"WHAT WAS her problem?" Callum seethed the moment they were in the in-between. He had his hands fisted in his hair as he spun wildly to Andorra. "I know I warned you, but I didn't expect her to be quite so-"

"It's okay," Andorra said softly. She put a hand on Callum's arm, peering into his pissed gaze. The shadows under his skin pressed to the surface, begging to be released. "I don't take it personally. She's just worried about Anlithamy. I mean, I get it. A new, young Queen travels to Averotho and brings back word of war. I'd be pissed, too."

"The word you're looking for is bitch. She was being a fucking bitch." Nohx interrupted. He rubbed at his own temples. "But I didn't mean to flip like that. I know you can handle your own shit, Andy, but she just... fuck."

"Bitch." Callum tested out the word. "Humans do have such colorful language."

Andorra shrugged, turning back to Nohx and threading her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. "I'm glad you froze her. She deserved it. And I don't hate it when you're all protective like that." Andorra peeked up at him with a little grin.

"Okay, okay. Enough with the mushy love. We still have the Blooming Clan, and then we'll see Eolande. We're not out of the weeds just yet." Callum shook out his hands, letting shadows drop from his fingers like globs of liquid. "Good news is that the Clan Leader of the Blooming Clan is not as much of a... bitch. She's actually pretty decent. Normal, even."

Andorra let go of Nohx. "Do you think she'll go for it?"

"I think Lolma will be open to listening to you. She's level headed. Doesn't put on a show like Crille does. But, I do have to warn you, I know her daughter. There is bad blood there, and again, it may impact this visit. I understand if you want me to stay behind because of it."

Andorra waved that suggestion away. "You? Wanting to stay back? I never thought I'd hear that from you. Are you feeling alright, Callum?"

Callum shot her a dark look. "I'm trying to be helpful."

"Of course you're coming with us. That's not up for debate. If your brooding nasty personality hasn't gotten in the way before today, then it won't when we meet with Lolma. No offense, but everyone knows who you are and are taken aback by it wherever we go."

Andorra pictured Pyatt and Viir in her mind, creating the gate to them and stepping out into the refreshing spring air. Pyatt chirped as soon as he saw Andorra. "How did it go?" he asked eagerly. His eyes wandered up and down Andorra's body, checking for injuries.

"Not great. She wasn't very happy with me. Nohx froze the entire inside of the house."

Pyatt looked over at Nohx and gave another chirp. Then, Pyatt lowered his wing to let the two of them step on.

Callum was staring at Viir. "I should've competed in Cadmus. Would've made this so much easier."

"You would've been absolutely horrendous in Cadmus. Mad at everyone. I bet you'd be a cheater, too." Andorra's voice was teasing, and Callum knew this. Still, he flipped her off as he slid onto Viir's back, refusing to look at her as he did so.

Nohx wrapped his arms around Andorra's back, pulling her into the cradle of his body. He pressed a kiss right behind her ear. "Don't worry about Crille. I have a feeling she'll be there when Kaeberon shows up. She's very prideful."

Andorra managed a stiff nod as Pyatt shot into the sky. She leaned with her firebird, her mind teasing apart every word she had said to Crille. She could have handled it better. Her stomach twisted, and she wished she could redo it. Word things differently. Brooch the topic in a way that would be easier to swallow.

"She's an adult. You don't have to share news of war in bite sized chunks for her. She's been alive longer than most." Pyatt was firm in her head, unrelenting in his tone. And, he was right. Why did Andorra have to water things down for century old fae who had been living and ruling longer than every single human alive?

They were acting childish on purpose. It burned as Andorra swallowed the realization.

"I'm more worried about Eolande," Andorra said back to Nohx, leaning into his strong, cold chest. "I don't think she'll ever like me."

"I don't believe that for a moment. You are very likable." Nohx pressed a kiss to her neck soothingly. "But, if she doesn't ever like you, then fuck her. She's part of the problem. Even she should have been able to realize putting Anders on the throne would have been foolish. Idiotic. Against everything Anlithamy stands for."

