"IF YOU need me to go, I'll go." Clini jutted out his chin, defiant and brave all wrapped into one. "I'm not afraid of my mother."

It was the truth. But even so, a quiver of fear thrummed in his chest at what would happen if he was to be trapped in the Spring Court. His mother wouldn't let him leave as easily as she had before. And it wasn't just his mother; it was the entire Spring Court outraged at Andorra's actions.

It was no secret that Clini had been chosen for her Royal Council. Which meant one thing: a target was now on his back.

"Vulara is also on our list. Maybe it would be best if you both went together." Andorra could understand the bravery of being a Royal Council member. She too felt untouchable as Queen. But Clini was her friend, and what sort of friend would she be if she sent Clini to the Spring Court alone?

Clini paled at the mention of Vulara. "Uh, no thanks."

"Why not?"

"Just because he's your friend doesn't mean all of us want to get involved with one of the oldest creatures in Anlithamy. He may have a soft spot for you, but he doesn't even know me." Clini shuddered at the thought of coming face to face with the man in question. Vulara, weapons master and war mongrel, was not quite his choice of companion.

Andorra squinted at Clini. "So you're okay with meeting the Rattislon, but not Vulara?"

"I'm terrified of both," Clini clarified. "But I'd be meeting with the Rattislon for what? At most a half hour? I would have to travel with Vulara. Be in his presence for an extended period of time alone. No thanks."

"What if Callum went with you guys? He knows Vulara."

Clini stood up from the table, now disgusted at the mention of the shadow fae. "Absolutely not."

Andorra stood too. "C'mon. Callum isn't that bad now that he's not all brooding and mean all of the time."

"Correction: Callum isn't that bad to you. But he is brooding and mean to everyone else, all of the time. Just because you're friends doesn't mean he tolerates me."

Andorra couldn't help but roll her eyes. Callum was rough around the edges, sure, but he wasn't as bad as he was when he was friends with Anders and his sister. Andorra wanted to think that Callum had grown since then.

"I'd make him promise to be on his best behavior. He's not... he's not like his sister."

"Andy," Clini pleaded. "Do not make me go to the Spring Court with him. Alone. Callum tormented me for years. Years I'm still trying to block out of my memory."

"But you wouldn't be alone. You'd be with Vulara too."

Clini groaned. "Is this really the only way you'll trust me to go? If I have guards?"

Andorra contemplated that. She trusted Clini, had no doubt he would go to the Rattislon and try his best to ask for their favor. But they were young, and Andorra only had one shot to figure this out. She wasn't so sure the Rattislon would enjoy multiple visits from her.

"Fine. No Callum, but yes Vulara. He has sway with the Rattislon. Sway that I think we're going to need if we want to secure this favor. If you don't want to go though Clini, I can just send Vulara."

Clini shook his head once, quickly. "I'm doing this."

"Then we best be going to visit Vulara in town. See if he'll agree to this. I just... I know this isn't about the upcoming war, but there's something about this curse."

It didn't take long to prepare for the trip into the city. With Andorra ruling the Royal Court, the weather was typically warm and bright, leaving little to change into as the two hit the road. Andorra was feeling optimistic, but there was always room for nerves. Always the fear that he would turn them down.

"Wait up," Callum yelled behind them. "Andorra, you can't just leave without telling me!"

Andorra turned to watch as Callum burst through the side entrance they had just left through. Anger was evident on his face. "You're such a pain to guard for!"

Andorra tried not to roll her eyes and failed. A smile flirted on her lips. "You're being dramatic. We're going to see Vulara. I'll be plenty safe."

"No. You're not." Callum caught up to them in a huff. He spared a glance at Clini, but his gaze didn't linger long. "Even Vulara can't protect you at all times."

Andorra shot Callum a narrowed eyed look. "I'm plenty strong now to take any enemies. I've been training."

And she had, almost every afternoon. Her muscles seemed to be in a constant state of soreness, but it paid off. She was quicker, stronger, fiercer now that she wasn't just skin and bones. It was almost hard for her to remember the slight girl who lived in the human realm. Human Andorra had been so frail. So weak. Andorra couldn't believe that girl had made it this far.

Couldn't believe the dangers she had been in without real, proper training on how to protect herself.

"Being confident and cocky can get you killed," Callum hissed.

"You're confident and cocky. And look at that, you're alive and well."

Clini was smart enough not to join in, but he smiled at the ribbing nonetheless. It astounded him how little Andorra feared Callum when Clini had spent most of his life avoiding the shadow fae.

"Andy," Callum said, exasperated. "Please just let me protect you. For my sanity."

Andorra elbowed him in the ribs. Just a quick, short dig. "Fine. What would I do without such a dedicated guard? And to think you hated me at first." She grinned at him to let Callum know she was joking. He didn't grin back.

Neither of them had been paying attention, so when they turned the corner onto the main street, Andorra almost fell over as she bumped into another person. She steadied them both, her mouth open to apologize, but the man was already on his feet, ready to push her away.

Andorra blinked up at him. "I'm sorry," she offered. "I should have been paying better attention."

He gathered his messenger bag, slinging it back over his shoulder. His eyes trailed her, staring a little too intently, his face displaying annoyance. He brushed off the jacket he wore, despite the warm weather, and rose a brow.

"And should the Queen be skulking around the city like this?"

There was a threat in his tone. Andorra and Callum both heard it at the same time, and Callum pushed Andorra a step behind him. Shadows gathered in his palms immediately as he sized up the man before them. "Watch how you speak to our Queen."

Andorra tried to place him, place his home court, but she couldn't. He had a head full of hair, but four antennae stood at alert. Little wispy wings seemed to encircle his head. A bug fae, then? Andorra wasn't sure. His skin color was almost gray in color, dark but seeming to lack pigment.

