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“I played along, like I didn’t recognize him.”

“You were so beautiful,” Rhett added. “So poised, almost a perfect princess—at least until they played the fae songs.”

I scowled, as I always did when he saidprincess.He knew that, and he laughed, as he always did.

“Princess…” he said, sobering suddenly. He turned to Zayne. “And a prince.”

I swallowed.

Rhett finished the story. “I made her dance with me three times before I admitted I recognized her. It was fun to watch her sweat. And I suppose the rest is history.”

I smiled, thinking of all the nights I had spent dancing with Rhett. “Then, about a year ago, we started planning…this.”

I looked about the pub and stilled. I had lost myself to our storytelling, only now reality struck. I was swapping tales with my oldest friend—we were together.I was here.Despite the many dangers, I had made it to the Starlit Isle.

The circumstances were nothing like I’d imagined.

As if sensing my darker mood, the fiddler paused between songs. The humor died.

Rhett must have seen it on my face. He looked at his empty cup. “Can you lower that shadow?” he asked Zayne. “I have a feeling we’re going to need a second drink to finish this conversation.”

We ordered another round and settled again. The next leg of our conversation lacked the rhythm of before.

I did my best to explain my circumstances, Zayne also adding where he could. There were parts of it he understood better than me.

At least Rhett had my back, clarifying everything. “So the Shades attacked Ayla because she was the brightest being in the Underworld?” he asked.

Zayne agreed. “I wanted them to brand me—”

“Then this handkerchief shadow-stepped Ayla into your boat because it appeared that you were in danger?”

“Exactly.”

“That’s when you lost control of the Shades?”

“I got…distracted.” Zayne tried not to sound sultry, but the fact remained. He blamed me for what happened,for worrying about him.

Me and my big heart. Him and his stupid handkerchief.

“Will you swear this is true with an oath?” Rhett asked.

“I’ll swear it,” Zayne replied.

I leaned forward. I’d only heard a fae oath once, when Rhett promised to help me reach the Isles.

I had never given an oath. When we were children, Mariana had tried to trick me into it, but the Firewolf warned me. Mother had been furious when she found out—it was one of the few times she’d disciplined Mariana, the Princess Heir and my half sister, because of her treatment of me.

Fae oaths were dangerous. They bound the speaker and recipient with the Isles’ magic. The consequences of dishonesty were diverse and often cruel.

Zayne didn’t hesitate. “I give my oath that I never meant to involve Ayla. That I tried to keep the Shades from her. Whoever she really is, she’s so bright they can’t ignore her.”

His words fell, landing with gravity, binding him to them.Whoever she really is, she’s so brightechoed in my ears. Nothing shifted as the oath held true.

Zayne continued, “I give my oath that the Firewolf fueled my curse, allowing me to destroy the Gray General. I swear that ashflower works as I’ve described, and Teyr gave me exactly enough.”

“What about the Firewolf?” I asked.

He nodded. “If Ayla joins me on this quest, I give my oath that—if it is on our route—we can find her Firewolf.”