Andorra nodded, tucking herself closer to him. She loved to let Nohx ease her worries away with his calm, earnest voice. She could fall asleep listening to him whisper in her ear. She reached down to squeeze his hand.

She watched the fields of flowers under them stretch on for miles. It was so gorgeous, watching the different colors fly past them. She could fly on Pyatt for hours in every single court and never get bored of the scenery changes. The Royal Court in comparison was so... boring.

By the time they touched down in the Blooming Clan, Andorra's stomach had tied itself into knots. She tried to shake it off, pressing a hand to her chest to monitor how fast her heart beat in her chest. Nohx was back to his normal self, his mask in place as he observed the house in front of them. A quaint little farm house with a wrap around porch and vines crawling on every surface. There were picturesque rocking chairs moving in the breeze, and a jug of lavender tea sat on the porch banister.

Callum hung back, his mind replaying every moment he had stood in that very spot beforehand with Anders. With Jezebel. Lolma had always been the woman who caught them picking wildflowers and disturbing the fields. She had always been firm, disappointed, and then would serve them supper before sending them home.

When the door opened, his chest felt uncomfortable at the sight of the girl who stood there. A friend of Jezebel's who, when forced to stay home instead of go to Hornwell, was cast out of their friend group.

Friend group. What a sad depiction of his circle of acquaintances. Callum could hardly believe he'd ever thought that Anders was his best friend.

The girl, Ashlynn, blinked at the group. Her purple eyes got caught on Callum, and her mouth twisted down into a frown, her grip on the door frame tightening. "Why are you here?" There was a nasty, betrayed undercurrent in her voice.

Andorra stepped up. "Hi. I'm here to speak with Lolma. Is she in?"

Ashlynn's eyes flickered down to the Queen. "She's here. But you won't be invited in. Not if Callum is with you."

Andorra looked back at Callum, trying to understand the tight expression he wore. "Ah. Well, he's my guard dog, but if you're alright with me tying him outside so he doesn't run away, we should be all good."

Ashlynn blinked back at Andorra, her expression baffled. Confused. All words stolen out from under her like a rug. She opened her mouth a few times.

"Guard... dog?"

"My guard. Pledged to me and everything. He's just here to make sure I don't die." Andorra gave a pleased smile. "You should have heard how pissed he was when his father chained him to me as punishment."

Callum shot her a glare. "Hey-"

"Puck did this?"

"Originally, yes. But I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I relinquished him, and he begged me to be my guard again." Andorra rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Men, am I right?"

Ashlynn let out a little giggle, and then covered her mouth like she was surprised it had come out of her mouth. She smothered it as she looked over to Nohx. "And the Snow Clan Leader?"

Andorra's mouth melted into a warm grin. "He's here as my fiance. He's not a danger to anyone or anything, except maybe my heart."

"Your soulmate?" Ashlynn's eyes bounced between Andorra and Nohx. "I didn't realize-"

Andorra shook her head. "Not quite. We weren't connected at the Festival of Stars, but we don't care. I'm in love with him, and that's enough for me. Now, I was serious, do you want me to chain Callum up out here? Keep him out of trouble?"

Ashlynn let out another little laugh, biting her lip bashfully to keep from tipping her head back and letting it free. "If Callum promises to behave himself, then he can come in I guess. But Callum? Mom isn't so happy with you either. Not after the stunt you pulled."

"Ash, that was years ago-"

Ashlynn turned her back on him and opened the door wider. "Welcome to my home, Queen Andorra."

Andorra found herself liking Ashlynn, a little too much. She nodded as she stepped across the threshold and into the house. She would have to apologize to Callum later for talking about him as if he were some pet, but she needed an in.

The three of them sat down on a couch in the sitting room. Ashlynn had left to gather her mother, and Andorra shared a private look with Callum. A, I didn't hurt your feelings, right? kind of look. Callum just rolled his eyes.

Lolma and Ashlynn looked very similar. They both had purple eyes, both had dark skin, both had vines for hair. Lolma sat down across from Andorra, her face soft but serious. She didn't bother looking at Callum.

