Seraiah shifted in her seat, smoothing down the diaphanous layers of her skirt. She wasn’t entirely comfortable in the airy dress the faeries had provided for the occasion, but she doubted they would appreciate her appearing at the feast in the clothing she’d stolen from Ren. The dress was pretty—a light green color with tiny flecks of yellow crystals sewn all over it—but it was also more sheer than she would have liked.

  Virelai and Wisteria wore similar gowns in different colors. Virelai’s was a pale blue the color of a summer sky and Wisteria’s was the purple of her namesake flower. Neither of them seemed to mind how much it revealed.

  Seraiah glanced over at the other two members of her party. Ren wore his customary black that Seraiah might have mistaken for his mage robes if she didn’t know any better. Kai, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. His outfit was white like the one he’d worn on Eostre, only this time it was sleeveless. Perfect for a warm summer evening.

  After she’d told all of them about the deal she’d made with the Summer King, she’d returned to her assigned room under the guise of preparing for the feast, but really she’d wanted to be alone. She hadn’t told them the Summer King had already given her the first vial of the potion to bring on her visions and that she planned to take it as soon as this feast was over. The first and only time she’d taken the potion, she’d been asleep for several days. Depending on how many she needed to contact Sterling and also find out what the Winter Queen was up to for the Summer King, she could be in the Seelie Court for months.

  Or longer.

  It had not escaped her notice that the Winter Queen had wanted to throw a celebration in her honor much the same way the Summer King was doing now. From what she could tell, the deal he had offered her was a better one than searching for a scale from a dragon that did not exist, but there was always a chance she had missed something. Perhaps the Summer King hoped her friends would leave her behind to search for answers elsewhere, and eventually, he’d be able to trap her when the madness grew worse. She knew Kai would want to stay with her, but if it came down to it, and Sterling needed him, then Seraiah would make sure he left. She would not force him to choose between her and his sister.

  A ripple of excitement ran through the crowd, drawing Seraiah’s attention.

  They were seated outside in the courtyard on long wooden tables arranged around the Summer King’s throne. The Summer King himself had abandoned his throne and was seated at the far end of their own table. There were enough faeries seated between him and them that they wouldn’t be required to converse with the fae king during the feast, but Seraiah doubted he would let her get away without at least one conversation before the night was over.

  A procession of faeries dressed in what appeared to be twinkling lights streamed out from in between the buildings surrounding the courtyard. Each one of them carried a platter of food, which they placed onto the tables before taking their own places.

  Seraiah had expected the faeries to reach for the dishes immediately, but they restrained themselves, looking to their King.

  “Let’s feast!” he roared once the last dish had been placed, and everyone was seated.

  Then the chaos began.

  Somehow, in the madness of platters being passed back and forth, Seraiah found herself with a plate piled high with food. To her surprise, there wasn’t a piece of meat to be found. Every creation appeared to be made of plants from the surrounding woods. She recognized the flower Wisteria had said liked to eat creatures. The blossoms were crispy, like they’d been roasted and appeared to be stuffed with a mixture of nuts and spices. There were also more familiar vegetables, like potatoes and carrots. She hadn’t seen any farms around the Summer Court, but they must have been grown somewhere. Otherwise, maybe those childhood stories of faeries stealing things were true, and this had all been lifted from the human world.

  “You’re sure we can eat this?” Wisteria whispered across the table.

  Virelai rolled her eyes and stabbed a carrot with her fork. “It’s not poison.”

  “I know, but they won’t, you know, trap us?”

  Virelai gave Seraiah a look. “I think they’ve already gotten what they wanted.”

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  “You are free to eat, Wisteria,” Seraiah said. “You don’t have anything to fear.”

  Once the feasting was finished, the Summer King declared it was time for the dancing.

  Seraiah was pulled to her feet, and the table whisked away to clear the courtyard. The ever-present music swelled to swallow the chatter of the hundred or so gathered fae. They paired off to sway and twirl to the music.

  Seraiah hadn’t intended to stay for this part of the night, but she could feel the Summer King’s eyes on her and had a feeling he would not be happy if his guest of honor left so early.

  “Dance with me?”

  Seraiah stared at the proffered hand encased in leather. She dragged her eyes up until she found Ren’s face.

  He wiggled his fingers at her. “I’m wearing gloves, so you don’t have to worry about the shadows.” Then, in a lower voice said, “I want to talk to you.”

