THE HIGH of joining the team kept Andorra smiling for the entire rest of the week. She learned that the sport was actually called Cadmus, named after the word dragon teeth. And, Hornswell wasn't the only school you could attend after your twelve years in your court. Hornswell was just the most sought out school.

Andorra again was surprised at how much this world was like her own. And how much it wasn't. Hornswell was what most considered a dream school to attend, but Andorra's heart ached for a world where she went to the Summer Court school, growing up among her other Summer fae. Learning about her powers at the Sun Clan school. Joking with her little sun fae friends about her life. Living with people just like her.

She ached for it. For a sense of belonging. Because she wouldn't admit it to Noah, but she couldn't ignore his words about her trying too hard to fit in. He was right; she didn't.

But, joining the Cadmus Team would change that. Hopefully.

She sat once again in the library, pouring over a book. Learning more and more about her world. Dreaming of a day when all of this would feel second nature. But, it wasn't. And wouldn't be for a very long time. So with a sigh, she bent towards the book in question.

Summer Court: Traditions and Beliefs. She wondered if it were possible to take a trip to the Summer Court. Was she allowed to just go and travel to the place she was supposed to live? She turned the page to one with an image of kids playing at the beach. Some looked like humans. Others looked very obviously fae.

She ran her finger over the header on the page. Summer Court Traditions. She looked down at the name of the first holiday on the list. Summer Solstice. Like in the human world. She read a little about the festivities, such as cooking up a community meal, which Andorra noted sounded a lot like a neighborhood barbeque. Fae would bring different salads, different plates piled high with summer fruits and vegetables, and different sparkling wine made from different ripe fruits. There was a lot of dancing well into the night, and sometimes it was considered a great night for reproduction with the summer fae. Andorra's face twisted at that fact as she moved onto the next holiday.

There was Cauladra, the festival of lights. This was when the community gathered to send candle lanterns into the sky to send notes to loved ones that have passed. Each clan in the Summer Court got together to write the notes and decorate the lanterns based on the personality of those who have passed. It was bittersweet to think about, and Andorra ran her finger over the picture. Would this be something she partook in? To write notes to her parents? She felt something get lodged in her throat, and she forced herself to keep reading. To not cry.

Sunnandæg was the celebration of the sun. The Summer Court stayed up for 24 hours just to worship the sun and all it has done for their crops and their livelihoods. It seemed like it was also a day of fasting. This was a day of gift giving as well, reminding Andorra of Christmas. Families would enjoy each other's company, giving gifts and spending the entire day together.

These were all holidays that Andorra should have celebrated throughout her life. These were holidays that meant something to the other Summer fae, and she had not once heard of them. It made her nostalgic for the life she never lived. For the life her parents had once lived, and maybe had hoped for her to experience as well.

She closed the book, not quite in the mood for another.

The library was warm, the sun trailing in over her like a draped blanket. She stretched towards it, soaking it in while she could. Anlithamy didn't appear to follow the same calendar year that they did in the human realm, so it was hard to guess which month they currently were in. It had been weeks since she'd gone to Hornswell. And before that, weeks she'd spent just growing acclimated to Anlithamy.

How many months had gone by? The weather didn't seem to change in the Royal Court; the steady warmth had been constant.

"If you're slacking off, you should just give up your title." The snooty voice belonged to the one and only Aihfie, and Andorra didn't want to turn and look at her. Without much choice though, she plastered on a smile and turned to look.

Aihfie wore a cruel face, and the girl next to her had one to match. It took Andorra only a moment to place to girl: It was Eve. The first time Andorra had met her, Eve's hair was to her shoulders. Today, it was long, falling in a sheet all the way down to her lower back. It was beautiful hair; perhaps the most beautiful hair Andorra had ever seen in her entire life. Under different circumstances, Andorra would've loved to tell her that.

Eve noticed the books on the table first. "Summer Court Traditions and Beliefs?" There was something in her voice that was akin to interest. Maybe even admiration. "You know-"

"What a bummer that you couldn't learn about your own Court like the rest of us. Just the outsider things, I suppose." Aihfie cut off Eve completely, studying her nails as she grinned. It was all teeth and no warmth. "You should just quit while you're ahead, Princess."

Eve gave Aihfie a sidelong glance. Then, her eyes were back on Andorra again, but there was less heat there. Less intensity. An interest that wasn't there on the first day they met.

"Aihfie, I'm so glad we both agree that it is a bummer. If you're offering to show me the Winter Court, then of course I'll take you up on the offer."

Andorra hated playing the game. But if this was how Aihfie wanted to play, then so be it.

"Yeah, no way am I bringing you home." Aihfie brushed her dark hair over her shoulder in a dismissal. She eyed the books on the table one last time. "I don't know why Callum even bothers with you."

Andorra eyed Eve then, wondering if the girl knew about Andorra's guards. She revealed nothing, but Aihfie's words were so cryptic, yet telling. And a strange choice, if she was keeping it a secret like she had wanted.

Aihfie turned to leave, but Eve stayed put. She turned towards the winter fae with a look that said more than Andorra could even begin to unpack. "I need to talk with the Princess about something. I'll meet up with you later."

Aihfie didn't like this answer. She didn't like being told what to do. The look she tossed over her shoulder at Eve could curdle milk, but she didn't say anything as she walked away. Not a single thing, although Andorra felt that the silence somehow said everything and more.

Andorra shuffled uncomfortably. Despite the feud between her and Aihfie, Andorra didn't want to have the same animosity with all the Court Leader children. She did want to become friends with them, almost desperately.

