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“Who else lives here?” she demanded. “I mean, if I have roommates, shouldn’t I meet them?”

“They don’t liveinmy chambers,” he answered, flicking her nose. “They have their own quarters in the private wing.”

“You have family here?”

“Not blood relatives. Gods, no. But they are family, yes,” he replied.

“But do you…” Her eyes went wide as she stopped walking, and he knew what she was working out as he paused beside her. “You saw your parents killed by King Deimas and Queen Esmeray.”

“I did,” Sorin answered softly. “I was in the crowd when they… Well, when they were killed, yes.” He didn’t need to go into details and tell her exactly how they had been slaughtered in front of their people.

“Oh my gods, Sorin… I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything. It was a long time ago, Scarlett.”

“I still… I’m sorry. No child should ever have to see their parent be killed, let alone in such a gruesome way. What that does to a child…” She trailed off again.

“I wasn’t exactly a child,” he replied, brushing his knuckles down her cheek. “Yes, I was young by Fae standards, but I was several decades old.”

“Still… I’m sorry.” She bit her lower lip, and the action erased any lingering thoughts of his parents. She cleared her throat after a moment. “So who exactly does live here with you, then?”

“I’m sure you will meet them at dinner. Briar had a heck of time keeping them at bay while you were getting your beauty sleep,” Sorin teased as he began leading her to the bridge to cross the river.

“At dinner?”

“Yes, at dinner. If you want to, of course,” he answered. “I would like you to meet them. Eliza will be there. And Briar.”

“But I already met Briar, and I sort of already know Eliza,” she crossed her arms, stopping once more and tapping her foot. “I don’t know, Sorin. How many people are going to be at this dinner?”

“Only my Inner Court. You’ve sort of already met them. They met us at the border.” Her lips pursed at the recollection, and he reached for her hand, tugging her towards the bridge that was a few feet ahead of them. “As for Briar, he’s not part of my Inner Court.”

“Then who is he?” she asked, and he couldn’t help but smile as her nose scrunched at the question.

“Briar is the Prince of the Water Court and one of my closest friends.”

“Oh my gods,” Scarlett moaned. “I attacked a prince today?”

“One, you did not have control over your magic. Briar knows that. Two, you attackmeon a regular basis,” Sorin retorted with amusement.

“Well, yes, but you deserve it because you’re an arrogant ass,” she snapped, snatching her hand from his. “Doesn’t he have his own Court to tend to then?”

“He does. He has his own Court and Inner Court, but I expect there to be some…push back with you being at dinner,” Sorin replied cautiously.

“Why?” she asked, stopping in the center of the bridge to look out the floor-to-ceiling windows. They overlooked the Tana River as it flowed down the mountainside, right through the middle of the palace.

Sorin rested his arms on the railing of the bridge, leaning on his elbows beside her. “You are unexpected, Scarlett. I was sent to find a weapon I did not believe existed. Queen Talwyn invoked something called the Blood Vows of the Courts. During a queen’s rule, she is allowed to use the vow once with each Court she rules over. The vow requires the prince or princess to obey a command of her choosing without question. I was forced to go. You know our relationship with Talwyn is strained and when they learn thatyouare that weapon, when they learn what you are…” Sorin sighed. “I could need Briar there as a buffer is all. My Inner Court is family, and I rarely have to enforce rank. But two princes may indeed be needed this evening. However, if you do not want to come to dinner, I understand. The choice is always yours.”

“A choice.” She said it so quietly, he barely heard her, even with his full Fae hearing back intact. Her shadows seemed to flicker, as if they might go out. “I am truly free to go wherever I wish?”

“You are free to wander wherever you feel led. Leave the palace.Go to the city. Although maybe have an escort the first time, so you do not get lost,” he added.

“An escort? You mean you?”

“Me. Briar. Someone from the Inner Court.” He shrugged again, but added with a wry smile, “Or go yourself. If I recall correctly, I am not your keeper.”

She threw him an unimpressed glare. “I hardly know Briar and have only met your Inner Court when I was being chased by vampyres.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will get to know them well enough,” he chuckled. “They are obnoxious, cavalier, and intrusive. Come to think of it, you will fit in well.”