  Seraiah placed her hand in his and let him tug her into the swirl of dancing faeries.

  He guided them to a less crowded area where they were still in view of the others, but had less of a chance to be overheard.

  Seraiah gasped as Ren suddenly twirled her around and pulled her close again, so that her back was pressed against his front, and he could whisper in her ear. “If looks could kill,” he said.

  She found Kai glaring at them from across the courtyard. Virelai was trying to say something to him, but Kai was focused entirely on the two of them.

  Ren spun her again. “You must have a death wish,” Seraiah said when she once again faced him.

  “Not at all,” Ren said, then added, “but I think you might. After your experience in the Unseelie Court, why would you agree to this deal? Did you even attempt to negotiate?”

  As far as she knew, Ren wasn’t aware of the consequences of her visions.

  “What would I negotiate for? I am getting exactly what I want. Of course, I would have liked to find out more about the shadows, but the Summer King already told Kai he didn’t know anything more. It’s not like the rest of you have to stay here either. I am the only one required to remain as long as he is supplying me with potions, if that’s your concern.”

  “My concern is what we plan to do about these shadows. The Summer King may say we are free to go, but the elf prince made it clear he won’t leave you here alone. Sounds to me like we are now chained to this place with you, and don’t pretend like you trust either myself or Virelai to continue the search for information on our own.”

  Seraiah let him spin her away from him again, her skirt fluttering around her legs. He was right. She didn’t trust either of them to even so much as carry a message back to Kestrel, but she might not have much of a choice.

  “I’ll have my first vision tonight,” she said when he pulled her back again. “We can wait to make more plans after we see what I learn.”

  “As you wish.” Ren stepped back and bowed over her hand. “Sweet dreams, seer.” Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Seraiah to stand there alone amongst the dancing faeries.

  “Is it my turn for a dance?” Kai asked behind her.

  Seraiah turned to find him watching her with an unreadable expression. Was he bothered that she’d danced with Ren, or was there something else on his mind?

  “If you would like,” she said.

  She accepted his hand and felt that familiar electric tingle as he pulled her close.

  “What did he want?”

  “Nothing, really.”

  “Didn’t seem like nothing,” Kai said, surveying the faeries around them over her head.

  “He wanted to know when and how we’re going to proceed to look for more information on the shadows when I am required to remain here.”

  “I’m not going to leave you here, if that’s what he wants.”

  Seraiah shook her head. “He knows that. He also knows we don’t trust him enough to send him off alone, but we may have no choice.”

  “We won’t be here that long. He can wait.”

  “You don’t know that. Ren is right to be concerned, but I told him we could discuss future plans after my first vision.”

  Kai opened his mouth to say something else, but the Summer King’s voice stopped him.

  “May I cut in?”

  Kai’s grip tightened on her. It sounded like a question, but she knew it was meant as an order.

  “Of course, Your Majesty.” Seraiah pasted on a smile and pulled against Kai’s hold until he let her go.

  “Later,” Kai mouthed to her, before the Summer King swept her away.

  “How are you enjoying my Court? You didn’t stay long enough on your last visits.”

  The Summer King’s hands were hot on her skin, just shy of burning.

  “Your Court is lovely,” she said.

  “Better than my sister’s?”

  “Yes. For now. Unless you try to keep me as a pet.” The second the words left her mouth, Seraiah worried she’d overstepped and angered him, but the Summer King chuckled.

  “The thought has crossed my mind before, but as you know, humans are so fragile. Their minds don’t always hold up.”

  She knew he was speaking of her mother. How much did he know about what his sister had done to Ashe? If he had known and sent Seraiah there anyway. . .

  “I wouldn’t keep you here, but you’re always welcome in my Court. I know what it’s like to have sibling troubles—to have a monster for a sister. If you ever wish to commiserate, I’m here for you.”

  Seraiah couldn’t think of how to respond, but luckily, she didn’t have to.

  The Summer King lifted her right hand and pressed a searing kiss to her fingers before releasing her. “Don’t forget to dream for me.”

  Seraiah took that to mean she was released from the celebration and headed for her rooms without checking to see if any of the others waited for her.

  The vial of potion rested on the table next to the bed where she had left it. She didn’t bother shedding her finery before reaching for it.

  Her hands shook a little as she uncorked the top. She didn’t know if she was afraid for herself or what she would find when she saw Sterling.

  Taking a deep breath, she tilted the vial into her mouth and swallowed.