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Althea narrowed her eyes on me, sensing it. “I was beginning to think that the most important – second most important – person in my life was going to miss my big day.”

It struck like a knife as she referred to me being on such a high pedestal.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” It took every measure of self-control not to expose my inner demons. Althea always had a way of seeing through my shields, which she no doubt was doing. Distracting her, I took her hand in mine and held it up. “Fuck me, Gyah. What mountain did you carve out to make this ring?”

Althea’s genuine smile knocked me sideways. Her happiness, her joy… it was everything my lies were trying to protect.

“It’s rather modest actually,” Gyah said, stepping in close. She wrapped one arm around Althea’s shoulder, and the other around mine. With a tug of iron, she pulled us in close until our foreheads were practically touching. “It is good to see you, Robin. Saves me having to drag you here by the short-and-curlies.”

I blinked back sudden tears.

“Does your favourite crone get a hug too?” Elinor Oakstorm practically floated over, her azure and buttercup dress clinging to her frame like silken liquid.

Althea and Gyah practically pushed me into Elinor’s arms. In truth, I would’ve rather ignored the offer. Feeling her arms around me was shattering to the little control I had. Elinor was like a mother to me – even in the short time we’d known each other, she had made a mother-shaped impression on my soul. Her story – all her trauma and pain – was so intrinsically linked with my life, I felt somewhat connected to her.

“I have missed you,” she whispered into my ear. “Coming here was the best choice you could have made.”

“Right back to you,” I replied, trying for sarcasm to shield the raw emotions I felt.

“Erix,” Elinor called, greeting him next with the same open arms. “I’m glad to see you too. I must ask, since I’ve got you, have you been having any thoughts about my recent summons?”

Erix stiffened as I laid my eyes on him. “No, Your Grace. I haven’t.”

Whatever hersummonsentailed clearly made Erix feel a sense of discomfort. One look at him and he practically winced with the emotion. He’d not mentioned receiving word from Elinor Oakstorm, but then again, I wasn’t privy to his personal movements.

“Elinor will do.” She drank him in, searching every corner of my guard for secrets hidden. “And since you are here, perhaps you can stop hiding from me and we can actually have that talk.”

“Are you trying to poach my Lord of Berrow?” I asked Elinor.

She shook her head, eyes closed as she smiled from ear to ear. “Even if I wanted to, Robin, I do not think Erix could possibly be taken from you. Not even dragged by a queen.”

“Watch out, Robin,” Gyah said. “Once Elinor gets an idea in her head, she is rather persistent.”

I waited for Erix to tell me Gyah was wrong. He didn’t.

Elinor hooked her arm in mine, giving me a big squeeze. Her power oozed from her in waves, brushing over my skin, searching for illnesses and ailments to heal. She couldn’t help herself, and I admitted the feeling was comforting.

“Court politics,” Elinor said. “Boring matters which I was hoping Erix could help with. But alas, let us not bore each other with minor details when we have a fabulous few days ahead of us.”

I was glad of the distraction, although I filed away the unspoken topic for a later time.

“Howareyou getting on, back in Oakstorm that is?” I asked, aware the last time I’d seen her, Elinor was struggling with control over her late husband’s council. His poison had sunk so deep into the summer court’s soil, it would take a burning ray to cleanse the ground.

Luckily, there was no one more perfect for the job than Elinor Oakstorm.

“I have leashed the men who refused to bow,” Elinor said, so plainly anyone else would’ve taken her words for a joke. I knew she was being serious. “And those with a lick of sense, and who’ve come to heel upon their own decisions, are currently enjoying the fruits of what I can offer…”

“But,” I added, eyebrow lifting.

“But there is one who continues to petition against me. Doran’s brother, spineless little worm that he is. He’s gone from petitioning against my rule, to planting seeds that without a direct heir to the Oakstorm line left, he wishes to be named as such sohisline takes over when I am… indisposed. Which I am sure he is just desperate to happen.”

I glanced back to Erix who was doing everything in his power not to look away from his clasped hands. “And you think Erix can help with that?” I asked.

“I’m hoping so. He is Doran’s child, after all. But that all depends if he is willing.”

“I never thought about it like that,” I mumbled, although it made so much sense now it had been said aloud.

Althea leaned in to me, finally saying what was clearly bothering her. “Perhaps you would’ve known the news, but for that you’d actually have had to accept our invites at the last conclave.”