The artwork above is not mine.

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Evren sat quietly while Juliette ate a hasty meal. She'd have to return to Offing soon. It would be night and she'd begin her hunt. Her thoughts spun in mindless circles, between hunting and plans for returning to the Autumn Court.

I hope Eris isn't too worried about me, she thought. He must know by now that I'm gone. I wonder if Celosia has taken my place yet. The thought of that female anywhere near Eris sent twisted thoughts through her mind.

Evren drew herself out of her thoughts as something snapped beyond the tree trunk. Juliette paused mid bite. She set her food down and picked up a small dagger. Evren drew Vita and motioned for Juliette to stay quiet. She poked her head out of the trunk, scanning the forest.

A figure moved through the barren trees. She recognized the long red braid, draped over one shoulder. Evren almost ran into the open, then caught herself. It could be Celosia, she thought. She tightened her hand around Vita's hilt.

Keitha tipped her head up, sniffing the air. "Evren?" She called.

Evren tucked a hand over her mouth before answering, letting the new angle throw her voice in another direction. "Prove it's really you."

"How?"

"Tell me the story your mother told you about Humans."

Keitha narrowed her eyes. "She said that Humans kidnapped naughty Faerie children and kept them as servants." Evren gave a sigh of relief and stepped out of the tree trunk, sheathing Vita. "Thank the Mother you're all right." Keitha threw her arms around Evren.

Evren hugged her back briefly. "How did you know where to look for me?"

"Eris sent me to search Celosia's house. He suspected she was the one pretending to be you. When I went, I found notes that she had about you and your life here, and I found the body of her father."

"She killed her own father?" Evren's mouth fell open.

Keitha shrugged. "I'm not sure if she did it or if she had someone else do it. Eris asked Lucien to come from the Night Court and help look for you. He's been playing along, pretending like he believes Celosia is you."

"She's going to..."

"Frame you for killing Eris at the ball next week," Keitha finished. "I know. That's what Eris and Lucien suspect too. The Illyrian, Cassian, is supposed to tell Rhysand about all of this and they're going to spread the word about a possible attack to the other High Lords and Ladies." Evren rubbed her forehead, thinking. "What are you going to do?"

"Celosia wants to pin the blame for everything on me. She wants to make it look like I killed Eris and only used him to become High Lady. What little she revealed to me told me that after Eris is dead, she was going to bring the real me out and kill me, making herself a hero to the court."

"Eris said he believes she plans to do it at the ball because she knows the other High Lords and Ladies won't truly believe the story and accept her unless they see it all for themselves."

"He's right. She'll be expecting me to return either before or during the ball, so she'll have a trap waiting. Once she has me, she can enact her plan."

"What are you thinking?"

"Tell Eris to keep playing along for now," Evren said. "I think I have an idea. We can use her own plot against her."

"How?"

"I haven't worked it all out yet. I'll be back in time for the ball and I'll explain everything then," Evren promised.

"Evren, who's there?" Juliette called.

Keitha arched an eyebrow. "Who is that?"

"You can come out, Juliette. Keitha is a friend of mine."

Juliette cautiously slunk out of the tree trunk. Her eyes widened and went straight to Keitha's pointed ears. "You're...you're High Fae."

"I am. My name is Keitha Drach."

"Juliette. I don't have a last name."

"No last name?"

"I was left at an orphanage when I was two and sold to a brothel when I was sixteen. I've never had a family name to adopt."

"Where did you find her?" Keitha asked.

"She was employed by a man named Revan. He was a friend of Cadoc's and I decided to kill him. I found her there and knew she couldn't go back to the brothel, so I brought her here."

Keitha took a hesitant step towards Juliette. She started back. Keitha raised her hands. "I won't hurt you." She held out one hand.

Juliette took it, swallowing hard. Keitha smiled brightly. "She's coming back to the Autumn Court with me when I come," Evren explained.

"Maybe," Juliette said, her voice faint.

Keitha inched closer, still gripping Juliette's hand. "I'd be happy to see you there. The Autumn Court is beautiful. The trees look like they're crowned by fire all year long. Right now, we wake up to frost on the ground. Somehow, the frost never kills our trees."

