Sterling smoothed her hands down the skirt of her dress. This one was a deep red. Any minute now Gavaran would be returning, and she wanted to be the first to greet him. No one else should have known about her meeting with the Winter Queen except her and Cylan, but Sterling wanted to ensure no one else told him of what she’d done before she could.

  The sound of horses’ hooves rang out against the cobblestones of the yard, and Gavaran and his entourage rode into view. Sterling held her head high, showing off the crown on her head. It was the same one she’d worn to the meeting with the fae queen. She could have picked one to better match her dress, but she found herself drawn back to this piece like it was asking for a second chance to prove itself.

  Stable boys rushed forward to take the horses, and Sterling watched Gavaran dismount without even sparing a glance for them. One of the other nobles, who must have been part of the council before Gavaran dissolved it, scuttled up to him and whispered something in his ear. Sterling's eyes narrowed. They’d better not be whispering about her.

  But they probably are, the voices murmured. We could silence them.

  “Not now,” Sterling said.

  “My Queen?” asked the servant to her left.

  “What?” she snapped.

  “Did you need something? I thought I heard you say something.”

  “Well, I didn’t. Next time, pay better attention.” Her eyes were still on Gavaran, watching the whispered exchange. After a few moments, he sent the man away and focused his attention on her. She lifted her chin and assumed a blank expression as he strode up to her.

  “I see you’ve decided to play dress-up to amuse yourself while I was gone,” he said, looking down his nose at her.

  She smiled sweetly, ignoring his comment. “How was your trip? Not terrible, I hope.”

  “It was fine. Now if you will excuse me, I have business to attend to.”

  Sterling bowed her head. “Of course. You do have a lot to catch up on. I spoke with the Winter Queen while you were away.” She peeked through her lashes to gauge his response. So far, his face gave nothing away.

  “Did you now? I didn’t realize you were in contact with the Unseelie Queen.”

  “I could say the same for you,” Sterling said, smiling again. “She requested that I attend your next meeting.” It was a lie, but there was no one to tell him the truth unless he asked the Winter Queen herself, and she doubted he would do so.

  “You don’t know what you are messing with,” Gavaran sneered, pushing past her and heading into the castle.

  Sterling smiled to herself, pleased that she had gotten a rise out of him. He was right though. She didn’t know what she was dealing with, but she was about to find out.

  Nearly a week had passed since Gavaran’s return, and it was time for her second meeting with the Winter Queen. With any luck, it would be better than the first, even if she’d had to lie her way into being included.

  When Iris appeared to help her dress, Sterling sent her away. This time she would be going with something simpler. Her dress was a plain icy white, and she left her hair hanging loose around her shoulders.

  Sterling peered at herself in the mirror. Her hair was almost back to its normal gray color, and the simple silver circlet she had selected almost disappeared against it. She looked younger than her fifteen years, and she was hoping it would work in her favor.

  She also looked like she could be a member of the Winter Queen’s court, which she hoped the Winter Queen would take as a compliment.

  Gavaran was already in the room when Sterling entered, with the scrying bowl set up in front of him. He said nothing as she walked around the table and chose a seat to the left of the bowl. Her plan was to listen but stay out of sight unless absolutely necessary.

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  “Hello, Gavaran,” the Winter Queen’s voice drifted out from the bowl.

  “My Queen,” he responded with deference.

  This is how he should be with me, not this faery, Sterling seethed silently.

  The two exchanged more pleasantries and made small talk about boring things like the weather. Sterling was under the impression that it was never anything but cold in the Unseelie Court.

  Then the Winter Queen asked about Gavaran’s project. Sterling leaned forward. This was it. She might finally learn exactly what Gavaran had been sneaking off to do.

  Unfortunately, as the conversation went on, neither of them gave specifics, and there wasn’t enough for Sterling to piece anything together.

  Useless.

  “Before you go, I do have one more question for you, my Queen,” Gavaran said. “Why did you ask for Sterling to sit in on our meetings?”

