The smile that had graced Ember's face only moments before was gone. Her happy, hopeful attitude went with it. "What's Crystal doing?"

"She's going to have everyone gathered this morning." The Seer looked down, and I felt the tension in him rise. "All fae will be forced to swear their loyalty to her individually or be sent to the trials."

"We need to see what's happening now. We need River." Ember looked around the room, and one of the fae near the tunnel ran off to find him.

Tate sighed, "I suppose I'm glad to hear he's with the resistance."

"You don't look glad." Mark nudged him with his elbow, "What's the problem?"

"He'll be an asset, he just gets on my nerves. He's so cocky."

Mark chuckled, "Yeah, that's the worst."

"What are you saying?" Tate grinned and leaned closer to Mark.

"Nothing. Just that I love you."

Jolie laughed as Mark kissed Tate's cheek, then she looked nervously around the room. "Do you know River?" I shook my head, and she whispered, "I wonder what he can do?"

I shrugged in response because I had no idea. I'd never heard of him. If he could see what was happening with more clarity, it would be an improvement on the Seers' broad view of things to come.

As we waited, Ember tried to prepare everyone. "We knew this would happen. Everyone, stay calm. We'll form a plan as soon as we have all the information. If you want to wait and listen, make yourselves comfortable. If you'd prefer to spend time with your loved ones, we'll call for you when we're ready."

A few settled on the pillows at the side of the room to stay while the rest left. Quiet murmuring created a pleasant background noise, and I used the time to relax and center my emotions. We didn't wait long.

River stood in the doorway studying our group. He was a striking figure, and the feelings in the room adjusted strangely to his presence. He radiated confidence, and the effect was polarising. Some were intimidated by him, while attraction was sparked in others.

I forced myself to reserve judgment and not let everyone's responses to him taint my impression. Without a doubt, he was a commanding presence. Silvery wings and pale eyes highlighted his ebony skin. He stood strong and proud, and I agreed with Tate; I was glad he was part of the resistance.

He walked directly to Tate, "I knew you'd join us eventually," he didn't wait for a response, he turned to me, "You are a surprise." I could feel his disapproval.

River turned to face Mark and Jolie. His eyes lingered on her, and I didn't appreciate the desire flowing from him. Worse was the confusion she felt; complete distaste would have been preferable.

"Seeing the two of you here is even more unexpected," he grinned at Jolie, and jealousy turned in my stomach.

Tate was frustrated, "We need your gift, River."

"That's why I'm here," he smirked without taking his eyes off Jolie.

She took a small step back, bumping into my chest, and I had to stop myself from saying something to him. She was capable of handling herself, and I knew she wouldn't want me jumping in. But watching his gaze travel slowly over her caused my temper to rise. I wouldn't tolerate it for long.

"Seeing such a lovely creature caged was unpleasant. But watching you tease Blue, and then seeing some of your fight with him," he paused to bite his lower lip, and I briefly considered ripping his head off. He took Jolie's hand, and my heart shuddered in my chest when she let him kiss the back. "You were magnificent."

She was flattered, uncomfortable, and confused. I'd been hoping for repulsed. Then her emotions settled, and uncomfortable won with an added edge of objection. Taking her hand from him, she reached for mine and pulled my arm around her waist. She leaned against me, wanting us to back up, but I wasn't moving. He would.

"He wasn't there. How did he see that?" Jolie was quiet, as though she was asking herself. I was too distracted to answer anyway.

"You need to step back," I warned.

He tore his eyes away from her to look at me, "I'm glad you finally decided to stop serving the false Queen."

His words and derision hit me hard, making me feel guilty for the part I'd played aiding Crystal. "I didn't understand what she was doing."

He scoffed, "Or you chose not to see it."

"He's too young to know the way things were before. He had no way of seeing the changes until they were too big to stop," Ember felt protective of me.

"You give him too much credit, my Queen," River shook his head.

"You give him too little," Tate moved closer to my side.

I appreciated the gesture, but I wasn't a child. I stepped in front of Jolie, "I didn't know, but I do now. I'll do everything I can to help bring Crystal down."

"Ah, well, with your help, she'll be defeated in no time." His condescending tone intensified my anger enough that I didn't register the same feelings coming from Jolie in time to stop her.

She pushed past me, "How did she even get this far since you're so amazing? Shouldn't you have stopped this whole thing before she got so powerful?" She poked his chest, and he looked at her with astonishment. "You don't know Ash, and you definitely don't know me. You need to keep your weird stare to yourself and do whatever Ember called you here to do. So far, I'm not impressed."

Mark chuckled and whispered, "Woah, feisty pants. We're all on the same side." He wanted her to calm down, but I knew he was agitated too.

