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CHAPTER TWO

A va had seen some impressive buildings in her life, traveling around for her degree in architecture. The Duomo in Florence. The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The Metropolitan Museum in New York.

None of them prepared her for the Din'Glai.

Namely because…it wasn’t really a building, but then again, it was.

The Moonlit Court rose from the twisted landscape like a fever dream of impossible architecture.

Spires of obsidian and silver, made to look like trees and vines, stretched toward the too-large moon, connected by walkways that defied gravity.

It clawed at the darkened sky like blackened and boney fingernails.

“Holy shit.” She forgot for a moment that she was walking beside the Unseelie King.

Valroy's lips curved in amusement. “A common reaction, if not in those…exact words.” His wings flexed slightly behind him, the membrane catching the moonlight. “The Din'Glai has stood for eight thousand years. It grows with each monarch.”

“Grows.” Ava squinted at the structure. The spires that looked like trees carved from obsidian or sculpted out of silver…maybe were the ot her way around. They were trees that were obsidian and silver. “Literally.”

“The court is alive.” He gestured toward an archway that was formed from two enormous trees, their branches intertwining overhead. “It responds to the ruler's will. Each king or queen adds their mark to its form.”

Demonstrating, he raised a hand. A section of walkway high above shifted, extending into a new balcony that hadn't existed moments before.

The silver vines rumbled and obsidian branches groaned as the tree itself grew in fast forward, twisting together to create a new masterwork as if it were… nothing at all.

Bitty, who had been silent for most of their journey, made a small squeaking sound behind Ava.

“What is wrong with it?” Valroy arched an eyebrow. He sounded more annoyed than actually concerned.

“She’ll be fine.” Ava smiled slightly. “She’s terrified.”

“And you are not?”

“Oh. I’m absolutely shitting myself.” She stared back up at the balcony. “I’m just hiding it better.”

That earned her another one of his unsettling laughs. “Honesty. How refreshing.”

“I’m assuming this is where you have, like, a throne room?” She wrinkled her nose.

“One of them. Mine. If there is business that must be conducted in junction with my wife, there is another, far older seat of power from where we both rule.” He shrugged.

“Where’s the Deen—” She paused and immediately gave up. “The Seelie court?”

“You are gazing upon it.” He grinned, clearly enjoying how little sense that made. And the look of immediate confusion it put on Ava’s face.

“What?”

“When the sun rises, all that is Unseelie, becomes Seelie.” He gestured at the building. “All this shall become of quartz and gold.” The look of disgust on his face was almost comical, it was so melodramatic.

“Right…” That didn’t make any sense, but she figured she’d see it for herself soon enough. As they approached the massive entrance, Ava noticed figures emerging from the shadows.

Some had wings like Valroy's, others had antlers or horns. A few seemed mostly human until they moved, revealing too many joints or fingers. Some were made of smoke, others purely of shadow or glass.

Each one seemed unique from the other. But all were beautiful in ways that made her chest ache—painfully perfect.

“My king,” they murmured as Valroy passed, bowing or curtseying or making other gestures Ava assumed were culturally specific. Their curious eyes slid to her, lingering on Book tucked under her arm, or on the tattoo visibly peeking out from under her shirt sleeve.

“You are quite the spectacle,” Valroy chuckled. “The first human to see the Din'Glai in centuries who wasn't a meal. Well. A planned meal.” He shot her a somewhat playful smile. “We shall see how this all unfolds.”

“Could you maybe not joke about eating me?” She cringed.

“Who said I was joking?”

Before she could respond to that delightful comment, they passed through the living archway into a vast entry hall that was carved from a single massive piece of wood. The floor beneath her feet was polished smooth, shot through with veins of silver that shone.

“The court will gather to meet you formally tomorrow.” Valroy’s voice echoed slightly in the giant space. “Tonight, you will rest and recover from your…harrowing experience.”

It was clear how little he thought of what she’d actually been through. But she let that slide.

“And tomorrow I’m…what? Being presented as the new circus attraction? ”

Valroy stopped, turning to face her fully. His faintly glowing blue eyes fixed on hers with an intensity that made her want to step back.

“Tomorrow,” he said with all the weight of the royalty she was suddenly reminded he was, “you will be introduced as my honored guest. And a human cursed to become an entity who could end our race, in time. Remember that. In the Unseelie Court, you are only as powerful as others believe you to be.”

