We stayed with Jimmy and the kids for a little while before Rondil indicated that we should return. It was hard to leave the kid there, watching us walk away with those haunted eyes. My heart ached for him and all of the humans in the camp. But at least we would be able to take them home soon.

As soon as we entered the general's pavilion, he lit into us as if we were a pair of unruly children.

"You just had to disobey me, didn't you?" General Whitesword slammed his fist on the table, making papers and pens jump into the air. Leihalani and Kesio, who were sitting nearby, jumped slightly in their chairs.

I flinched at his tone, but schooled my features into neutrality. "We did no such thing," I argued back, watching with a sliver of satisfaction as a tic jumped above the general's right eye. "We didn't ask Jimmy or any of the other kids any questions—just as you requested. We simply sat with him while Lieutenant Cal—Cal-something-or-other—interviewed him." Damn elves and their tongue-twisting names.

"You can ask him yourself," Rachael added, glaring.

"I will most certainly have words with Lieutenant Calphevistron," the general growled.

Rachael tossed her hair over one shoulder and put a hand on one hip. "I don't know why you're so upset with us," she shot back. "Do you like throwing your weight around?"

Jesus. "Rachael!" I exclaimed. You could argue with the man, but not hurl insults at him.

Not yet, anyway.

General Whitesword puffed up like a frog. "You insolent—Your Majesty." At once, the general snapped to attention, arms straight at his sides. He bowed, angling his upper body almost perpendicular to the ground.

Both Leihalani and Kesio scraped their chairs back, grass ripping as they jumped to their feet. "Mother," they breathed at the same time, one bowing, and the other curtsying in trousers.

Who ...? I looked around for the source of the commotion.

Rachael grabbed my upper arm. "Uh, Aly ... turn around."

I turned.

An elven woman strolled across the trampled grass, tiny wildflowers springing up in her wake. Golden motes of light trailed from the hem of her gown, which appeared to be made from green leaves and flower petals. Long chestnut hair fell in waves down to her back, pinned up and augmented by silver chains and gemstones. A slim diadem made of twisted oak branches perched atop her mass of thick hair. Behind her were four Tsolas and a small contingent of soldiers all in white and green armor with a green-gold sash slashing across their chests.

"General Whitesword," the woman said, her voice soft and yet commanding. A butterfly lifted off her dress and fluttered away. "What is all this shouting about? We could hear you all the way down the lane."

I stole a quick glance at the general. A bright red flush peeped out beneath the collar of his jacket. "Your Majesty," he repeated, slowly standing upright. "I have been charged with keeping order in this camp and these human shapeshifters have continuously disobeyed my instructions. I beg your leave to send them back to through the Gate immediately."

"These women?" the queen inquired, lifting a graceful hand towards us. "By your own admission, General, they were instrumental in finding the destructive crystals and the hidden humans."

The general's jaw muscles clenched so hard, I was waiting for his teeth to snap. The queen nodded. "So I thought," she murmured. "Now, as for you ..."

I stiffened as the Summer Queen floated towards us, bees and little hummingbirds appearing out of hidden folds in her skirts to dance around her head. She stopped a few feet in front of Rachael and I; tilting her head slightly, she peered down at us curiously. I was of average height and Rachael slightly taller, but the Summer Queen had to be at least five-foot-ten. Her face was not severely angular, but there was enough alienness in her features to remind me that I was not dealing with another human woman. Her eyes were bright green—grass green, almost—and despite the youth of her face, hammered home how old she actually was.

"Your Majesty," I whispered. Not knowing what else to do, I awkwardly curtseyed in trousers. Rachael bobbed and swayed next to me. I grabbed her by the elbow to keep her from falling over.

"I trust that you found the boy?" She tilted her head to the other side, bright green eyes never leaving my face. A ladybug crawled to the top of her diadem, spread its wings and fluttered off.

"Yes, Your Majesty." I struggled to keep eye contact. I, who had never truly been unnerved by anyone in my life, felt insignificant before this powerful woman.

She smiled, then glanced over at the general. "Tell me truthfully, is General Whitesword correct in his assessments of you?"

I swallowed. "I don't believe so, Your Majesty."