"Queen Andorra. It is nice to see you. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Andorra tried not to fidget under Lolma's steady gaze. "Unfortunately, there is nothing pleasurable about the news I am about to share. King Kaeberon plans to bring war to our shores, and I am meeting with each Clan Leader to try and garner support when he arrives. Without it, I fear Anlithamy will fall."

Lolma nodded easily, like this was something she had considered before. "King Kaeberon is a very powerful man. He has been toying with the idea of coming here for many centuries. I heard you visited him recently."

Andorra found herself nodding. "I did, to try and get ahead of the war. He gave me a choice that I could not agree with for the safety of our people, and so war was inevitable. But, when Kaeberon arrives, I want us to be a solid front. A formidable enemy that absolutely will not let him steal the powers of our individual people. I fear that once he takes, he will murder."

Lolma didn't look away from Andorra. She digested the words carefully. "Have you met with Crille and Lau?"

"I have."

"And? What did they say?"

Andorra shifted, only slightly. "Lau agreed to support us. Crille did not give an answer. I will be speaking with Eolande next." There was no reason to lie or be secretive, not when it would just come back to bite Andorra later if Lolma found out the truth.

"I am not surprised by that." She looked over her shoulder at Ashlynn. "What do you figure the numbers would be?"

Ashlynn blinked, her eyes dazed for a brief moment. It was interesting to watch as Ashlynn either filtered through information, or tried to recall it. "We would have enough people to send. There are about two hundred of our guard, ready."

Lolma smiled at her daughter, and then at Andorra. "Ashlynn is my General. She oversees the Blooming Clan guard, and we're hoping one day, she'll oversee the entire Spring Court Guard. But, enough of that. If we send two hundred, where would you have them?"

Andorra sat up straighter. "Depending where Kaeberon hits, probably closer to the Summer Court. There are more plants there for you to manipulate with your powers. The Royal Court coast is incredibly rocky, and better suited for Winter Court."

Lolma thought this over. Then, for the first time, her eyes met Callum's. "What is your father doing?"

Callum blinked in surprise. "I don't know. I do not speak with my father as freely, not since I've become Andorra's guard."

"So, you're not his puppet anymore." A comment, not a question.

Callum bristled, his hands fisting against the couch. "Excuse me? Watch what you say-"

Lolma turned to Nohx. "Ah, Callum isn't Puck's puppet anymore because you are. The Snow Clan Leader. I've heard a lot about you, Sir Nohx. Your reputation precedes you."

Andorra felt the temperature in the room plummet about ten degrees. A shiver ran down her spine and across her skin, goosebumps raising in wake. She placed a hand on Nohx's arm subtly. Then, she turned to Lolma. "Nohx is not Puck's puppet. Just as you meet with Eolande to discuss Spring Court matters, Nohx meets with Puck to discuss matters as well. But, I can answer your question. Puck will be delivering his guard to aid at our shores. We have already discussed this matter."

Lolma noticed Andorra's hand on Nohx's arm. "You brought the Snow Clan over. And you are close with Sir Nohx, correct?"

Andorra lifted her chin, just a little. "Nohx is my fiance."

Those words were enough to make Lolma stand. Where she had been nothing but welcoming and level headed before, now she was furious. Her finger pointed to the door. "I want them out. Both Winter Fae need to leave this house immediately."

Andorra's mouth flopped open in surprise, perhaps shock. She stood on slightly shaky legs. "They're not here as a weapon, or to manipulate you. I asked them to be here. Callum because he's my guard, and Nohx because I wanted his support-"

"I want them out, Queen Andorra. And once they are out, then you and I will talk." There was quiet fury in her voice, body shaking with it almost. Andorra looked to Nohx and Callum, ready to fight for their place in the room, but Nohx placed a hand on her lower back and his mouth met her ear.

"We'll be outside."

"Wait-"

Nohx gave a wave and moved towards the door easily. Callum, however, stuck his ground. "Whatever vendetta you have against me Lolma, do not take out on Andorra. I am just her guard. This is not Royal politics at play here. I'm not making a statement by being here."

Lolma shook her head and crossed her arms. "I said out, Callum. You know my rules."