Eve didn't give anything away as she moved towards the table, sitting on the corner carefully. The skirt she was wearing rode up on her smooth thighs, and it occurred to Andorra just how pretty Eve really was. How she seemed to glitter and glow in the room.

How people had said the same thing about her, in that school gym, wearing her red dress. It dawned on her for the first time that maybe she was also just as pretty. That she also glittered and glowed just like the Summer fae in front of her.

Andorra wasn't given the time to really think about how she and Eve were similar. The summer fae was talking. "I know I haven't been the most welcoming, considering you are a part of my Court. But, Cauladra is taking place next weekend, and I thought maybe you'd want to be a part of it. I'm assuming that's why you're researching about our home."

Our home. Those two words made her chest seem to fill with warmth.

"I figured... it could be a good way to honor the family you left behind. I know you haven't spoken about your old human life, but I get it." A shadow passed over her face. "If you want to come light lanterns for your human life, you're more than welcome to join me and my family."

Andorra met Eve's eyes, and she was surprised to find hers wet with tears. It was thoughtful of Eve to even invite her. But, she was on edge. With her almost-death, it didn't feel like the other royal children even liked her.

"I would really like that, actually." She swallowed a lump in her throat. "And that first day we met, when you asked why I didn't bring over the Sun Clan. I was being serious when I said that they weren't good people. I don't know what happened between the time they lived here, and the time they spent on Earth, but it wasn't kind to them."

There was a long pause between the two of them. Just being near Eve felt like coming home after spending months away. She felt like home, just as Kyle had once felt. And Andorra would be foolish not to take up a friendship with her.

For her piece of truth, Eve offered one up as well. "For what it's worth, my parents really liked yours. Not your human parents, but your fae parents." Andorra appreciated the small detail of Eve using the words fae parents and not real parents. "They were good rulers. Strong rulers. My parents, and I think our people, really admired them. Those that say otherwise are cowards."

Andorra didn't know how to say thank you, but she wanted to.

She didn't have the chance to figure it out. Coralia was barrelling down the narrow passages lined with bookshelves, heading right towards her. Hans and Bort were in tow behind her, talking about something that had happened in class.

The sound of Coralia's voice had Eve standing immediately, a thin smile pressed on her face. She turned to look at Andorra. "My offer stands. I will find you that Friday to help you pack." And then, Eve was weaving her way out of sight, away from Andorra's friends. Like it was a secret that they were talking.

Was it?

"Andy, tell these brutes that the way to a woman's heart is not pestering them to no end!" Coralia threw herself in a chair at the table dramatically, glaring at the two boys with what one might assume was hatred, if they didn't know Coralia.

Hans let out a long sigh. "Stop being dramatic, Leelee."

Andorra couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. It took a little bit of time, but she was finally feeling like she belonged, like she was beginning to actually have a real friend group. "What happened this time?"

Coralia rolled her eyes, hard. "They're just mad that Professor Innlin partnered me up with Rowan and not with them!"

Hans snorted, then shot a look at Bort. "We are not mad. I'm just saying, it would've made more sense if we were a group of three. Professor Innlin is an idiot if he thinks Rowan will actually do any group work."

Andorra's smile grew into a grin. It was a little more than obvious that Hans was jealous. Andorra found it endearing, and a little bit cute. Of course, it would take time for Hans to even admit that to himself, but he had time. They all did, with the slow way they aged.

"I don't have Professor Innlin."

"Be glad," Bort shuddered. "He's a brute. And he sucks at grading. Way too harsh."

That seemed to be a theme at Hornswell. Every professor seemed harsh.

Coralia let out a loud groan. "Let's go do something. Help me take my mind off of class and this stupid project. Hey, I know! Let's go into the city."

Andorra put her hand up. "No. No way. Remember last time? You know, when I was almost assassinated?"

"Come on Andy. You have guards now. Speaking of... where are they? I'm not sensing any lingering animosity around. And I don't hear the annoying voice of Aihfie letting out the world's longest sigh. Where are they?"

"I'm sure Callum is around... somewhere." Truthfully, she wasn't very worried about it. "But, now that you mention it, Aihfie was annoying earlier. Maybe I'll torture her with the task of having to watch over me for a little bit."

Andorra was getting a little too comfortable with the idea of ruining Aihfie's day, but she decided that if the Winter fae was going to be horrible to Andorra, she could be horrible right back.

Bort and Hans shared a look. "Won't she just be annoying and rude? And bring down the mood? I don't really want to hang out with her." Hans crossed his arms, but he did make a good point.

Coralia waved her hand. "Like she'll be that close to us. I'm sure she'll watch from afar in that pouty, defiant way of hers."

Andorra felt like there was definitely a little more than pouty defiance to Aihfie, but she wasn't going to suggest that now.

"I'll call a cab now, and you summon Aihfie... or however you get her to come to your aid." Coralia slid off of the table and moved towards one of the stacks, pulling her phone from her pocket. Hans, who was looking a little too grumpy at the thought, shot Coralia one last look of exasperation. She just grinned and winked before she turned away to make the phone call. Hans turned too, his cheeks turning red.

Bort watched with a smile. To Andorra, it was clear that Hans harbored feelings for Coralia, but Andorra wondered how Bort felt about it all. Would he feel left out if Hans and Coralia started dating? And did faeries even date when they had soulmates? Or did they not bother because they knew soulmates existed?

Andorra called on Aihfie, wondering for a moment if Callum would be the better choice, but before she could change her mind, the dark haired fae appeared immediately.

"What could you possibly want?" She sneered, crossing her arms. "I have places to be."

"And so do we," Coralia said, rejoining the group. "Come on, the cab is out front. Aihfie, I hope you're in the mood for some shopping, because if not, too bad for you."