"Yeah," Rachael echoed. "He got upset at us for no reason."

The Summer Queen lifted her chin slightly. "Hm. I see." She reached out and fiddled with a bracelet on one wrist. "General. Please gather your materials and meet me in the farmhouse. I wish to speak with you privately about this matter."

Without waiting for his reply, she strolled off, trailed by her long gown and contingent of guards. "And you, too, Kesio," she called over her shoulder, sending a trio of songbirds soaring into the air.

The general whirled around and made several sharp gestures. His attaché furiously bent down to gather up all the testimonies from the captured humans, stuffing them into his arms. Glaring at us, he stalked off towards the farmhouse. Kesio turned stiffly, straightened his waistcoat, and followed.

When the queen, general, and prince were out of sight, Rachael turned to Leihalani and said, "Are you sure that's your mother?"

The princess flashed my cousin a smile. "Indeed she is." She dropped back down into her chair and slung booted feet atop the now-bare table.

"She doesn't look any older than you."

"We enjoy an extended youthful period," Leihalani replied, twisting a curl of her own chestnut hair around one finger.

Rachael took the princess sitting down as a sign that it was okay for her to do so, too. "And all those bugs and birds?"

Leihalani chuckled. "Illusions, I assure you. As much as her detractors would wish to believe, butterflies do not fly out of my mother's posterior."

I smiled. Since no one was protesting Rachael sitting down, I did so as well. Folding my arms, I leaned back in the chair. "Will your brother do that, too?"

"What? Shoot birds and bees out of his ass when he is king?" Leihalani laughed out loud, a hearty sound.

Rachael snorted, covering her mouth with one hand. Even I had to chuckle at the image that produced.

"No." Leihalani's expression turned thoughtful, introspective. "Each Summer Monarch has their own ... flair, if you will. Although I am certain Kes's will be spectacular." She rubbed at her temple. "If he's not killed by yet another unhappy noble father."

"Mm. We saw the tsaebach's daughter earlier."

Leihalani lifted a feathery brow. "Did you now? Well, she bounced back quicker than most."

I glanced back at the farmhouse, then around the camp. With the general currently occupied, there really was nothing for us to do but wait. "Does he do that often? Break hearts, I mean."

The Summer princess fixed her silvery eyes on me; a small warning bell sounded off in my head. Had I overstepped some sort of boundary? I understood that she was royalty, but Leihalani had never affected any sort of airs with us before.

Unlike her brother.

Then Leihalani chuckled, a wry sound. "All the time." She turned to look at the farmhouse, then back at me. "Don't set your heart on him, Alina," she warned with deadly seriousness.

Oh, my God.

"What?" I exclaimed, cheeks burning. "I—no, no," I vehemently denied, violently gesturing with both hands. "I'm not the sort of girl a man like your brother would be interested in, anyway." Definitely not reed-thin or cut from polished stone, that was for certain.

And besides, while he was handsome, I had no interest in a heart breaking, mercurial prince. No amount of good looks or charm could convince me otherwise.

Leihalani tilted her head, exactly like her mother. "Indeed? There is a sort of beauty in plainness, if that is what you're inferring."

Well, she didn't have to be so blunt about it, but okay ...

The princess shrugged. "Anyway, I'd be happy to find you a man for a night or two. One of the Tsolas, perhaps?"

Rachael threw her head back and laughed at my horrified expression. "No! No!" I hissed, clapping hands to my flaming face. Oh, God, was this my punishment for prying into royal family affairs?

Leihalani sighed and continued to twirl her hair around a finger. "Fine, fine. You humans are such prudes when it comes to sexual matters."

"Are you sure about that?" Rachael inquired with a little smirk.

I cut my eyes to Rachael. Where the hell was she going with a line like that?

Leihalani rested her chin on the palm of her hand. "Yes. I've been studying you for twenty years; I know very well your repressive attitudes."

"Can we please talk about something else?" I pleaded, wanting to slide beneath the table.

She sighed, a small smile on her lips. "Very well. What shall it be, then?"

