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Luc looked her up and down. He sighed and shucked off his Dracula coat. He extended it toward her.

She glared at him like he was crazy.

When she didn’t take it, Luc shook it a little. A sweet fragrance wafted off the material, tickling Lily’s nose. “It’s in pristine condition,” Luc told her. “It’s not dirty like your sweater. It won’t do you any harm to wear it.”

“I beg to differ. You’re clearly keeping snacks in there.” She thought of the breadcrumbs he kept finding in his pockets.

Luc smirked.

Shayne was the one who finally took the coat. He slapped it back against Luc’s chest. “She doesn’t need this. She hates being taken care of.”

Luc’s pale fingers curled around it as he made a study of Lily. “Could have fooled me.”

Shayne looked back at Lily then. She stifled a shiver, and his mouth twisted.

“This isn’t because I think you need it, ugly Human,” Shayne clarified as he tugged his arms out of his own coat. “It’s because I don’t want it.” He didn’t try to hand it to her—he opened it and wrapped it around her without giving her a choice.

Shayne’s leftover warmth seeped into Lily’s shoulders. The material inside was silky and soft and she snuggled into it before realizing what she was doing. Shayne’s mouth twitched up a fraction, but he otherwise seemed like he didn’t notice.

The buttons down the coat looked like real gold; Lily tilted one up to see it better. Something turned in her stomach when she realized it actuallywasreal gold. When it dawned on her how much this lavish red coat must be worth.

Luc snorted a scoff and turned to Dranian. “Do you want the good news or the bad news?” he called over the firepit, though it seemed like he was shouting it to everyone.

Dranian glanced around at the others. When no one offered their preference, he decided, “Bad news?”

A loud crack rang through the forest, sending small birds squawking and racing from the leaves. Everyone’s attention shot to an entire tree snapping off its base. It soared down to the mossy floor, nearly swatting Dranian—he sprang back a step before it could smack him like a flyswatter.

“Ah. It looks like the bad news has just arrived,” Luc said.

Two fairies stood where that tree had just been. Lily started at the sight of Mor in his familiar jean jacket and a perturbed frown. And Dranian was with him—no…

Cress.

In Dranian’s body.

Lily’s hand came over her mouth. “What are you two doing here?” she asked through her fingers.

“Ah.” Luc snapped. Then he pointed at Cress and Mor. “Interestingly enough, this is also the good news. Funny, isn’t it?”

Lily couldn’t decide if she was more worried about their reaction or relieved they were here. She got the strangest urge to cry, which made her think she felt mostly relieved. But when she turned to the others, she realized Shayne was pale and frozen in place. He stared at Cress and Mor with his mouth open like he was sure he was imagining them. It wasn’t exactly an“I’m happy to see you after all this time”sort of reaction. Lily dropped her hand.

A twinkle lit Luc’s eyes. “You look terrible, Trisencor. Almost like you’ve been walking in circles all night,” he said. Mor ignored him and took in the firepit along with the people he knew standing around it.

“You!” Cress in Dranian’s body said to Dranian in Cress’s body before any other questions could be asked. “Come here so I can cut out your tongue!” he shouted. Cress took three full strides toward Dranian. “And…” Cress’s gasp was so sharp, Lily almost covered her ears. “IS THAT MY SUIT?!”

Dranian scrambled backward, releasing an unnatural shrieking sound. He turned and leapt over the firepit, keeping just out of Cress’s reach. When Cress sprang after him, Dranian shot into the sky.

Cress growled. “Get back down here, you fool! This horrid treachery is outrageous! You are in for a royal beating!” he shouted. “And that’snothow you use my talents! They’re meant to be used with the elegance of a prince! You’re ripping around like a wild, blind hogbeast!” He raced into the woods in the direction Dranian had disappeared.

Through all of Cress’s shouting, Mor found it within himself to finally pay attention to Luc. He glared. He took a break only to glare at Shayne next. At Lily—he studied her rich red coat. Then he glared at…

“Who are you?” he asked Mycra.

She didn’t answer. No one else did, either.

Mor sniffed as though he smelled something unusual, and his brows tugged together as he eyed her pale skin and bright features. “You’re dangerous—”

“I’m Dranian’s fairy guard,” she said, cutting him off.