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“If you have to land faster and run there, that’s better than falling. But definitely aim to clear the closest tower. And pull up your cloak over your head. Your hair color isn’t unusual in Avaldenn, but it will catch the moon’s light.”

I did as he said, covering my silver-white hair with a nod. “I can do it.”

“Wait until I leave the room.” Shockingly, he wrapped his large arms around me. “May the stars bless you.”

“And you,” I replied. He released me, and had started to cross his room when I blurted out, “Prince Vale?”

He turned.

“Thank you, again. For everything.”

“You’re a fae of Winter’s Realm,” he replied. “Of my people. And you need a shield. I’m happy to be one.”

I watched him retreat down the short hallway that led from his room, heard the water in the bath chambers turn on and what sounded like marbles hitting the floor. I cocked my head, but the next thing I knew, Prince Vale opened the door to his suite and told the soldier on guard to keep watch.

“She’s bathing?” the guard asked, clearly confused by the sound of running water.

“Things got messy in there.” The prince spoke in the way of males talking about sexual conquests. I snorted, suddenly understanding why he’d spilled whatever it was that he’d spilled—yet another fae twist of the truth. “She needs a moment, and I wish for an ale. My men are supposed to be at the Warmsnap. Figured that’s as good a place as any to find one.”

The soldier at his door let out a booming laugh. “Well done, my prince.”

“No one goes in or out,” Prince Vale said.

“Of course not.”

The door shut, and knowing this was my moment, I turned to the open window. The expanse of air I’d have to conquer looked much darker than when the prince stood with me, giving me strength.

But he was no longer present. I had to do this myself.

I inhaled and stepped closer to the opening, fanning my wings out as I did so. Though I hadn’t practiced with them in days, they felt good, stronger.

Were they good enough to withstand the wind? To keep me from dropping to the snow and ice? To save me?

“Time to see,” I whispered to myself, and began to beat my wings. It didn’t take much for the wind to catch beneath them, nor for me to lift from the floor. It took considerably more willpower to push myself forward, to take to the open air.

But I closed my eyes, and did it, and suddenly, I was flying amidst the wicked winds of the winter kingdom, my heart thundering so hard I would not be surprised if those at the feast heard it.

Glittering snow from the rooftops whipped around me, and I held my breath as I soared up and over the closest tower. Among the gold roof, frost shimmered in the starlight. The silver hawk, remnants of the Falk line, glared down at me from atop the spire, its metallic wings spread. Something in me welled up at the sight of the bird of prey. To fly away to true freedom, I needed to be strong and fierce like those hawks.

Below, lights of the sprawling palace glimmered. Sir Caelo had said the feast would go well into the night. Was he correct? Were the nobles and the royal family still mingling, the king still exerting power over his subjects and forcing matches? I hoped so. Anything that would keep others occupied bought me time, and I would need every moment.

Already, my wings ached, and they seemed more sensitive than usual to the cold winds buffeting them. Probably because I felt terrified, and everything just felt more. Still, I focused only on moving forward, on passing the tower.

Once I’d succeeded in that, I dared to look down. Prince Vale had been correct that this side of the castle had few windows. I suspected because it looked out on to the area where deliveries would be made, not the pretty picture of the sea.

The torches lining the stables flickered in the dark, not so far away, I chanted to myself as I pushed forward against the biting wind.

I’d covered most of the distance to the stables, and my heart began to slow, when the wind kicked up. It pushed me closer to the castle wall where, on the other side, fae strolled or slept or gossiped. I fought to stay on course while also attracting as little attention as I could, but I overcorrected.

One wing spasmed hard, exhausted, and I dropped like a stone in the river. I swallowed a squeal rising in my throat as I fought to master my wings again, to be strong.

Through sheer force of will, I regained control of my wing and caught the air again, saving me seconds before I would have slammed into the icy dirt of the yard.

I exhaled, wiped the sweat from my brow and, with control, landed properly. When my feet touched the ground a stone’s throw away from the stables, I had to force myself not to drop to my knees and kiss it.

“In here.” Prince Vale whispered from where he stood hidden in the doorway of the stables, nearly scaring the piss out of me. I recovered quickly, however, and when he opened one of the large doors for me, I ran over. Inside, the musty smell of horses and hay grew stronger.

“You made it.” He grinned proudly.