Before she could formulate a response, movement at the far end of the hall caught her attention. Three fae approached them.

“Ah.” Valroy’s tone shifted to one of annoyance and exhaustion. “Your welcoming committee arrives.”

The first was a woman with skin the color of midnight, her hair a cascade of tiny white flowers that bloomed and withered and bloomed again as she moved, the petals drifting to the ground at her feet as dried, withered things. Her eyes were pure silver, no iris or pupil visible.

The second was tall and rail-thin, with antlers branching from his temples like a crown of bone. His features were sharp angles, his movements precise as clockwork. Where his companion was fluid, he was structured, each step placed with mathematical certainty.

The third was a little shorter than the others, more solidly built, with long auburn hair that shifted like autumn leaves in a breeze.

His smile revealed teeth that were just slightly too sharp, and his eyes—a warm amber—were the only ones that seemed remotely human.

He had a long auburn and brown tail that swished and curled behind him like the tail of a cat.

Something about him reminded her of a barn tomcat she met once while going apple picking.

His smile was somehow feline as well as he watched her. Just a little cheeky. It threw a vibe of I’m going to knock some stuff off shelves and I’m not going to feel at all bad about it when I do. Instantly, she rather liked him.

They stopped before Valroy, executing perfect, synchronized bows.

“My king,” The woman’s voice was like a whisper, like water rolling over stones in a brook. “We have prepared for your guest as instructed.”

“Excellent.” Valroy gestured toward Ava. "May I present Ava Cole, the Weaver and my personal guest. Ava, these three shall be the courtiers attending to you.”

The woman with silver eyes stepped forward first. “I am Ashta, Handmaiden and Mistress of Ceremonies.” Her gaze swept over Ava, assessing. “Welcome to Tir n’Aill, Weaver.”

The antlered man inclined his head, the movement causing shadows to shift strangely around him. “Thornwick, Royal Strategist and Keeper of the Laws.” His voice was unexpectedly melodic, each word precisely enunciated. “Your arrival has been greatly anticipated.”

The third fae's bow was more elaborate, almost mockingly theatrical. “Lysander, at your service.” His amber eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “I have the honor of being the court's Master of Revels and, if our king permits, your guide to the wonders of Tir n’Aill and the Unseelie.”

Ava nodded to each in turn, suddenly painfully aware of her disheveled appearance and her complete ignorance of proper court etiquette. “I—um—it's, uh, nice to meet you all.”

Ashta’s expression remained neutral, though something like amusement flickered in her silver eyes. Thornwick merely nodded, his antlers casting intricate shadows across his face. Lysander's smile widened, revealing more of those too-sharp teeth.

Valroy was clearly done with everything. “Ashta will show your frightened companion to its quarters. Thornwick has matters to discuss with me, and Lysander…” He gave the auburn-haired fae a pointed look. "Lysander will show you to your room.”

The hell was that about?

She didn’t have the chance to ask about it, as Bitty, who had been doing her best to become invisible behind Ava's shoulder, froze like a deer in headlights and let out a terrified whine.

“I’d prefer if Bitty stayed with me,” Ava said quickly .

Valroy tilted his head, considering. “Very well. A sensible precaution in an unfamiliar court.” He turned to Ashta. “Prepare separate quarters adjacent to our guest’s.”

“Of course, my king.” Ashta curtsied again.

“I shall leave you to settle in.” Valroy examined his nails.

“Tomorrow night, you dine at my table, and the court will be formally introduced.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

“Remember what I said. To them, you are power incarnate. Play the part, and they will believe it. Whether or not you do.”

With that, he and Thornwick moved away, their voices dropping to a murmur as they discussed whatever “matters” required immediate attention.

Lysander stepped forward. “If you would follow us, Lady Ava.”

“Just Ava is fine.” It was an automatic response. She didn’t really want to be called Lady. It felt stupid, especially when she looked like she just rolled out of bed.

The fae woman's silver eyes widened slightly. "As you wish…Ava." She pronounced the name as if testing its flavor. "This way, please."

As they followed Ashta and Lysander deeper into the crystal palace, Ava felt Bitty's small hand clutch the back of her shirt.

“You holding up back there?” Ava tried not to laugh. Poor Bitty. She realized how much of a safety net she’d really been given in the grimoire—she knew she couldn’t die. She didn’t know what kind of hell she could get put through—but she knew death was off the table.