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“Together,” he agreed as a half-dozen guards emerged from the fog, a tall female at their head. Olivier nodded at them and headed back underground.

Adric stiffened at the sight of the woman. He moved to put himself between her and Rosana. “Neoma.” The word was a growl.

Clearly, he’d encountered her before—and it hadn’t been a happy encounter.

“Lord Adric.” Neoma inclined her sleek black head. The guards surrounded them. Two grabbed Rosana, jerking her away from Adric.

Adric snarled and went clawed, but a fae ball appeared in the hand of a third warrior. He brought it close to Rosana’s face. She swallowed, trying not to flinch from the dark fire.

Adric froze.

“Your quartz.” Neoma held a silk pouch out to him. A cruel smile curled her lips. “Just in case you had any idea of trying to escape the prince’s justice.”

“No!” Rosana whispered.

Adric hissed, his eyes pure blue flame. But he immediately dragged the chunky gray-and-orange pendant over his head and dropped it into the silk pouch.

“Wise choice,” Neoma said. “Now, get going.” She jerked her chin at a path of smooth white pebbles.

The warriors released Rosana, but kept her separated from Adric.

The trail wound through the trees and past the pond before plunging into a garden that was, impossibly, blooming in the dead of winter.

A moon garden of lush white flowers: creamy azaleas, snowy peonies, roses of pale ivory.

Even when they passed back into the woods, lilies of the valley carpeted the forest floor like living pearls, and the smooth pebbles beneath their bare feet were as warm as if it was a balmy summer night.

In the distance, they heard shouting, saw bursts of light above the trees. There was a crack like thunder and the entire sky lit up.

Rosana’s heart leapt. “They’re here!” she said in subvocal tones.

In front of her, Adric nodded without looking back.

“Keep going.” The guards herded them forward.

The path ended in a clearing. A frisson slid over Rosana’s skin as they entered, indicating they’d passed through a ward.

The sights and sounds of the battle were instantly erased. Instead, shadows reigned, dark, menacing. Even the rain stopped, the ground beneath their bare feet cold but dry. Neck prickling, Rosana edged closer to Adric.

One by one, a circle of night fae emerged out of the gloom, each more beautiful than the previous—but in a cold, untouchable way, like perfect, polished statues.

Their faces first, gleaming palely like the ivory sheen of the moon behind a cloud, even the darker skinned among them.

Next to appear were their spare, elongated bodies: three females in short silver dresses and eight males all in black.

At the circle’s apex, Langdon shimmered into sight on a solid silver throne topped by a triple moon: a full moon flanked by two crescent moons. Like the other men, he was dressed in unrelieved black except for the circlet of diamond-studded platinum leaves vined around his head.

Standing at his side was the thirteenth member of the circle, a woman with ebony hair and Blaer’s fine-boned face, but older, harder. Diamonds glittered in her pointed ears and on the platinum bands twined around her upper arms. A single black star hung from a heavy platinum chain around her neck.

A priestess.

Rosana’s lungs locked. She dug her bare heels into the soil, tugging them both to a halt.

“Adric. No .”

He pressed her fingers. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” She shook her head frantically. “It’s her . The woman in my vision. They’re going to kill you.”

“Come.” Langdon beckoned them with a single pale hand.

“Be ready to run,” Adric muttered. He released Rosana’s hand and strode forward. “Well?” With a sneer, he folded his arms over his chest. “I’m here.”

Rosana looked frantically around for Neoma. At least if Adric had his quartz, he could shift—or cloak himself and escape the circle. But Neoma and the other warriors who’d brought them had disappeared.

She moved up beside Adric. But he put out an arm and moved her behind him without taking his gaze from Langdon.

Still trying to protect her when they were face to face with one of the darkest, most powerful fae on the planet.

Her heart clenched. “ Amo-te ,” she whispered. I love you.

She remained where he’d put her. Guarding his back.

Langdon eyed them without speaking. The circle of night fae went motionless along with him, their eyes gleaming darkly like a pack of wolves.