"It's always autumn," Keitha continued, "but cooler during the Mortal Lands' and Solar Courts' seasonal winter and warmer in the summer. There are all sorts of creatures there. Horses, foxes, birds, rabbits, and not very many bad creatures like the naga. Sometimes it rains and the earth smells fresh and new. There are many lakes and villages. The sky is a brilliant azure blue." She reached out a hand, tucking a lock of hair behind Juliette's ear. "Blue like your eyes."

Juliette stared at her, her expression a mixture of confusion, fear, and shallow trust. "It sounds wonderful." Evren crossed her arms and smiled. "That is the court you're now High Lady of?" Juliette glanced at Evren, then turned her gaze back to Keitha.

"It is," Evren replied. "Perhaps you'd like to go with Keitha. You'd be more comfortable there than in this tree, and I can't promise I could get you somewhere safe before I have to go to the ball."

"I don't know. Where would you take me?" She asked Keitha.

"You could stay at my house until we find a place for you to live. We have plenty of spare bedrooms and it's usually quiet when my brothers are gone."

"How many brothers do you have?"

"Five." Keitha squeezed Juliette's hand and covered it with her free one, spying the fear that flooded her gaze. "But they won't bother you. My brothers are good males."

"You won't let them talk to me or anything?" Juliette whispered.

Keitha shook her head. "Not unless you want to talk to them."

Juliette hesitated a moment longer, then nodded. She pulled her hand from Keitha's and returned to the tree trunk. "Thank you," Evren said as Keitha moved to her side.

"Don't mention it. I'll make sure she's safe and cared for." Keitha pursed her lips, her gaze flickering towards the tree trunk. "Is she all right?"

"I don't know her full story," Evren said. "When I found her at Revan's, she was crying. She was covered in bruises and a few open wounds. She was bleeding..." she lowered her gaze suggestively. "She could hardly walk. I practically had to carry her here." Keitha wrinkled her nose with a snarl. "I already killed Revan, as I said. Perhaps you could have a healer look at her though, if she'll allow it."

Keitha nodded. "Don't worry. I'll look after her and pass your message on to Eris. Is there anything else you want me to tell him?" Keitha's eyes flickered to Evren's neck. She knew the female saw the ring of bruises around her throat.

"No," Evren replied. "Tell him what I said and anything you feel is necessary."

Keitha nodded and Juliette emerged from the tree trunk. She had tied the small dagger around her waist with a bit of torn cloth. The saddlebag was tossed over her shoulder, containing a blanket and the last of her provisions.

"Thank you for helping me," she said, turning to Evren.

"I'll check on you as soon as I'm able," Evren promised. She gave Juliette a brief hug.

"May I help you?" Keitha asked.

Juliette hesitated, then nodded. Keitha took the saddlebag and slipped an arm around Juliette, offering herself as support. After a moment, Juliette leaned against her and they made their way towards the border.

When they crossed into the Spring Court, they paused and it looked as though Keitha were saying something to her. The next minute, they vanished from sight. Evren mounted Asper and rode towards Offing, now ready to hunt Elmir.

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Eris lurched awake, feeling a hand on his shoulder. Lucien stepped back as he sat up. "What is it?" Eris growled.

"You fell asleep."

"And?"

"And Keitha is back."

"Talk quieter. We can't let Celosia hear."

"I already shielded the room."

Eris sighed with relief. "What did she say?"

Lucien held out a folded letter. "She said she would've reported to you in person, but there was something else she had to attend to. There was a Human girl with her, someone Evren found and helped."

Eris unsealed the letter and skimmed the contents quickly. "Evren is all right. She is in the Mortal Lands at Cadoc's home and she has a plan. She'll be back in time for the ball. For now, I'm supposed to continue playing along. She'll tell us everything when she gets back."

He dropped the letter, running his fingers through his hair. Evren was all right. She was safe and out of harm's way. A thought occurred to him and he tensed. No, she was not out of harm's way. She was with Cadoc. He grabbed the letter again and continued reading.

"What is it?" Lucien asked.

"Evren didn't say anything about it, but Keitha says there were bruises around her neck." Eris' palm grew hot and the letter ignited into flames. "I'm going to kill him. If she doesn't before she gets back, I'm going to. I don't care what she says."

"I can't say I'd blame you," Lucien said. "I'd rip someone's throat out if they did anything like that to Elain."

"I'm tempted. I'm so very tempted," Eris growled, watching the letter crumble to ashes atop his desk.