Farron clears his throat. “It’s a legend from the human realm, Kel. A mysterious entity who watches children while they sleep and breaks into people’s homes at night.”
“Oh. A legend.” Kel steps back. “Do not fret, Rosalina. There are no evil beings here.”
Rosalina looks between Farron and Kel and then doubles over laughing. “Oh my god. You guys can never visit the human realm in December. You’d beat up the mall Santa!”
Again, the four of us exchange confused looks. Rosalina catches her breath and wipes a tear from her eye. She puts a hand on Kel’s shoulder. “You are too funny.”
I swear I see Kel’s soul shoot out of his body. And now it’s our turn to laugh.
“What?” she cries.
“I think that’s the first time anyone has ever referred to Kel as funny,” Dayton wheezes.
“Unless you count his hair,” I say dryly.
And now we’re all laughing again. Even Kel gives a traitor’s smile.
But out of the corner of my visor, I catch the crowd. Young fae gather together, whispering behind their hands. They’re all staring at… Rosalina.
But of course, they are. A human woman dressed as a fae. Allowed entry to the royal dais to greet the four most powerful males in the Enchanted Vale. They see us talking with her, laughing with her, touching her…
I could train my senses to listen to them, but I don’t want to know what they’re saying. Our business with Rosalina is none of theirs.
As I’m turning my attention from the crowd, one gaze gives me pause. Perth Quellos, the vizier, stands in a sunbeam beneath a window, a white-knuckle grip on his glass. The way he’s looking between Keldarion and Rosalina sends the wolf inside me snarling. There’s always been something about Quellos that makes me uneasy… But Keldarion trusts him.
But I trust myself more.
“Sooo, how’s the plan going?” Rosalina gives an exaggerated wink and tears me from my thoughts. “Any stirring of special feelings?”
“Just a little indigestion.” Dayton shrugs.
Rosalina furrows her brow and taps her foot on the floor. “I’ve been watching you from outside the doors most of the party. You four have been sheltered up here like a gaggle of old maids. You have to get out there andtouchpeople.” She clears her throat. “In a totally consensual, non-creepy way. Find someone and dance!”
Dayton gives a roguish grin and shrugs. “Aye aye, boss.” He drifts over to the nearest cluster of women and immediately has them in a giggling fit. In a smooth movement, he grabs one’s hand and twirls her onto the dance floor.
Rosalina claps her hands. “Okay, you’re next!” She grabs Farron’s shoulder.
“I think I need another drink first. Or actually, I need to use the little fae’s room—” he squeaks, but he’s no match for her. She shoves him into the fray, and he’s immediately swept up by a chesty older woman.
“Ezryn?” She smiles up at me.
“I’m going, I’m going,” I murmur, my voice reverberating through the helm. Another reason to thank the stars for this damned metal thing: I’d rather fight a thousand goblins than face this dance floor.
Mercifully, the crowd picks up that the princes are dancing, and a fae woman immediately pushes herself into my vicinity, saving me the embarrassment of having to find my own partner. I barely register her before I take her hand.
No sparks. No starlight.
Just the incessant pull toward the dais. I look back to see Kel and Rosalina doing as they always do—arguing. Of course, he’s refusing to even try.
I swirl my dance partner around.
“It’s a wonder to see you here, Prince Ezryn,” she mumbles. She might be beautiful. Or perhaps she’s hideous. I barely comprehend her. “Word has it you haven’t been spotted in the Spring Realm in quite some time.”
I grunt a response and turn her so I have a clear view of the dais.
I blink and run a hand over my visor in case my vision deceives me. No.
Kel has chosen a dance partner.