  Sterling froze. So this was what he’d been waiting for—why he hadn’t fought her on attending this meeting. He must have known all along she was lying and intended to use it against her. She’d never gain any favor with the Winter Queen at this rate.

  “I would like to speak with her if I could,” the fae queen said.

  Gavaran gestured for Sterling to come closer to the bowl but didn’t move from his seat.

  Reluctantly, Sterling stood.

  “Alone,” the Winter Queen added.

  Gavaran rose and moved just out of view of the bowl, but he didn’t leave.

  Sterling frowned at him but assumed his previous position.

  “Has Gavaran left?” the faery asked as Sterling peered at the smooth surface showing the Winter Queen’s face to her. Today she wore another crown that looked to be made of icicles.

  Sterling’s eyes went to where Gavaran loitered near the door. “Not yet.”

  “I do detest waiting,” the Winter Queen said.

  It wasn’t quite a threat, but Gavaran must have taken it for one, because with one last glare at Sterling that promised retribution, he left the room.

  Sterling had no doubt he’d be right outside with his ear pressed to the door.

  “Now he is gone,” Sterling said, turning back to the bowl.

  Once again, the Winter Queen was no longer there.

  “Good,” the faery said from behind her. “I wanted to give you something.” She held out a small vial of bright blue liquid. “This is a transportation potion, in case you decide you would like to pay a visit to the Unseelie Court. Think of me as you drink it or picture the room you’ve seen through the scrying bowl.”

  Sterling accepted the vial with Seraiah’s warning ringing in her ears. Her sister had told her that faeries never gave anything out for free.

  “Thank you.”

  “Perhaps I will see you in a few days,” the Winter Queen said. “I would love to show you my Court. Until then, give my regards to Gavaran.”

  The fae queen swallowed her own vial of potion and winked out of sight.

  Sterling looked down at the vial in her hand. This felt like a trap, but it could also be an opportunity. She curled her fingers around the cool glass. It would be something she’d need to consider carefully.

  Iris placed Sterling’s breakfast tray on the table and stepped back. Sterling looked over today’s offerings. There was a sweet bun covered in melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon, a hard-boiled egg with the shell already removed, and a bowl of purple berries. Everything was exactly as she had requested.

  “Thank you. You may go. I’ll summon you if I need anything.”

  Iris bobbed a curtsy and retreated.

  Sterling listened to her footsteps fade away. After the door clicked shut, she reached into her pocket to pull out the vial of potion from the Winter Queen. It had been two days since the meeting, and she still hadn’t made up her mind what to do about it. She knew she couldn’t trust the Winter Queen, but the lure of learning more about her enemy was strong.

  She rolled the vial through her fingers, admiring the way the light danced over the blue liquid. What was the worst that could happen, she reasoned. The Winter Queen wouldn’t keep her there. What purpose would it serve? The elves needed Sterling to maintain their magic, and she would bet Gavaran wouldn’t let her slip through his fingers again, no matter how subservient he acted around the fae Queen. He wanted power as badly as the rest of them.

  Sterling placed the vial on the table and took a bite of her sweet bun. It wasn’t as good as the ones she remembered getting from the market back in Ratha, but it was the closest thing she could find to a taste of home. Funny how now that she was in her true home, she longed for the one where she’d grown up. If the snow was gone, there would be daisies all over the field behind their house. She had yet to see any of the flowers growing here in Nyrene.

  Sterling took another bite of the bun and returned her attention to the vial. Today would be the perfect day to visit the Unseelie Court if she didn’t want Gavaran to notice her absence. She knew he was hearing petitioners from the city this morning and then had a meeting with his noble friends in the afternoon. He likely wouldn’t look for her all day.

  She swallowed her bite and picked up the potion, using her nail to work the cork out of the top. Smelling it revealed nothing about the contents. Sterling brought it to her lips and, before she could second guess herself, tipped it into her mouth.

  It was lightly fizzy on her tongue and had no taste. She swallowed, and the fizzy sensation spread, filling her body and head.

  Then she knew no more.