Cade checked his suit in the mirror. He had brought his own Summer Court outfit to wear, one of the finest suits he owned. He was king now, and he needed to look the part.

After a quick knock, Poppy entered his room is a long, mulberry dress. Her blonde hair was curled and hung down to her waist. She’d worn a dress the other night, but he hadn’t noticed how gorgeous she was. The wall of steel she normally kept so high detracted from her natural glow, but tonight, he saw her as a woman.

“You look lovely,” he said.

He could have sworn her cheeks flushed. “I want to apologize. I shouldn’t have challenged Scarlett without discussing it with you first. I still think it was a good idea, but it wasn’t my decision to make.”

Cade just nodded. He may have not wanted to see Scarlett get hurt, but he was glad Poppy showed how strong the Summer Court could be.

Another knock startled them both.

“Enter,” Cade said.

When the door opened, Cade expected it to be a Winter servant to see if there was anything they needed.

Shock rippled through Cade as someone else—someone entirely unexpected—stepped through the doorway.

His mother.

Scarlett checked her hair in the mirror one last time before heading to the Winter Ball. They didn’t have a plan yet, but as it was the last night of the celebration—the official Winter Solstice—it was now or never.

Kaelem sat in the chair by the window as he waited for Scarlett.

“Think I’m ready,” she said.

It wasn’t like it mattered how she looked, but fixing her hair calmed her nerves.

Kaelem stood and took Scarlett’s hands into his own. “Thank you.”

“Don’t make me regret it.”

Scarlett couldn’t see into Kaelem’s mind, but she felt his distance. It made sense he was nervous, but it seemed as if there was more to it than that. She wanted to ask him, but she didn’t.

They linked arms as they entered the ballroom.

The room was breathtaking. Pillars of ice held a balcony that circled the room. Glass chandeliers hung from the clear ceiling that showcased the stars above.

Music echoed through the room as fae twirled in dance.

The Winter Queen sat on a blood red throne—a stark contrast to the snow-white dress she wore—on top of the balcony.

The ballroom flooring was a transparent sheet of ice—though not slick—with brightly colored creatures swimming beneath its surface. Some looked like mortal fish, others more otherworldly.

Kaelem led Scarlett to the middle of the dance floor. “Dance?”

Scarlett let him pull her close as they glided together across the ice, reminding her of their night together at the club. She felt the burn of the Winter Queen’s stare, making the mistake of meeting her eyes. The queen’s expression didn’t change, but a shiver ran through Scarlett.

Scarlett shifted her gaze away. As Kaelem spun her around, someone else watched Scarlett.

Dressed in a royal blue velvet gown, buttoned up to her chin, was someone Scarlett hoped she’d never see again.

Kassandra.

Scarlett’s entire body tensed.

Kaelem raised an eyebrow. He must not have been listening to her mind.

Scarlett glanced toward Kassandra.

Kaelem spun around, and, when he saw the former Summer Queen, his grip on Scarlett tightened.

The dancers parted as Kassandra approached Scarlett and Kaelem.

“How surprised I am so see you so alive,” Kassandra said.

“A happy surprise, I’m sure,” Kaelem replied.

Kassandra tipped her head to the side. “Some might say.”

Scarlett wanted to speak, to say something snarky or witty, but it felt as if she’d swished a bottle of super glue in her mouth and opening it was impossible now.

“Your body may be fae,” Kassandra said. “But it seems as if you’re still as clever as a mortal.”

“Scarlett is a guest of the Unseelie Court.” Kaelem stepped slightly in front of Scarlett, putting himself between her and Kassandra. “And under its full protection.”

“It’s nice to see the Unseelie Court has broadened its horizons to include mortals.”

“We are missing a perfectly good song.” Kaelem pulled Scarlett back into dancing position. “Shall we?”

Scarlett nodded, and then Kaelem led her far away from Kassandra.

“I hate her,” Scarlett said. “I couldn’t even stand up for myself. God, I’m weak.”

“You are not weak.” Kaelem tipped her chin up. “You’ve been fae for less than a month, and you’re already stronger than any new fae I’ve ever seen. Hell, you’re stronger than a lot of those born full fae.”

Scarlett wanted to believe him, but the way her mouth just froze, unable to utter a single word just at the sight of Kassandra, convinced her otherwise.

Poppy and Cade entered the room. From the look Cade gave his mother, Scarlett doubted he’d invited her here. Was today really the first time Kassandra learned Scarlett was alive? Why wouldn’t Cade have told her as soon as he found out?

Scarlett let Kaelem twirl her around the dance floor for the next hour, until her feet throbbed and all she could think about was sitting down.

“Not much longer, darling,” he whispered in her ear. “Pretend I just said the funniest thing you’ve ever heard.”

Scarlett fake-laughed as believably as she could. Her eyes met Cade’s. A grimace appeared on his face.

As she looked away from Cade, another stare met hers. Laik, the Seelie Queen’s advisor, watched her and Kaelem as they moved across the dance floor. Scarlett gazed into his eyes, swearing she sensed fear.

The Winter Queen rose from her throne. The crowd hushed. Scarlett turned her attention to Nevina.

“I would like to thank you all for joining us in our celebration of the Winter Solstice. Today marks the longest day of darkness in Faerie, when our power is at its height.” Her gaze found Kaelem. “As always, we are loyal to our allies visiting us from the other courts, and we celebrate the continued peace between our peoples.”

Next to Scarlett, Kaelem muttered something under his breath.

“Please continue the celebration. Servers will be around with more wine and hors d’eourve as the festivities continue.”

The crowd shifted back into the flow of dancing. Kaelem pulled Scarlett close and whispered in her ear, “We should make our move soon.”

Scarlett searched for Kassandra but couldn’t find her. Cade and Poppy twirled on the dance floor. Scarlett wished she could make Poppy trip and fall flat on her face, but she didn’t know how.

As a server passed Poppy, the tray full of wine in his hand fell to the ground and splashed onto the bottom of Poppy’s dress. It wasn’t Scarlett’s doing. Was it just a weird coincidence?

Kaelem wrapped his hand around Scarlett’s waist and guided her away from the crowd as everyone stared at Poppy and Cade.

He whispered into her ear, “I thought a diversion to hide our escape was necessary.”

Scarlett giggled.

When they were out of the ballroom and away from the crowd, Scarlett asked. “So what’s our plan?”

Kaelem shrugged. “We don’t exactly have one.”

Perfect. Attacking the Winter Court during the day their power was strongest without a plan.

What could go wrong?