Callum's mouth twisted, the darkness of his shadows slipping past his fingers. Before he could explode, Andorra nudged him towards the door. "I'll be fine."

Fire flashed in his eyes as Callum stomped out of the room, darkness staining the floor wherever he moved. When the door slammed closed behind him, Lolma let out a long, slow breath. Then, she resumed sitting in her chair and gestured for Andorra to do the same.

With no clear choice, Andorra sat. Lolma already said she would send the guard, so Andorra wasn't quite sure what this was. She felt her throat tighten, but remembered that Vulara had trained her. She could have this house burning down in five seconds flat if anyone tried to touch her.

Lolma's voice was soft. "Are you alright?"

"Me?" Andorra's was incredulous.

"Yes. You are new to this world, new to the politics at play. It is no secret that the Winter Court is cunning and thieving, dangerous to anyone outside of their circle. They are a terrifying sort to be messed up with, and you have two of them trailing you. Three, if you count your other Guard from your Coronation."

Andorra wasn't sure what to say. She had never met the Clan Leaders for the Shadow and Night Clans, so she couldn't speak for them. Wouldn't speak for them. But Callum and Nohx? Puck? Oberon? She felt surprised.

"You're young and impressionable. Which is not to say I doubt your rule as Queen, but as a woman, I understand what it is like to be a playing piece on a game board." Lolma gave a sad smile that wilted at the edges. "I was one myself, many years ago. And it is hard to escape without help. My walls and doors are warded so that no one can hear us from outside. So I will ask again: Are you alright? Do you need help?"

Andorra shook her head, speechless. Shocked. Because Andorra knew what that felt like, too. And not once had she felt that way with Nohx, Callum, or Oberon. Not even with Prince Puck.

She looked Lolma in the eyes. "I am safe. I trust Nohx and Callum one hundred percent with my life. Back in the human realm, when given the choice between the Sun and Snow Clans, it was the Sun Clan who kidnapped me. Starved me. Forced me to make a choice against my will. But the Snow Clan never once forced my hand. Nohx had never forced me to choose his clan. And when I got here, Puck bound his son to me as a guard. Yes, I'm sure to act as a spy, and as a punishment to his children, but Callum is different. Not the same person he was when I first met him. And he has never, not once, pressured me into making any sort of political choices. Neither of them have. Not even Prince Puck, who I am sure has many opinions."

Lolma listened, nodding a little bit. Andorra could tell she didn't quite believe Andorra, or perhaps thought Andorra was being played as a fiddle without realizing it. She had to go a step further. "Believe it or not, it was actually Anders and the old Council that was forcing my hand. I found out that they planned on murdering me after the wedding and Coronation. They were using me as a game piece, while Nohx and Callum were planning how to rescue me behind the scenes. I am safe, Lolma. And if I wasn't, Desmond and Carling would have stepped forward already."

"You have to understand, the Winter Court is known for this sort of thing. Puck is known to be a tyrannical leader who is seeking revenge against Cornomous for not being chosen as King."

"Puck does not push his political opinions on me. He never has, not unless I ask."

This time, it was Ashlynn who spoke up. "Callum has been very nasty to me. Growing up in the same friend group as him, I have seen the way he acts. I do not believe a man like Callum can change. Not without an ulterior motive."

Andorra nodded. She had seen Callum with her own two eyes, all those months ago. Her time at Hornwell had felt like decades prior. "I think I would have agreed with you. He was nasty to me as well when we first met. And when his father bound him to me, Callum was very upset. But we've grown close. And when I let him go, when I freed him from being my guard, he made the decision to continue to be by my side. I trust Callum with my life."

Ashlynn didn't know how to nod. She just stared at Andorra with a crestfallen expression. Like she couldn't believe that version of Callum could exist.

"And the Snow Clan Leader? Are you positive he does not just wish to be King? Because that's what a coupling between you would make him. I'm surprised Callum didn't try it for himself, actually."

Andorra felt a swell of anger at her words. She had never quite realized just how hated Callum was. How hated the Winter Court was. But, if she was going to do this, if she was going to share her love for Nohx with the world, then this was what she had to be watchful for.