I put my arm around her as River's eyes narrowed. He wasn't used to being stood up to, but he wasn't hostile; he was impressed. She crossed her arms and jutted out her hip with an annoyed huff that made me want to kiss the fiery expression off her face. I'd save that thought for later.

My mood had improved, but if River didn't get to work soon, Tate was going to snap. "Quit wasting time. We need to see what Crystal is doing now." Tate was at the end of his patience.

"Yes, please, River," Ember's voice was soft. "Crystal is gathering everyone. Can you try to find out more?"

River looked at her and calmed down. "Of course. Forgive me, Ember. Give me a moment to find someone," he sat on the ground and closed his eyes.

"What's he doing?" Mark whispered to Tate.

"He's trying to connect with someone at the gathering so he can see what's going on."

"Actually, see? How does he do that?" Jo looked up at me, and I shrugged. I didn't know about River's talent. Crystal couldn't have known about it either, or he'd have been either at court working for her or in the trials.

Ember answered softly, "He can see and hear what someone else sees and hears. He just has to be able to find them in his mind."

"So he's actually in their head?" Mark asked.

"Not completely. He can't feel their emotions or hear their thoughts. He can only see and hear through them."

River interrupted her explanation, "Everyone is gathered. Her closest followers are rushing to line up and pledge their loyalty. Crystal is raising her arms to quiet everyone."

He sighed, "She's going to give a speech." His tone was full of boredom, but he was getting angry. "She's telling them how great she is, blah, blah, blah. She demands and deserves loyalty, blah."

He was quiet for a minute as he listened, and we all waited. "Ah, this is of interest. She's offering a bigger reward for the death of Tate, Citrine, and the humans Mark and Jolie. Ash is still to be delivered to her alive. I suppose he can still be her special pet. How nice for him."

Anger rose in Tate, Jolie, and Mark, but I shook my head. If he wanted to hate me, he could. As long as we could work together and stop Crystal, I didn't need him to be my friend.

River spoke again, "She's looking over the crowd. She's smiling and calling for someone to be brought to her."

"That can't be good," Tate muttered.

"It's Autumn." Sadness filled River.

"Oh, no." My heart sunk at the thought. Autumn never agreed with Crystal, but she stayed to herself. She wouldn't cause a problem; she's too gentle for that.

"Who's Autumn?" Jolie looked up at me.

"Someone who won't be able to pledge loyalty."

Tate groaned, "She was looking for someone to send to the trials."

River's voice was tight, "Autumn was pushed to the front. She didn't even speak. She shook her head at Crystal and kept walking toward the waiting guards."

"What does that mean?" Jolie asked. "Will she have to fight now?"

"We have to help her," Mark said.

"Crystal's pointing out more fae to be brought to the front of the line. She's collecting her opposition." River sighed, "None of them are fighters. They won't last long against Sarsen."

"She'll probably hold the trials tomorrow then after she's had time to gather more. She'll want a longer show than what one or two deaths will provide," Tate said.

"Tomorrow is good, right?" Mark asked. "That gives us time to figure out how to free them."

"We need to know where they're going to be held," Jolie said.

Tate nodded, "Maybe River can switch to one of them and see where they go."

"Wait," River waved his hand for quiet. "Dahlia is back, she joined Crystal at the front. There are two prisoners with her."

Anxiety spiked as uncertainty filled the room like a dark cloud. Whispers blended, forming a constant hum of worries.

"Where has she been?"

"Who does she have?"

What are they going to do to them?"

River raised his hand without opening his eyes, and there was silence again. "She has Hedera. I can't see the second fae. There are too many standing in the way."

At Hedera's name, Jolie said, "No," and covered her mouth. Mark stood next to her, slowly shaking his head like he could change what River saw.

River straightened up as though he wanted to see over the crowd. The tension was thick as we waited to see who else had been captured. What had Hedera been doing? Did she try to follow us? Why was she here?

Finally, voice full of shock, River said, "She's not fae. The other captive is a human woman."

Jolie's hand tightened on mine as she began to shake. Mark stepped toward River, and Tate's arm shot out to stop him, "He'll lose his focus, and we won't be able to see."

Frustration filled Mark, "Who is the woman? What does she look like?"

"She's older than the two of you, comely. She has...long wavy brown hair and tan skin."

"Emily," Mark breathed and reached for Jolie's hand.

Jolie trembled in my arms as River continued with what was happening. "Crystal is welcoming Dahlia. She says she's come bearing gifts. Crystal's telling them Hedera betrayed her and the entire court before turning her back on the fae. She says this human caused the death of one of us."

"What? That's not true. Mom's never hurt anyone," Jolie's voice shook.

River went on, "Crystal says taking the life of one of them for one of us isn't enough. The human will have to pay for what's she's done."

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