The others share a look. They must decide that Mack is trustworthy because Asher turns to her and explains, “The Darken wanted to destroy the Seelie because they stood in his way.”

I run a finger over the rim of my water glass. “In his way for what?”

They share yet another tense look, and my appetite dies.

“My grandfather believed land was the key to power.” Valerian’s voice is low, as if the Darken might hear him. “His continuous wars for territory eventually made my court the most powerful in existence, but he wanted more.”

A shiver of cold snakes down my spine as Valerian’s gaze slides to me.

Oh, God. “The mortal lands,” I whisper.

Valerian nods. “The Seelie opposed his plan to dominate your world. Historically the Seelie Courts were more tolerant of mortals, and they already had an overabundance of mortal slaves without a war. So my grandfather decided to remove the final obstacle to his grand plans.”

“Oh my God,” Mack breathes through the fingers clamped over her mouth.

A lycan waiter enters with a pitcher of water, and Eclipsa sends him running with a glare.

She turns to me. “The Seelie Courts may have once opposed taking over your world, but now, with the scourge and the darklings destroying their own lands and no end in sight, some wouldn’t hesitate to bring the Darken back and finish the job.”

My hand shakes around my water glass as I bring it to my lips. The thought of what that could mean for our entire world . . .

I give up on my water and set the glass back down. “I have a plan.”

Everyone leans in as I explain the scheme I’ve been putting together in my mind since I left the Summer Queen’s law firm.

When I’m done, I recap. “So, essentially, during the final gauntlet held in the Spring Court, we’ll have access to the palace, including the vaults where Hellebore keeps everything he considers precious. It may be the only opportunity we have to search inside his home.”

Unless he gets his way and enslaves me, but I don’t say that.

Mack’s mouth gapes open. Asher and Eclipsa have gone disconcertingly still.

And Valerian—he’s staring at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “If you enter the final gauntlet, you would most likely die. Do you think any of us here would let you take that risk?”

I swallow, trying to keep a level head. “If we don’t, and Hellebore manages to raise the Darken, my world will never survive. Are you asking me to do nothing?”

“I’m asking you to think about the people here who care about you.”

This is not going as planned. At all. “I appreciate that, but you can’t ask me to stand by now that I know how to take Hellebore down.”

Valerian gets that stubborn, I’m royalty look. “Funny, that’s exactly what I’m asking.”

On some silent signal, Asher, Eclipsa, and Mack all make bathroom excuses. Ruby tries to protest but Mack grabs her by the waist on her way out.

As soon as the magical ice door freezes behind them, I face Valerian. The pulse in his neck jumps. I can see the conflict inside his eyes. That overwhelming need to protect me. To keep me safe. To keep me his.

No matter the cost. Even if that cost is my free will.

“I can’t let you put yourself in harm’s way, Princess.” His eyes soften as he runs the back of his two fingers down my cheek. “If you’ve learned anything from the past few months about me, you would know that.”

I take his fingers in my hand. I don’t want to fight. Not tonight. “And if you’ve learned anything about me, you’d know I’m not going to cower from the chance to save my species just because it’s dangerous.”

“You’re not mortal, Summer. You’re Evermore.”

“No, I’m both.” Something about the vulnerability in his eyes gets to me. He stiffens as I lean forward, brushing my lips against his. “If you truly care about me,” I murmur softly, enjoying the way his breath shudders. “If you truly believe I’m your mate . . .”

My plan was to use my feminine wiles to make him listen. To tease him with the possibility of a kiss. But I underestimated how thirsty my body is for his touch, and my traitorous tongue darts into his mouth.

Oopsie.

A low growl vibrates his chest, and I fight to keep control of my senses as he suddenly drags me into his lap.

Abort! His kiss deepens, the words I had poised and ready sinking into oblivion, along with every thought in my head but how nice this is.

So very, very nice. Like the first bite of cookie dough ice cream I ever had. Granted, I emptied the entire carton in minutes and then licked the inside clean.

Licked. The word makes me think of Valerian’s tongue and all the things he can do with it.

The things he is doing with it right now.

Moaning, I melt into him, focusing on the absolute pleasure of my body pressed into his. His teeth playfully nipping my bottom lip. His tongue parting my mouth. Claiming me.