"Nohx is everything to me. I've been in love with him since before I came to Anlithamy. And he could have capitalized on that, but he didn't. He kept me at arms length for a very, very long time. I don't think he wants to be King. And I don't think he will be King for a long time. Not because I don't want him by my side, but because Nohx knows he has a duty to his people in the Snow Clan. Especially after his horrible father's rule. The Snow Clan deserves stability. And Callum has a soulmate he is very much in love with."

Lolma knotted her hands on her lap. "Love can be a dangerous thing, my Queen."

Andorra's eyes flicked to Ashlynn and back to Lolma. "If Nohx proves to be dangerous to me, I can handle myself. Vulara has been training me. I'm not weak."

"Vulara?" Ashlynn gasped.

"Ah, so that rumor was true, then." Lolma rubbed her hands together. "Well, Andorra, please understand where I am coming from. I wanted to make sure you were safe. And if anything changes, I will always be open to you. No matter how many years pass, or no matter how you feel, if anything changes, come to me. No woman deserves to be trapped and abused with no allies. No matter how much power you hold, strength comes in numbers. And I am happy to lend that strength to you."

Andorra blinked, tears suddenly in her eyes. This woman barely knew her, and yet she was offering this. This woman barely knew her, and yet she was sharing this piece of truth about her past with Andorra.

When Andorra stood, Lolma pulled her into a hug. In her ear, she whispered, "They were right about your human heart. It is refreshing to see it in person."

"I appreciate this. Really, I do." Andorra could barely get the words past the lump in her throat. Ashlynn walked her to the door, and before she opened it, she turned to Andorra. Her eyes were wide and questioning.

"About Callum. Is it true he doesn't speak with Jez anymore? Or any of them?"

"Well, he speaks with Eve, but Eve is on my council. But yes, he doesn't speak with Jezebel. And didn't speak with Anders, before his death. Callum cut them out of his life after he realized how they treated him was nothing like how friends should be treated."

Ashlynn watched her, the vines connected to her head twitching against her shoulders as if they were alive. They probably were. "Anders. Is it true you killed him?"

Andorra cleared her throat, uncomfortable. "Callum did. He wanted to, after everything Anders had put him through. And I let him."

Ashlynn nodded woodenly. Her eyes fell to the ground, fingers twisting against her skirts. "I hated Anders. I know, taboo for a Spring fae, but he was not a good person. I'm glad Callum got that justice."

"You can visit us any time at the Royal Castle. Whenever you wish. My home is always open to you, Ashlynn. And I'll make sure Callum behaves."

When Andorra opened the door, Callum was right there, waiting. He jumped to his feet, storming towards her, hands gripping her shoulders.

Ashlynn let out a yelp and a, "Mom!"

But Callum, when he leaned in Andorra's face, wasn't yelling at her. Or hurting her. "Are you okay? I did not want to leave you in there, unlike your boyfriend." He shot Nohx a nasty look over his shoulder. Nohx, who was standing with his hands in his pockets in a casual position at the foot of the stairs.

"I'm fine. You're too overprotective for your own good." Andorra said it with a grin. "Now, can we go before you give Ashlynn and Lolma more reason to trap me here forever where I'll be safe from Winter Court brutes like you."

Callum glared over Andorra's shoulder at Ashlynn and Lolma. "We're not brutes. Sorry you in the Spring Court can't-"

"Ah, ah, ah. Let's go before you put your foot in your mouth and make Lolma change her mind about sending the guard down to the shores on the day of the war." Andorra pulled Callum with her as she walked down the steps. Her grin melted into a sweet smile when Nohx made eye contact with her, his flat face twitching just slightly.

She turned back to wave over her shoulder at Ashlynn and Lolma. "I'll see you soon! Thank you again."

Turning back to Callum and Nohx, she let her shoulders drop. Let her chest fill with a long, deep breath. "Okay. Let's go warm up for this boss fight we're about to have with Eolande. Does anyone need to get out their anger first?" She shot a pointed look at Callum, who flipped her off again.

She wasn't sure she was ready. This, however, didn't matter. Winning over Eolande had to be done, and it had to be done now.