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THE NEXT MORNING, HALLIE flopped onto the bed in their demesne. She was already dressed in the pale pink dress from Vesque, her hair clean and brushed with a magical brush Wyn found in the dressing table, as if she’d gotten a chance to wash it.
“I don’t know how to figure this out,” Hallie said with a dramatic sigh. “I mean, I have clues and suspicions from yesterday with Vesque, but where do I even go from here?”
Wyn ran a mascara brush through her eyelashes, not turning from the mirror at the dressing table. She was already dressed in a grass-green sundress that would fit with the attire of many of the Court nobles. “Maybe you should have thought about that before making yet another ill-advised bargain.”
Hallie sat up. “Wyn. Please. I can’t change what’s already been done. Haven’t I already apologized for yesterday? I promise I’ll think about what you said. About the resurrection power.”
Wyn sighed. “Fine.”
“Fine. Now. What do we do?”
“We go to breakfast like normal people. Vesque sent a messenger giving us an appointment for ‘appropriate attire,’ as she put it, so we have to go see the seamstress after breakfast. And apparently our ‘human stench’ is making the Court unbearable, so the baths are after lunch.”
“Wow.”
“Wow indeed. At least you get to enjoy the finer things of a Court, since you’re going to be trapped here forever.”
“Wyn!”
Wyn held up a hand. “Okay, okay. Think of these...excursions...as a chance to learn more about the Court. Maybe you’ll pick up some more hints. ‘Sir’ isn’t much to go on, even though it narrows him down to the nobility. And even if you do suspect he’s royal, you don’t know who the royal family of the Spring Court is to even guess at his position, let alone his name. The Fae Courts tend to have several offshoots of heirs, and many of them have their own smaller Courts all across the world.”
Hallie dropped her face into her hands with a groan. “You’re right. And I’ve been studying the Fae lore for two years. How could I have missed that?”
Wyn shrugged. “You’re not Fae. There’s plenty you won’t find in the human lore.”
Based on how excited Wyn had been to do Fae things Hallie never could have imagined, she believed it. Last night’s meals had been delivered after Hallie returned from Vesque. The girls had only ventured out once, intent on finding the library again and maybe some list of inhabitants of the Court, but after two hours of fruitless searching, they gave up and returned to the room. Hallie started drafting out plans to find the identity of the boy while Wyn did all kinds of Fae things she couldn’t do in the human world, like talking to pixies, playing with nature magic, and looking up old friends to visit while she was here. And throwing Hallie the occasional name of someone she might be able to contact for information.
When was the last time Wyn visited the Fae world? Must have been a while.
But Hallie couldn’t focus on anything other than the bargain. If she let herself enjoy the Court too much, she might forget why she was here in the first place.
Hallie rose to her feet, and Wyn capped the tube of mascara. They linked arms and headed through the corridor of fog out of the room.
While it’d been quiet and empty yesterday, this morning it was bustling with Fae of every type, humming with the noise of conversation and activity. Some of the Fae wore simple garb, nothing more than a frock or plain shirt and pants, and bustled around a flow of finely dressed Fae all headed in different directions. And then, ahead of them, Vesque.
Hallie and Wyn doubled their pace to catch up with the tall, fair woman. She practically sparkled in the bright light of morning; her eyes were clear and focused, her sunshine hair streaming out behind her as she pranced down the forested hall. Earrings glimmered all up the edges of her gently pointed ears.
“Vesque!” Wyn called, holding up a hand over the crowds to get her attention.
Vesque slowed, looking back over the heads of the Fae around her, then recognition lit her eyes and she stopped, waiting for them to catch up.
“Good morrow,” Vesque said brightly. “I assume you received my messenger?”
“Yes,” Hallie said. “But we don’t actually know where any of this is.”
“I will send more messengers for you.”
“Thank you.”
Hallie studied Vesque carefully as they made their way in the direction of the delectable scent of breakfast. Why would she be the one sending messengers? At whose request? What kind of authority did the Fae boy have to assign an advisor of the royal family to care for Hallie’s and Wyn’s needs?
Unless she wasn’t assigned. Maybe Vesque was just kind.
Vesque danced a few steps ahead, and Wyn leaned close to whisper in Hallie’s ear, her antler ribbons fluttering into Hallie’s face. “This is a great chance to learn about the Court. Nobles love to talk at meals, and it might just be early enough that you’ll catch a few too sleepy to guard their words.”
Hallie waved away one of the ribbons and nodded.
And then Vesque was leading them through the mist between two of the largest trees Hallie had ever seen. The fog broke up quickly, revealing a bright, green clearing covered in soft grass and ringed by flowering trees waving pink, violet, and snowy-white blossoms. Petals floated on the breeze, landing gently on the many round tables intricately laid with glowing white tablecloths and shining white dishes rimmed in gold. Fresh, clear water sparkled in crystal pitchers on every table, and each place was set with a champagne flute filled with bubbly orange liquid.
Hallie pointed at one and whispered to Wyn. “Are those mimosas?”
Wyn grabbed her arm and swept her to one of the tables. “Better.”
She handed Hallie a glass, and Hallie sniffed it. Definitely orange, but something...else.
Another thought occurred to her, memories of all her studies, of the Fae food that ruins human food for any human that eats it.
“Uh, Wyn?” Hallie said hesitantly.
Wyn smacked her forehead, then wandered to a sideboard set to the left of the clearing. She took the lid off a glass dish and returned, handing Hallie a small green sphere that glittered in the morning sun.
“What’s that?” Hallie said as she dropped it in her hand.
Wyn gestured across the clearing. “Look around, Hallie. You’re not the only human here. And the Court can’t very well have a bunch of non-magical addicts to take care of forever.” She pointed at the sphere. “It’s an antidote. Eat one before every meal, and you can enjoy the Fae food without your body remembering.”
