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“I had hoped you’d say that, so I took the liberty of drafting one already.”

“What if I wish for changes?” I asked, loving the feeling of having this power. It felt intoxicating to even deal with a person of Roar’s rank in this manner. A little terrifying too, but mostly intoxicating.

He shrugged. “Then we’ll change it. I expected you might and left room for additions. We’ll discuss anything you wish to strike from the contract.”

“Show me.”

We left the table, and Roar led me into a study that was far more decorated than the middling dining room had been. Dark and moody in atmosphere, images of prowling snow leopards graced the walls, and a large gold statue of one loomed behind the dark wooden desk. The statue stood at least three times my height, and that wasn’t the only intimidating thing about the work. It had been positioned as a clear call to power; the leopard leapt over the seat of the person at the desk, right at whomever they met. Today, that person was me.

“Take a seat.” Roar gestured to my seat, and I lowered into it, eyeing the leopard with both unease and admiration.

The warden took his own chair, a supple brown leather one, and pulled open a drawer. The contract rested on the table’s smooth surface a moment later. He’d kept it quite handy.

“Here you are.” Roar turned the contract toward me so that I might read it.

I leaned over the thick parchment that felt creamy beneath my fingers. He’d spoken true when he said it was short, and as I read through it, much of the tension in my shoulders released.

“I’ll begin training in the ways of a lady right away, and we’re to be engaged from this day on until we return to Guldtown after the festival? Why wait until we return here and not when we leave the capital?”

“Spies. I’m certain the Royal House of Aaberg will have people watching our journey back. Once we’re safe under my roof, we can plan how to move you south.”

That sounded reasonable.

“And the binding?” I pointed to one of the last lines. This wasn’t merely a deal one signed for. Magic would be involved. As mine had been stifled, I didn’t know how that would work.

“My staret, that’s our word for a holy fae,” he explained, in case I didn’t know, which I had, but I still found the thoughtfulness charming, “will perform the binding. And the binding allows for full trust, which is essential because until the potion quelling your powers wears off, you can lie to others, including me.” He gave me a slightly sheepish smile.

I couldn’t fault him for that provision. In his place, I’d do the same.

“Neither can betray the other until we fulfill the contract. Else there will be repercussions,” he finished. “Do you have any other questions?”

I thought that over.

One idea entered my mind right away. “I want to amend the contract. We are engaged outwardly to others and by contract, but there will be no physicality.” I paused because, looking at Roar now, I had to admit that kissing him, especially for the view of others to sell our tale, wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. He was handsome. “Not unless both parties consent. If either of us puts up resistance, there will be no touching.”

He leaned over the parchment. “Allow me to add that.”

“And as payment for fulfilling my part, I’d like a sum of gold for my travels and enough to see me south and purchase housing and food for six moons.” That might have been overkill, but I had no idea what awaited me in the Summer Court or how I’d make a living. This was my best chance to make a new life.

“Done.” With a bright red quill that I suspected might have been plucked from a phoenix, he added both clauses and then looked up. “Anything else?”

I tried but could think of nothing. Both Roar and I would get what we wanted most out of the arrangement, and he would not push me in ways I did not wish to be pushed; nor I him.

“Nothing.” I took the quill he offered. It warmed in my hand, hinting that I’d been right about the phoenix.

I signed, and the warden went to get the castle staret, leaving me alone in his study.

I took in the area again. Aside from the leopard statue, which stuck out most to me, this time I noticed that other paintings of faeries lined the wall by the door. A male with red hair and a female with blonde hair stood in the largest portrait. Two male younglings, both copper-haired, joined them. It seemed to portray a family—Roar’s, if I wasn’t mistaken.

“Thank you, Staret Celi,” Roar’s voice came from outside. “This will be fast, so you can return to your duties.”

“Of course, Warden.”

When Roar opened the door, an older male fae wearing a robe that glittered like the night sky joined him. Wrinkles lined the staret’s pale face, but his lively blue eyes looked alert. “Miss Neve?” he asked.

“That’s me.”

“This is High Staret Celi,” Roar introduced. “He is the highest ranking holy fae in Guldtown, answering only to the Grand Staret in Avaldenn, and will perform our binding. All fae in his order are sworn to secrecy, so you need not worry about the news getting out.”