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The diplomatic talks that occur this week are a cornerstone of Solstice, and apparently today’s breakfast meeting is the first of them.

To be honest, I don’t have high hopes about how this year’s talks are going to go. The Fauna King is noticeably absent while his kingdom is scrambling to find a replacement ruler. Des and Janus, meanwhile, have been glaring at each other the entire meal, Des rolling his knife around his hand like I’ve seen him do with daggers. And Mara has glanced at me a few times, but she hasn’t quite been able to make the leap to addressing me properly.

All I’m hoping for is to keep breakfast down and not freak the hell out. I shouldn’t be docilely sitting at a table with the man who abducted me from Des’s house. If he were a human man, I’d have already been elbows deep into my revenge, using my glamour to get him to do anything and everything I willed. But, alas, he’s a fae king, both immune to my powers and staggeringly powerful himself.

The only one who seems to be enjoying himself is the Green Man. He’s been tucking into his eggs like it’s a profession.

This is the weirdest diplomatic meeting ever.

“So, remind me again,” Mara says, glancing between the King of Day and the King of Night, “what tiff was it again that almost ruined two millennia of peaceful Solstice gatherings?”

Des leans back in his seat, folding one leg over the opposite knee. “Janus kidnapped my mate.”

Janus slams his silverware on the table, making the plates rattle. “For the last goddamn time, I didn’t touch her.” His eyes flick to me. “I’ve never evenseenher before.”

Liar.

I don’t know what he’s playing at, but I could never forget the corona of light that shines around him or that face of his, which would make sculptors weep.

He must read my thoughts from my expression because his eyes flick away in annoyance.

Mara’s gaze moves to me. “Did Janus kidnap you?” she asks, folding her hands under her chin.

It takes me a second to respond because, oh my God, she actually addressed me, a mere mortal. I set down my fork. “Yes.” My voice is steely.

Janus lets out a huff, throwing his hands in the air. “I didnot.”

“So Janus was working with Karnon?” Mara asks the room.

My eyes are trained on the King of Day.

No one answers.

“Well?” she presses, her attention turning to Janus. “Is it true?”

“Of course it’s not. I can provide an alibi—not that I’m inclined to.” He levels Des with another glare.

“Well, there we go,” Mara says, smiling tightly. “He can provide an alibi. Perhaps Callypso here was just confused.”

“I wasn’t,” I say. Only, my voice sounds a touch defensive because…what if? What if the King of Day could prove he wasn’t on earth that morning he abducted me?

What then?

“Now can we all move on?” Mara says, ignoring my response. She gives everyone a hard look—me in particular—and I quickly realize we’ve come to the last of her good graces.

Put up and shut up, that’s what she’s demanding of us.

“Please,” Janus says, exasperated.

Shadows seep into the corners of the room. I haven’t glanced over at Des, but just from those shadows alone, I can tell he’s not going to agree to anything.

Des leans back in his seat. “N—”

Swallowing down my cowardice, I place a hand on his thigh, stopping him. “Yes,” I say, my voice hoarse.

Des drags his attention off Janus long enough to give me a stormy look. Whatever he sees on my face has him working his jaw. Ever so slowly, the shadows recede.

Folding his arms over his chest, he gives a hard nod.