Well, that certainly hadn’t come up in Hallie’s research. She popped the sphere into her mouth, and it burst on her tongue with a flavor a bit like key lime and chocolate. But she felt no different.
Experimentally, she took a sniff, then a sip, of the orange drink. It had notes of champagne mixed in with orange juice, but the bubbles were brighter somehow, filled with fresh energy, happiness, the joy of a spring morning when the sun is finally shining and the air is warm for the first time in months.
And yet, it was just like any other drink. She didn’t feel any of the danger of Fae food, none of the desperation to eat more until she was consumed by the feast, none of the inhibition-lifting effects that some Fae foods carried.
She smiled at Wyn and took a deeper drink, feeling the bubbles tickle as she swallowed. “So where do we start? How does this work?”
Wyn took her own long swallow, momentarily closing her eyes in bliss. “Well, the servants will bring the food in soon, but until then, it is expected that nobles will mingle.”
Hallie couldn’t help the look of horror on her face. “This early?”
Wyn nodded at the drink. “Just what do you think these are for? Not even the biggest night owl is immune to the energy boost these things give.”
Hallie nodded and turned to survey the occupants of the room. As Wyn had noted, there were a few humans, recognizable by their dazed expressions and lack of sparkle. They seemed to be in awe of the world around them, like Hallie, but were nowhere near as bright or beautiful as the Fae surrounding them.
Did Hallie have that same dull appearance next to Wyn?
Besides the humans, there were several other Fae like Vesque, tall with pointed ears and inhuman beauty, as well as Fae of different animal types, similar to Wyn and the frog-man who had brought them to their demesne the day before.
But everyone was attired like Hallie, wearing bright, gossamer gowns or glittering suits. Everyone here appeared to be upper class, and even the servants weaving around the small groups of Fae with trays for empty glasses were in beautiful gowns.
And the Fae boy was nowhere to be seen. Was he trying to hide his station?
Probably.
“Where is he?” she muttered.
Wyn gave a half-laugh, as bitter as the drink in her hand was sweet. “Did you really think he’d give himself away? He already told you he had enough authority to forbid the Court from helping you. Why should he dress up and join everyone else and give away any more?”
Hallie glared, tipping her glass up for another sip. Of course Wyn was right. But she’d been right about too many things lately, and that made Hallie testy.
Wyn bumped shoulders with her, almost sloshing the magical mimosa out of her glass. “Oh, come on. Don’t get grumpy now. You’re lucky I was around when that guy showed up.”
The words seemed to echo in Hallie’s ears.
You’re lucky I was around.
***
THREE YEARS AGO
“Jeez, Hallie!” Kat said, holding a paper towel to Hallie’s hand. “You’re lucky I was around.”
Hallie dropped the knife into the sink, trying to keep as much blood as possible off the laminate counter. She wasn’t sure it wouldn’t soak it up and stain forever. The college didn’t exactly spring for the highest quality materials in their campus apartments.
She took a deep breath, grateful for the crisp spring air blowing through the window and into the kitchen. She was already feeling woozy, and the breeze pulled her back enough to let Kat guide her to the dining table.
“Yes, lucky,” Hallie said, blinking back tears.
“That’s definitely going to need stitches,” Kat responded.
She stood and walked toward the door where her purse and car keys sat on a small table. She grabbed them and beckoned for Hallie, and, after a moment, Hallie forced herself to her feet, keeping her eyes away from the bright red blossoming across the paper towel.
Kat locked the door behind them while Hallie stood uncertainly in the hall. She assumed they were on their way to the hospital, but Kat still hadn’t said another word, just guiding Hallie gently.
Door locked, Kat turned and gave Hallie a gentle push down the hall. Usually they would take the stairs, but Kat pulled her away from the heavy metal door. Instead, taking her elbow, Kat led her to the elevators and stabbed at the button a few times.
By the time they made it to Kat’s car, Hallie’s hand was throbbing and felt as hot as if she’d held it in a fire. She rested her head against the seat, letting her eyes drift closed.
“Hallie!” Kat snapped her fingers, and Hallie’s eyes snapped open.
“What?” Hallie said.
Kat gently took the blood-covered hand, picking it up from where Hallie had let it rest against her leggings, hoping the blood would blend in with the black fabric enough that they wouldn’t be ruined. Hallie let her move the hand above the level of her heart, resting it across her chest like a sash. Blood smeared across the seat belt.
“Kat, your car!” Hallie said, trying to pull her hand away from her body.
“Does it really matter?” Kat turned the key in the ignition. “You need to stop the bleeding. My car is junk anyway. I’ll clean it up later. Now, let’s get you to a doctor.”
Hallie nodded tiredly, letting her hand rest against her chest again. Kat would take care of her, just like she always had. Like she always would.
***
PRESENT
“Hallie!”
Wyn snapped her fingers in front of Hallie’s nose, and Hallie blinked back to the present. She glanced at the white crescent marring her left hand, the same hand holding her half empty glass, and downed the rest of the drink in one gulp, wishing for the buzz of a real mimosa.
No such luck. Whatever that green ball had done to protect her from the magic must keep her from feeling the alcohol, too.
“Easy,” Wyn said, pulling the glass away from Hallie’s mouth and dropping it on a passing server’s tray. Her brow wrinkled, and she tilted her head to look at Hallie more closely. “Are you okay?”
Hallie let her gaze rove the crowd around them. “Fine,” she mumbled.
She couldn’t let herself get distracted. She wouldn’t let Kat down.
She vaguely saw Wyn nod to one of the servers, who returned a moment later with another glass of Fae mimosa. She handed it to Hallie, and Hallie took it absently, not drinking. Instead, she nodded at the woman and walked in Vesque’s direction.
It was time to shake down the Fae.
