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Seated atop a sapphire-encrusted throne, he turned, fur brushing his cheek as he nodded to the musicians, and they resumed playing. Dancers took to the floor with renewed fervor now that the regent’s eye was upon them and their acrobatics, intended to show their prowess in the bedroom, intensified.

A warm finger ran down my bare shoulder, and I turned. “If you’re back to—” the words died on my lips.

The male from dinner, Heath, Hazel had said, met my stare, jade eyes alight with that same amusement from before. “Would you care to dance?”

My gaze skimmed the room behind him, landing on a pair sitting in one of the darkened alcoves, heads bowed together. “I’d love to.”

Heath extended a hand, and I took it, letting him spin me onto the floor. His hand found my lower back and soft fingers slid beneath the fabric of my dress, skimming low.

He wasted no time making his desire clear. That was just fine. I knew what game I’d been playing when I invited his attention. Lifting my arm to rest on his shoulder, my gaze traveled up the length of his broad chest, noting his coat was a deep shade of indigo marking him as a member of this court.

His hand tightened around mine, and he spun us. My breath caught as he pressed closer, dipping me so far backward I relied upon him not to fall. When we came up, his hand slid lower, cupping my ass beneath my dress. Pulling me closer to his chest, his lips pressed against my ear.

“How long will your uncle expect you to remain in attendance this evening?” His hot tongue licked along my neck, sending shocks of warmth to my core.

“Long enough to show deference,” I said breathlessly, leaning my head back as he tipped me once more. I didn’t know Heath, but it seemed he knew exactly who I was.

The music picked up speed and my vision dimmed as the wine swam in my veins. My stomach swirled, heat licking along my thighs where his arousal pressed against the thin fabric of my dress and on his next dip, my body slid along the length of him, creating delicious friction.

It was getting hot in here. My heart pounded and when we spun by the throne, I dipped back and my gaze landed on the alcove directly behind it.

A shimmering silver dress writhed atop velvet-clad legs in the darkened space.

I came up, my eyes met Heath’s and the heat raging in his eyes turned my stomach.

That same intense stare that had been so flattering at dinner now felt predatory. Invasive.

“I’m sorry,” I gasped, pulling free of his grasp and dashing off the dance floor, not looking back.

I reached the door and tugged it open, stepping into a cool, dark hallway and leaned against the wall, heart racing.

The room spun and my stomach threatened to heave up the contents of my dinner.

Another breath in and out, and the room stopped spinning.

After a third calming inhale, my mind cleared.

Go back in there, and fuck Heath , I told myself. I pushed off the wall, squaring my shoulders, and grabbed the door handle. Locked. Damn.

I trailed the dark hall, some of my anxiety settling as I continued to suck in the cool air.

Rounding the corner to the main hall, I stumbled to a halt.

A tall male with ash brown hair, cut short, swayed to the faintly playing music coming from the ballroom. A young girl was perched atop his shoes, and he guided her through the steps. She giggled and stepped off his shoes, spinning in a circle.

I was frozen, my heart thrashing wildly in my chest. The air fled my lungs, and for a moment, I was this very hall several years earlier, Bracken breaking my heart.

His gaze landed on me, and I backed up.

“Sav?”

My limbs were stone as I tried to move. To run from him.

“Sav. Is that you?”

His voice soothed some of my terror, as it always had, and I swallowed, tugging at the obscenely high slit running up my thigh, but it was no use. My leg was on full display. I crossed my arms, hiding my cleavage. Finding my voice, I said, “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No. You didn’t. It’s good to see you.”

I stared at the male I’d nearly given my heart to for the rest of our very long existence.

Memories of a life we would have had battered my already ravaged heart.

I’d thought it would be okay coming here; I’d thought I was over him and the heartbreak.

Had it truly been over a decade ago now?

Seeing him, it felt like things had just ended all over again.

The room swayed, from the wine or the swell of buried emotions I’d locked away, I wasn’t sure.

Old wounds resurfaced as I took him in, reminding me why I’d never sought love again.

Reminding me of the pain that followed the inevitable disappointment.

He was the same tall, lean male I’d fallen in love with, hair still cropped short the way the royal guard wore it, but the creases at the corners of his eyes were new, and the circles under them.

Were they from nights spent worrying over his family? His mate and the child who clung to his arm now? Some small part of me wondered if he’d lost any sleep over me, the way I had over him.

I exhaled slowly. That was long ago. Long enough that my anger had died, leaving only my heartbreak behind. But even that was fading.

“This is Jasmine.” Bracken glanced down at the girl beside him.

My gaze moved to the child. “Hi, Jasmine. I’m Sav.”

The girl’s white hair swayed behind her as she rushed forward. She stopped in time to avoid crashing into me, and straightened her shoulders, staring down her nose imperiously. “So good to meet you, Sav.”

She said my name as if she were tasting it for any bit of magic. They trained them young in the winter court.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Jasmine.” I looked up at Bracken. “Where’s Camellia?”

Pain ghosted over Bracken’s features before he swallowed it down and came to stand beside Jasmine, taking her hand. “She’s…No longer with us.”

The agony in his words sliced into me. “I’m so sorry, Bracken.”

He swallowed thickly.

“She’s with Mab. Searching for a way to heal Faerie,” Jasmine said, beaming up at me.

I smiled sadly. The girl was young, and Bracken had shielded her from the truth. In the end, I didn’t think it would do her any favors, but it wasn’t my place to say so.

“That’s very brave of her.”

Jasmine’s gaze moved between us. “How do you know my daddy? I’ve never met you before. I know all Daddy’s friends.”

The girl had so much of Bracken in her features, but her white sheet of hair and thin aquiline nose were decidedly her mother’s.

Some spiteful part of me wanted to be happy he was free again, but I felt only sorrow for the loss of Bracken’s mate.

For a mate would never leave their partner unless they were called beyond the veil.

It was a fate I wouldn’t imagine for my worst enemy, and Bracken, though he’d broken my heart once, was a good male.

I held out a hand, and he took it. “I hope you find the peace you deserve.”

He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around me, and crushed me to him.

I held him, whispering kind words as he let out a low whimper. Even as I comforted him, some of my pain leached away. Once, our touches were fevered and passionate. Now, his embrace was one of a dear friend. A bit of my hardened heart cracked.

He held back tears, but his voice broke as he whispered in my ear. “It’s torture every day. I wish I had never found her.”

“Bracken.” I rubbed his back. “At least you had some time with her. Some people never get that. And you have a daughter.”

He squeezed tighter. “I can’t bear it.”

My hand tightened reflexively around, him holding him together with the last thread of who we used to be.

Once, I’d loved Bracken’s ability to be so vulnerable in a place where emotion might be used against you like a weapon.

Now, I wondered if it would be the thing to break him.

“Your daughter needs you. You’re all she has. ”

Something tugged at my sleeve, and I looked down. The cherubic creature stared up at me with bright green eyes brimming with tears. “I’ll take daddy,” she said. Her tiny voice was strong for such a young fae.

Another piece of my heart cracked, a memory from early childhood slipping free. I tamped it down, pressing hard against the memory of my childhood, of two small girls alone in the world with a father who was too heartbroken to care for us.