Rosana gulped, and then pulled back her shoulders. They might sense her fear, but she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of showing it.

Adric’s scent was hot with fury. He stared back at Langdon, cat-quiet.

As the tension stretched, the priestess drew the tip of her tongue over her full lower lip like she could taste their fear and anger.

Langdon broke the silence first. “Lord Adric. Senhorita do Rio. Welcome to my court. Peace to you and yours.”

“Fuck your peace,” Adric snarled. “We’re here against our will. I demand you release us.”

“It was you who trespassed,” the prince returned in silky tones. “As for Senhorita do Rio, I merely granted her request to remain with you.”

Adric raised a brow. “Did I trespass? Or was I brought here by Lady Blaer? It was the wolf under her geas who brought me through the wards.”

Langdon frowned. “She told me you forced the wolf to let you into the court.”

“True. But the wolf led me straight to your lair, and no one stopped us—almost as if you wanted me here. Or was it actually Lady Blaer who wanted me here?”

Rosana made a small sound. Adric had practically accused Blaer of manipulating things so he could assassinate Langdon. Viewed from a certain angle, it made sense.

Langdon turned to the head priestess. “Fleur?”

Her pale throat worked. She moistened her lips. “This is speculation, your highness. The fevered imaginings of a desperate man. Surely you don’t think my daughter is working with this fada.” She shot a dark look at Adric.

“No,” Langdon replied, “I don’t think Blaer is working with him. That doesn’t mean she’s not using him to cover her pretty ass.”

The circle of night fae rustled in agitation.

“However,” the prince continued, “none of this matters. The facts stand. My son is dead—”

“Because he attacked my people,” Adric said between set teeth.

Rosana set a hand on the small of his back, willing him to remain calm.

“As you say.” Langdon inclined his head. “But that’s not the issue. It’s not even important whether you killed Tyrus yourself, or whether it was your sister. The issue is restitution.”

“What restitution? I can’t bring your goddamned son back from the dead.”

“No. But you owe me, Adric Savonett.” The night fae rose from his silver throne, prowled toward them.

Beneath Rosana’s hand, Adric’s body quivered like a stallion itching to attack. “I owe you nothing . Your son got what was coming to him. Your clan has persecuted mine for years. My own parents died to feed your taste for darkness.”

“Your alpha—your uncle —invited us in.”

“Fuck that. Yeah, my uncle Leron was a sick S.O.B., but he would never have stayed in power for so long if not for you.”

“And Lord Tyrus was in Baltimore at your cousin Corban’s invitation,” Langdon added as if Adric hadn’t spoken.

“And that was his mistake.” Adric stood toe-to-toe with the prince. “Unlike my uncle, Corban was not the alpha, and Tyrus didn’t have my permission to be in Baltimore. I owe you nothing for his death—and every fada in the world will back me up on that.”

“You still think I want your sister, don’t you?”

Adric’s chin jerked up. “Then what’s this about?”

“I’ll admit I desired your sister’s blood. ‘An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A life for a life.’ Those ancient humans had it right. Harsh, but effective. However, I’ve reconsidered. Perhaps we can resolve this to everyone’s satisfaction. A bargain.”

Adric’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of bargain?”

“Due to your sister, I lost a son. In fact, all three of my sons are dead.”

Another rustle went around the circle. The night fae muttered among themselves.

Langdon ignored them to say, “I had a third son by a human woman.” A muscle flexed in his jaw. “I should’ve brought him up in the court. But instead, I hid—” He shook his head.

“Had, my lord?” murmured Fleur.

The prince gave a tight nod. “As I said, all my sons are dead. But my youngest son left a daughter.”

Rosana’s blood chunked with ice. Her mouth formed a soundless no .

Adric’s face hardened. “No fucking way.”

“Yes.” Langdon’s eyes were gleaming pools of midnight. “ A life for a life. Have your clan bring Merry Jones to me and you’ll go free. In fact, I’m feeling generous tonight. Bring my granddaughter to me, and I’ll free not just you, but Rosana.”