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“We’ve been told we’re not prisoners. We can do as we wish,” Callan snapped, ripping his mask from his face.

“They have alluded to dangers in these mountains numerous times, Callan,” Finn tried again.

“Do you not have swords?”

“Yes, but we do not havemagic,” Sloan drawled.

“Then stay here,” Callan bit back as he prowled past the entrance gates. The guards didn’t even acknowledge him.

“What is the plan here then, Callan? We’re to stay here until you convince her that you are meant to be together or until she convinces you that you’re not?” Sloan sneered after him.

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Callan snarled. The moonlight illuminated the road, but the shade of the trees still made his eyes strain as he followed it.

“This is her world, not yours,” Sloan growled.

But another growl made them all go still.

Two enormous black wolves emerged from either side of the road, snarling softly. Finn and Sloan immediately shoved him behind them,swords angled. Callan glanced over his shoulder. He hadn’t realized how quickly he’d been walking. He must have been near running for how far behind them the palace was now. There was no way they’d outrun wolves that big.

A beautiful female seemed to step from the very night right in between the wolves. She had flowing mahogany hair with white flowers woven into it that seemed to float on a gentle phantom breeze. She wore a cobalt blue dress that grazed the ground and had a bracelet around her wrist along with twin swords strapped to her back.

“Well, this is interesting,” she said, cocking her head to the side. The movement was as lupine as the wolves beside her. “What is a mortal Crown Prince doing in the Fire Court?”

“I am here as a guest of Prince Sorin,” Callan said, grateful he sounded more confident than he felt.

“Is that so? Interesting indeed,” she mused. She reached a hand out, scratching the ears of the wolf on her right. “I hope my pets did not alarm you?” When none of them spoke, she said, “You look like your father did when he was your age.” Callan started. His father? So he had indeed had dealings with the Fae in the past. “Did you come with her then?” the female continued when still no one spoke.

“With who?” Callan countered.

“The female who bears my sister ring,” she replied, holding up her right hand. The ring that glittered in the moonlight looked exactly like the ring he had often seen on Scarlett’s finger. The ring she had said her mother had given her.

“I do not know whom you speak of,” Callan lied.

The female clicked her tongue. “From royalty to royalty, Crown Prince, let’s not begin this relationship by lying to one another.” She took a step towards them but came no further.

Royalty?

“Are you the Princess of the Wind Court?” Callan asked, racing through all the history he had read the last few days.

A smile spread across her lips. “No, although the winds do obey me.” A gentle breeze blew past them, ruffling his hair in emphasis.“Along with the earth.” She held open a hand and a small white flower bloomed in the very center of it, which she then crushed in her fist, letting the pieces float away on her breeze.

“Then…” He started at the realization and bowed his head. “That would make you the Fae Queen.”

“Indeed it would,” she confirmed. She took a few steps to the right, almost like she was beginning to pace. “You have figured out your riddle. Now for me to figure out mine, hmm? A mortal prince is a guest of the Fire Prince.” She seemed to spit out the words ‘Fire Prince’ as if they tasted sour. “You have returned with him at the same time he brings a female and my ring home, which would suggest you are important to her.” She paused her pacing, her jade green eyes snapping to him and narrowing. “Are you her husband?”

“No.” The word came out more bitterly than he had intended.

Her smile became a knowing one. “No, but you wish to be. Interesting. She is your lover?”

“Yes,” he ground out from between his teeth.

“Still?” Her brows arched in surprise.

“That remains to be seen.”

“Interesting.”

“Stop saying that,” Callan hissed. Finn elbowed him in a clear warning to watch his tone.