarcasm. His head points in Merlyn’s direction,

ou still answer all of my

not coming off the

alemate,” Freya says

hold their ground, waiti

p staring at her. “And you answer all my questions during

curved door made of white birch tree, and opens it. Allowing her to walk th

inter. Cool breeze whips around her as she looks up at the night sky littered with stars. A crescent moon casting a glow over the balcony, high a

her waist. Rory twists her to face him, and then reaches for her free hand. They stand there a moment, both f

at her eye line as she asks her first question

nly reason you liked me.” She doesn’t

y. No lies, no tr

at him. “The truth is he’s someone I don’

hat must count for something?” Freya s

like the way he does things.” He adds, “It’s one o

he glared at me t

ly very well behaved tonight, I hope you neve

like the best d

feeling like your dad. And more like someone you have to take o

of orders do

here are other leaders, but even then, Aeron has final say.” His hand tightens on her waist

c, she asks about the nimb

Make sure to ask Lilli a

s as she tries to rummage between the old questions and new ones forming. She almost doesn’t notice wh

from him, “Ther

nd, there are

nds casually in the doorframe. If he had any thoughts of the two

wade through the fairies still partying. As they pass, Freya feels a twinge of jealousy at their ability to be

ntinue to walk through the dimly lit corridor. Rory is unusually silent the whole way. The three of them rea

s surrounding the room built into the mountain, and candles line the room. The warm

both Merlyn and Rory. Aeron gets up from his chair, crossing in front of the desk to face them. He stands

hy is she here?” He still looks

why,” Rory

er,” he says. Taking a few steps closer to them as he speaks

mly, “What’s done is done, Aeron. She can’t go back, ev

sks, “Does she eve

g to respond. She bites her tongue to keep her

“Why does my bein

she should have gone with the first option. Sh

eron retorts. “You being here only causes more danger for my entire court.” A

like that,” Rory se

out who she is. If they do, she is no longer

ing down, “I don’t need your pr

oulder – Merlyn’s. He doesn’t loo

them, walking back to his desk and sitting down. Apparently, they’re dismissed. Merlyn keeps his hand on he

alking through the portal, she lets herself feel it. Her hands curl into fists, and she stops walking. It takes a moment for the two males to notice. They tu

ide her spill over, “Why bring me to a place where everyone would rather me be

ing up an oath I supposedly made hund

for just a second. She wonders which will answer her, what excuse and reasoning they’ll

es a step toward her. “Does there h