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All that mattered was this night and the days after. That was when we’d learn if this insane plan would truly work. If we had a real chance.

The Grand Staret stopped before a set of double doors. “Touch nothing in this room.”

Was he taking us through his private chambers? No, surely the holiest of fae would have a bedroom at the top of the tower. What, then, was he so concerned about?

My answer came as I stepped through the shining black double doors and found myself in a library. My fingers itched, always unable to resist books, and in this grand, mysterious place, so many shelves waited to be plundered.

As we walked deeper into the library, the ceiling opened. Because it followed the curve of the tower, the room was in the shape of a crescent moon, like the scar over my right temple. Half of the space was open air and above models of constellations glittered, suspended in the air by magic. Against the wall we’d entered by, however, were stairs leading up to other floors. Ten in total.

I squinted, trying to count the shelves on each floor. There had to be at least a hundred shelves on each floor. Moon above, how many books did this place hold?

“There are more underground.” Lord Riis came up next to me, and I snapped my mouth shut. “Aside from theHouse of Wisdom and the Royal Library, there is none larger in all the kingdom.”

My lips parted as a sense of wonder spread through me. “It’s lovely.”

“Most of these books are dedicated to the stars and the history of our kind.” Lord Riis peered down at me. “I wonder what you might learn here, Lady Neve?”

The question was so odd that it ripped me from my wonder, but only for a moment because we’d reached a door at the far end of the library and the Grand Staret turned.

“The Heart Drassil is outside. Should anyone feel unworthy, I would suggest they remain here.” His eyes grazed over the whores, who glowered at the old judgmental fae.

“Neve, you still need to change.” Saga shuffled closer, past Anna and Clemencia, who had been following close behind me the whole way. “Can she change in the stacks, Grand Staret? No one is here, right?”

The holy fae frowned. “Be quick. We shall prepare.” He waved the others outside, but I stopped Sir Caelo.

“Before I do this, can you remove my glamour?”

He arched an eyebrow. “Sure. Would you like for me to do yours too?” The knight looked at Anna and Clemencia, but I answered for them.

“Only me. They might need the glamour still.”

I did not say that when this was done, when I was under Prince Vale’s protection, I planned to ask Lord Riis for a rather large favor.

No one disagreed, and Sir Caelo got to work, removing the layers of magic on my face and body, stripping it off until his hands dropped, and he took a step back. “Done.”

“Perfect,” Saga piped up. “Now she needs to clean up and change, so shoo.”

He opened the door, allowing in a stiff winter breeze before he slipped outside. Only Saga, Anna, and Clemencia remained with me.

Anna’s eyes shone with tears.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, all too aware I’d brought her back from the dead not even an hour ago. Was she in pain?

“I’m fine. Never imagined I’d see this day for you.”

I hadn’t either. Not really.

Back in the Blood Court, I never imagined that I’d marry. I hadn’t wanted to. There, slaves only remained married for as long as their masters kept both partners. Though I had to admit that, in my dreams, I sometimes imagined marrying someone, my soulmate, but that’s all it was. A dream.

And while I was attracted to Prince Vale, and my body definitely wanted him, I couldn’t say with certainty that I’d choose him under less dire circumstances. I barely knew the male, though admittedly, I liked what I knew about him.

“It’s not an ideal wedding,” I exhaled and looked to the princess. “No offense.”

“None taken. I love my brother but . . . No, this isn’t ideal. I think, though, that it’s right.” She paused; her lipspursed as if she wanted to say something more but she did not.

Stars, I wanted to ask her what she’d seen in that vision. But before I could, the princess extended my dress to me.

“What do you say we get you cleaned up and ready for your wedding, Neve?”