The Summer Queen emerged a few hours later, trailed by her guards and Tsolas. Rachael and Leihalani spent the time discussing pop culture while I watched the comings and goings of the soldiers. Occasionally, I'd offer a clarification or difference of opinion on whatever the two of them were discussing, but for the most part, I stayed silent. Every now and then, someone would run up to the farmhouse with a handful of papers and immediately leave.

Not wishing to incur any ire from the Summer Queen, I quickly got to my feet when she approached. I was pretty certain that my curtsey was a lot better than the first time around.

"Well," the queen said, folding her hands gracefully at her middle, "I have some good news for you humans."

"Yes, Your Majesty?" I prompted.

"I have instructed General Whitesword to release the children into your custody in two days' time."

Rachael loosed an excited squeal and jumped into the air. "Oops," she muttered, flushing. "Sorry."

The Summer Queen smiled, sending bees and butterflies to ring around her diadem.

Just the children? "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but what about the teenagers and adults?" I asked. How could we return with only a third of the victims?

"We require more time to gather all of the evidence."

Exasperation surged in my chest and I struggled to beat it back down. I couldn't be flippant with a queen as I had been with a general. So, I tried another tactic: "I fear a lot of them are too traumatized to be of any help, Your Majesty."

There was a tightness in the Summer Queen's eyes, then it was gone. I took an involuntary half-step backwards. God only knew what powers she possessed if her daughter was any example.

"Their trauma has been noted, Lady Alina. We have no intention of holding them for any longer than necessary." She paused and turned slightly to face the pavilions. "If it turns out that they truly cannot give us the information that we seek, we will release them."

I sighed. I supposed it was better than keeping them here indefinitely until they coughed up whatever information the elves sought.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty," Rachael said, raising her hand.

"Yes?" The Summer Queen tilted her head slightly.

"Couldn't we take the ones who did complete their testimonies? Why should they remain here?"

The kid was good, I realized. She kept thinking of things that had otherwise slipped my mind.

"I mean, that makes fewer mouths to feed, don't you agree?" Rachael continued when the queen didn't reply. "I'm sure your soldiers have better things to do."

The Summer Queen studied us silently. Then, like the sun emerging from behind rain clouds, the elven royal smiled. "You are a very clever young woman," she said, shaking a long, graceful finger in my cousin's direction.

Rachael practically radiated pride.

"Very well. I agree. There is no need for those who have completed their testimonies to remain here." Turning slightly, the queen crooked a finger at one of the soldiers standing at attention behind her. A broad-shouldered man stepped up to her side. "Please inform General Whitesword that all who have completed their testimonies will return with the lady shapeshifters and the children."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Bowing, the man pivoted and strolled back to the farmhouse.

The queen folded her hands. "Now that that is settled, I will bid you ladies farewell."

There was an awkward pause where Rachael and I looked at each other stupidly. Were we missing something? Out of the corner of my eye, Leihalani made a bowing gesture with one hand.

Oh, lord. Immediately, Rachael and I bobbed. "Your Majesty," we chorused, definitely not in unison.

The Summer Queen's lips twitched with amusement as we struggled to comply with royal protocol. "Leiha," she called to her daughter. "I would like you to return home with me."

Leihalani raised an eyebrow. "What? No, Mama, I have to stay."

The Summer Queen's smile slipped into a neat frown. "This is your brother's responsibility, Leiha. He knows that."

"Does he?"

"Leiha ..." The Summer Queen's frown deepened and a half-dozen hornets buzzed out from the folds of her gown. Despite being told that they were illusionary, I took a step back, dragging Rachael with me.

"I made them a promise, Mama. I will see them and the children back to the Gate."

Her mother sighed and lifted a hand to rearrange a curl of chestnut hair behind one pointed ear. "Fine." She looked back at the farmhouse. "If only your brother had half of your honor and determination ..." She trailed off, eyes widening imperceptibly, as if she'd forgotten that she had an audience. A human one at that. "Good traveling, ladies," she said to us. "Please impart unto these children's parents my deepest sympathies."

"We will, Your Majesty," I said, wobbling into another curtsy.

The Summer Queen reached out and touched her daughter's cheek, then glided down the trampled grass back towards the farmhouse gate.