His hands stroke my back in slow, lazy circles, reminding me just how thin my dress is—and just how skilled his hands are.

Dangerous territory, Summer. Stop focusing on ice cream and tongues and refocus on your plan.

What was that again?

I squeak in protest as he lifts me by the hips and settles me so I’m straddling him in the chair. My dress rides up my waist, presenting large swaths of bare skin for his fingers to explore. The snowflakes fall heavier now, melting against my arms, my legs, painting me in iridescent flecks that smear beneath his touch.

His hands glide up my thighs, slowly, the pads of his thumbs grazing the sensitive inner portion.

When his thumbs flick at the edge of my panties, I gasp. My mind goes blank. Emptying of everything but those fingers as they tease and tease and—

My back arches violently as a puff of air erupts from my lips.

“Every male below us can sense your racing heartbeat,” he purrs. “Let’s see if we can give them a crescendo.”

He kisses me again, gentler now, as if I’m an exquisite chocolate to be savored one tiny bite at a time. Those thumbs tracing little circles in time with his tongue and my heart and . . .

Holy pixie dust, I want to devour him whole.

Right here. In a box of ice. Surrounded by shimmery snowflakes and wintry mountains cut out against the stars.

One of his hands slips into my hair, undoing the rhinestone pin holding it together and sending the tiny blue roses Ruby weaved around the base raining down over my bare shoulders.

Each one draws shivers over my aching flesh.

How did this backfire? My plan was to get his attention and then make him see my point. But Valerian is a drug, and I’m a shameless addict. Willing to sell everything—even my dignity, even my choice to be his mate—for just a taste.

And yet, I’ll never be mated to someone who doesn’t give me equal say in my life.

He growls as I jerk my head back, my lips swollen and covered in the taste of him—plum wine and juniper. His chest heaves in time with my racing heart.

“Valerian,” I whisper, but something about the way I say his name only excites him more. His eyes fix on my lips as his hand slips behind my head, his fingers gently twining in my loose hair.

Any moment he’ll press my aching lips back to his, kissing away the last of my willpower.

“Valerian, wait. This went further than I planned.”

“Do you have any idea what would happen to me if you were hurt?”

I shake my head. “You don’t get it. I refuse to be anything but your equal, Valerian Sylverfrost. And yes, I want it all. I want real, sappy love, the human kind. I want equal say in our relationship and my life without your alpha Fae bullshit. I want to be with you because you respect me, not because you think some stupid magical bond says I’m yours. I’m done being property of the Fae—and that includes you. So if that’s what you think our relationship is, then I’ll never be your mate.”

A muscle beneath his jaw feathers. “You’re asking me to be okay with you entering a contest that’s notorious for its brutality?”

“No, idiot. I’m asking you to let me decide my fate.” Hurt sparks inside his eyes, but he’s silent, letting me speak my truth. “I’m asking you to respect my decision and then train me to survive it. I’m asking you to acknowledge that I’m a grown ass adult who has the final say in my life.”

A ragged breath escapes his lips. He stares at me, nostrils flared, and I can see that he wants to argue. I can feel his abdominal muscles clench against my belly as he works through his emotions, his jaw grinding.

And then, finally, he nods. “Okay.”

“Okay?” I repeat, sure I’ve misheard because Valerian would never give in that easily.

“You’re right. You’re a grown ass adult”—his hands slide playfully to my rear—“and I can’t forbid you from doing anything, even if I think it’s a terrible decision. Eclipsa and I will increase your training, plus there will be more sessions trying to coax out your magic.”

The tension in my shoulders eases as I celebrate this small but important victory. It means that Valerian Sylverfrost is capable of compromise.

Huzzah. I feel like I should have a cake made or something.

“There’s something else,” I say. “Since I’m entering the gauntlet, I’m going to put in my application for the internship at Larkspur and Associates.”

His fingers resume their lazy strokes over my thighs, his silver eyes still dark with desire. “Of course you are. I didn’t expect otherwise.”

“So you’re not mad that I might miss fourth year?”

“Mad?” He shakes his head. “What kind of male do you think I am? Actually . . .” His full lips curl around the edges. “Considering how your new tactic is seducing me when you want something, yes. I’m furious, Summer. Now, how do you plan to change my mind?”

I chuckle, running my fingers through his hair. “I think we might melt this room if we go for round two.”