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F irmly ignoring her magic’s second twinge of warning, Vahly put a hand on Kyril’s soft, folded wing and watched her grown children lead the festivities.

Whatever it was, it could wait. After all, no enemies to speak of lived in Sugurrabota.

Sea Queen Lilia remained in charge of the ocean, and though Lilia hadn’t sent a message in years, the waters had been quiet.

Vahly’s magic was simply agitated because she missed Amona during times like this.

Her mother’s absence was a wound that never stopped aching and flared high and painful during holidays.

Shaking off her melancholy—Amona wouldn’t have wanted her to miss the joy of tonight—Vahly focused on the ceremony.

Since Arrosa had officiated last year, this time Cygnus lifted a flickering torch to address the crowd. “People of Sugarrabota, welcome to the Frostlight moon singing.” A cheer went up, breaths clouding in the cold night air. “Join me in song as I light the solstice candles.”

Cygnus had no air magic to speak of, so he climbed a wooden ladder to begin lighting the candles with his small torch.

“ Bring the light for which we long,

Sing the moon singing song.

Dancing flames,

Glittering frost,

Gathering hours,

Spring will come.

Sing your name to the moon,

And hear her answer with the wind.

With the wind.

With the wind.

With the wind. ”

Chills spread across Vahly’s arms as the voices wove together, then faded to silence. Every couple faced one another to kiss.

“This tradition used to be the worst for me,” she whispered to Arc as he smiled down at her. In the middle of a slew of dragons, she’d felt so isolated as the sole human before she’d found Arc and discovered elves weren’t extinct as she’d been led to believe.

“And now?” His mouth hovered over hers, a grin tugging at his full lips. His warm breath dusted over her cold cheeks, and his powerful presence made her shiver.

“Stop teasing me, elf, or I’ll have the earth swallow you whole.”

Arc smiled, then kissed her hard, his fingers pressed into her waist and his body close. “You’re so vicious, sweetling.”

“Says the elf who grew dagger-sharp ram horns.”

He shrugged and brushed his lips over hers. “Our world is changing, and I can do nothing but watch the dice fall as they may.”

“Did you just make a gambling reference?” She scratched Kyril’s side and his purr rumbled under her palm. “I am rubbing off on you.”

Cygnus welcomed a slender daughter of Rigel and Ursae into his arms.

Vahly shoved Arc gently. “Did you know he was interested in her?”

“He told me last night.”

The crowd broke into dancing as several dragons and elves began playing lutes and pipes. Nix and Aitor pointed to a few servers posted at the palace door, and cider was given out freely, along with blankets for the half-elves who felt the cold like their human mother.

Cygnus kissed Rigel’s daughter, then turned to Vahly, his particularly bright, slate-colored eyes wrinkling at the edges as he smiled. The couple strode over. Cygnus looked like a dragon who’d just found a hoard of rubies. “Mother, this is Cassiopeia.”

Arc must have known that was her given name, because he didn’t show any surprise that the girl was named after his cousin, the Elven Queen who had died fighting the Sea Queen.

Vahly missed Cassiopeia, even though she’d only known the elf for a short time.

She’d been so welcoming when Vahly had been in Illumahrah for the first time.

Unlike some of the more arrogant elves, she’d been kind and casual, a female Vahly could imagine having a cider with.

“I’m sure she’ll do the name justice if you have chosen to court her, son,” Arc said.

Cassiopeia blushed and glanced at Cygnus. Vahly chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Cassiopeia,” Vahly said.

The elven girl dipped a quick curtsey. “Your majesties.”

“I’d like to return to the eastern mountains with her and her family when Frostlight ends, if that pleases you.

” Cygnus’s eyes fixed on Vahly. He’d always been such a pretty child.

His eyes had this ring of darker gray around the lighter gray.

He was a handsome grown man too, with pointed ears like his father and a similar steady disposition.

Kyril clicked his tongue, throwing his head like he had something to say about it. Vahly pet his side to calm him.

“I’m fine with that decision,” she said. “As long as Rigel promises to show you every last one of his sword techniques.” The elven warrior would be a perfect father-in-law for Cygnus.

Cygnus grinned, his dimples showing like they had since he was two and riding on his father’s shoulders or on Nix’s back. Higher, he would always shout to Nix. Higher!

Like Zuzan, Cygnus was afraid of nothing. Unlike Zuzan, Cygnus was kind.

Cygnus and Cassiopeia left to join the dancing. Zuzan stood on a rise overlooking the Silver River, his stance stiff. It was as if anger were his constant companion.

“What are we going to do with Zuzan?” she asked Arc quietly as they crunched through the light layer of snow along the ground.

“He needs his own kingdom. Our Zuzan is a leader, and there are already too many of those here.”

A scream tore from the slope that led to the sea and ripped through the music and laughter.

Vahly’s bones froze. “That’s Arrosa.”