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Scarlett opened an armoire along the wall to find dresses of varying styles and colors. Next to it was a dresser, which she opened to find several different styles of pants with matching tops. The fabric was some of the softest she’d ever felt. It had the consistency of silk but more of a cotton feel. She rubbed it between her fingers before sliding her dress off. The black pants were fitted but not tight and sat low on her hips. The top was dark teal and was just as soft as the pants. Its long sleeves were as fitted as the pants, and the top itself came to just below her navel, leaving a small rift of skin showing.

Feeling a thousand times more comfortable, Scarlett made to join Nuri and Sorin but stopped as she heard their voices through the door.

“Are you going to tell her tonight?” Nuri was asking.

“I will tell her tonight,” Sorin replied, his voice tense and hard-edged.

“Everything?” Nuri crooned. Scarlett stiffened at the implications of that one word.

“Aren’t you going out tonight, Nuri? To make sure things are in order for tomorrow?” Sorin answered dryly.

“I can take the hint,” she sang.

“No snack first?” Sorin’s voice held a cool amusement.

Nuri swore at him and then there was silence.

Scarlett ventured back to the living area of the apartment to find Nuri nowhere to be seen. Sorin glanced up and, upon seeing her, sat back in his chair. Something she couldn’t read crossed his features.

“Interesting choice.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“That is material native to where I am from. I am surprised you chose it, that is all,” Sorin replied, standing and walking towards her.

“It is incredibly soft,” Scarlett replied as he came to a stop in front of her.He moved his arms like he was going to touch her but dropped them back to his side.

“How are you feeling? Are you hungry?”

“Famished, actually,” Scarlett admitted.

“Cassius thought you would be. There are hot pork sandwiches being kept warm in the oven. Fruit and cheese in the icebox. Fresh bread on the counter,” Sorin said, nodding towards the kitchen.

“Nuri?” Scarlett asked.

“Has gone out to finalize a few things for Prince Callan’s arrival tomorrow,” Sorin replied.

She nodded once, shifting on her feet, feeling slightly awkward. “Thank you. For the food,” Scarlett said, heading in the direction he had indicated. She stopped beside him and added, looking into his golden eyes, “Then you owe me five questions.”

Sorin chuckled under his breath. “I suppose I do, Princess.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes at the second use of the pet name and continued to the kitchen. She found a plate and piled it high. The sandwiches smelled amazing and her stomach growled loudly. She didn’t even bother to leave the kitchen. She just stood at the counter and inhaled the food.

“Easy, Love, or it will come right back up,” Sorin said, leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, but Scarlett noticed her ring adorning the knuckle of his hand.

“Question one: what’s your obsession with my mother’s ring?” Scarlett asked, biting off another chunk of bread and ignoring the repeated use ofthatpet name.

Sorin glanced down at his hand and sighed. “Your ring is the sister to another. It belonged to a powerful Fae Queen, and it was enchanted at the end of the Great War to allow the wearer to access their magic in lands where magic is otherwise nonexistent.”

“A sister to another ring? Where is the other?” Scarlett asked. She didn’t look at him as she took a bite of her sandwich.

“My Queen bears the other in my land.”

“In the Fire Court?”

“No. She resides in the White Halls which has traditionally been the home of the Fae Queen of the Eastern Courts.”

“Who is the woman?”