He was staring at her, the same way she was staring at him.

"Your Queen," he corrected. Spring Court, then. Andorra was sure of it.

"Our Queen," Callum repeated. "What business do you have in the Royal Court?"

The man let loose a smile, but it was sharp. His teeth seemed to gleam in the sunlight. "I'm here to see you, actually. Queen Andorra, there is business we need to discuss."

Callum didn't move an inch. His body was tense, ready to fight. Shadows were slinking down the alley way, gathering closer to them. He fell quiet and still as he eyed the fae in front of them. He debated their next move.

Andorra beat him to it. "I will be back to the Royal Castle after my errands. You are more than welcome to arrive at the castle and wait for me there. My guard Oberon will be there to greet you."

The fae grinned and ducked into a bow. Even Clini could tell it was mocking in nature. He stiffened as the man made eye contact with him as he unfurled from the bow. "Very well then."

"Your name?" Callum wouldn't move out of the way without something. If Andorra was dead set on letting him wander through the Royal Court as he pleased, Callum wasn't about to let him go without identification.

"You can call me Ero." There was something akin to humor in his tone. Before Andorra could say anything else, Ero took a step back, unleashing two large wings. They fluttered for a moment, the sunlight catching them in a way that had Andorra's mouth dropping open. And then, Ero launched into the skies.

All three of them watched. "Wow," Andorra and Clini breathed at the same time. Callum though was less than thrilled, crossing his arms with a deep set frown.

"Are you two done staring after him like a pair of idiots?" Callum snarled.

"Did you see his wings?" Andorra let her hand reach back, trailing against the base of her own spine, wishing not for the first time that she too had wings. "How... how do we get those? Do I have wings?"

Callum didn't wait as he surged forward. "I'm sending my Rali back to the Royal Castle to alert Oberon."

Andorra perked up at that, suddenly remembering she too had that tool. "Oh! Wait, I can track him in the air."

"Pyatt, I need you on the lookout."

Andorra followed Clini and Callum towards Vulara's shop, her mind occupied with thoughts of wings. Of Ero's wings, specifically. The only other wings she had seen in Anlithamy had been the previous Royal Council.

"On what?" Pyatt responded, voice sleepy.

"A fae in the air. He has wings. Track him, make sure he goes to the castle. And if he doesn't, let me know."

"On it." Pyatt's voice now was more alert. Andorra hurried to keep up with the pace at which Callum was stomping. His shadows didn't leave his wake, but rather trailed him, sweeping down the cobbles.

"So, nothing about wings?"

Callum shot her a look. "Not in a long time. Our ancestors used to have them. Some fae still carry the gene. But for most of us, no, we don't have them."

Clini gave her a sad sort of smile. "Would be cool though, if we had them."

"And what about Ero? Spring fae? He seemed to dislike me."

Clini shook his head. "I don't think he's Spring. If he is... I don't know from where."

"You have enemies everywhere, Andorra. He could be from any court. Now c'mon, here's Vulara's shop."

Andorra hefted open the heavy door, her mind twisting around the idea that Ero had wings and could be from anywhere. She settled with the thought that later, when they spoke, she could ask him. Hope he had an honest answer for her.

"If you're in my shop, it better be for a good reason!" she heard Vulara grumble from out of sight. He wasn't behind his counter. He sounded every bit annoyed and hateful, and Andorra didn't miss the way Clini seemed to cower just a little bit.

"It's me," Andorra called back. She pressed her hands to the counter, peering over the ledge, as if Vulara was hiding behind it. But then she heard him ascend the basement stairs, his face weary as he took in the sight of her.

"We don't have training today," he grunted as his welcome. He eyed Clini and Callum. "You brought a new friend."

"I need a favor."

Vulara's eyes narrowed as he approached the counter. He didn't take his eyes off of Clini. "If you are here to have me also train the weak Spring Princeling, then you're mistaken in asking me."

Clini took a half step back. Even Andorra could hear his heart rate double.

"No. I need you to go to the Rattislon."

Vulara barked out a laugh. "No."

"Yes. Please. We need insight on a curse in Anlithamy. And you have sway with him. C'mon, Vulara."

"No."

"You'd be saving me a trip into the Spring Court. And you'd be helping out the Queen."

"Not my Queen, though." Vulara slid his eyes back to Andorra, a challenge rising in them.

"No, not your Queen. You'd be helping out your friend."

Vulara crossed his arms. His eyes slid back to Clini. "Isn't it enough I train you? Now you're having me run your errands, having me act like one of your Royal Council members? Send one of them."

Andorra cleared her throat. "I am. Clini would be going with you."

Vulara pulled out a sword from under the counter. Ran his hand along the flat edge. "You'd send Princess Eolande's son with me?"

"Please? What if I said I'd give you a week off from training me. A mini vacation."

"No. You need the training. Anlithamy will still eat you alive." He looked back at Andorra, giving Clini a moment of peace. "Fine. For you, I will do this. As a friend." He spit out the word as if it disgusted him. "Me, a friend of a fae. Disgusting, revolting-"

"Alright, alright. Just say you love me and get over it." Andorra couldn't help her grin. A warm glow filled the shop, chasing Callum's shadows away. "When do you want to leave?"

"We will make the trip tomorrow. Spring Princeling will be here on my shop step at dawn. Understand?"

"He'll be here!" Andorra chirped pleasantly. She grinned at Clini. "Now let's go see what the deal was with that Ero guy."

"Your fae is landing at the castle. Your white haired guard is approaching him." Pyatt rumbled in her thoughts, taking her off guard for only a moment. If Oberon was greeting him, then things would be okay.