Lorcan's idea of fun turned out to be horseback riding, and while I wasn't disappointed, I couldn't help but wonder what fun would've looked like without his brother tagging along. I suspected riding might still have been involved. I also suspected last night's reluctance—the little piece of me that told me good girls don't sleep strange men just because they're beautiful—was long gone, despite this morning's conversation with Niamh.

Surely, there were ways we could go about it carefully and without consequence? In a land where everything was practically magic, birth control had to be a thing, right? Dear lord, I hoped so because I'd concluded that if this was my one shot to live out the fantasies in my books, then I was going to make it worthwhile. Now I just had to convince Lorcan I was acting on my own volition, not because of some spell.

"Why is your face so red?"

I turned to find Lorcan had ridden ahead, his white stallion's tail so long it dragged through the tall, slender grass growing over the path. The urge to ignore Calix and catch up to the king was strong, but something told me the jerk would follow out of spite.

"Aren't you supposed to be guarding me?"

"I am."

"No, you're looking at me and commenting on the color of my face. If there is a threat to my person, it will be out in the forest. I'm not a threat to myself."

He mumbled something that suspiciously sounded like, "I beg to disagree."

"My face is likely red because it's hot as hell out here."

Yesterday's pleasant temperatures were a distant dream because today felt precisely how I expected the Summer Court to feel. Like a sauna. And the dress that had felt so revealing this morning was a godsend. Not only was it light, but the slits in my skirt and lack of sleeves kept me as cool as I could get without being naked.

"There it goes again. Such a delightful pink color in your cheeks." Calix leaned back in his saddle, his grip loose on the reins. He looked so natural atop his appropriately midnight colored stallion. Almost as if they were one. "That's the flush of a woman thinking very dirty thoughts."

I spluttered. "Excuse me."

"Perhaps." he straightened and peered through the woods, his starlight eyes twinkling when they rested on something too distant for me to see clearly. "Ah, yes. Maybe the Druil blossoms are stirring the lust in your blood. Clever of my brother to bring you through here. I would do the same—that is, if I ever struggled with wooing women to my bed."

"What is it with this Court and those blasted trees? Does everyone enjoy going about being horny all the time?"

My outburst caught the prince off guard. For one second, his full lips were parted in shock, and then he laughed. Using his knees, he inched his mount closer to mine and whispered, "First thing you should know about the Fae. Fucking is as essential to our wellbeing as eating. So with or without Druil blossoms, we're always aroused and waiting for something to strike our fancy."

He lowered his gaze to my completely exposed leg. The teasing light in his eye shifted to something darker. More feral. And instead of fear, lust shot through me, driving my hips unconsciously forward in my saddle. The Druil blossoms were responsible for this feeling. They had to be.

"And what's the second thing?" I rasped, wetting my bottom lip with my tongue as Calix, without shame, rubbed the heel of his hand over the obvious erection between his thighs.

"The second thing..."

He put a hand on my thigh. The same one that had just rubbed his cock. It wandered beneath my dress, where I had little doubt he could feel the moist heat. His fingers were so close... Nearly where I needed them, but—

"Stop," I croaked, moving my mare so I was out of his reach. I searched ahead for Lorcan, only to find he was nearly out of my line of vision. "We'll just chalk this up to being near the flowers."

Calix's eyes were unfocused, his pupils dilated. Then he shook his head and looked at me. "That's the second thing. Those born in Faerie can't smell the blossoms. We have to eat them to be affected."

That's right. Niamh had mentioned that... well, at least she'd mentioned the second part. I didn't realize the Fae couldn't smell the flowers at all.

"Makes them the perfect tool for a Fae who wants to seduce a human. Especially since we can no longer use glamours."

"No. You're wrong. Lorcan wouldn't do that."

The prince snorted. "You're an expert on my brother after one night? I've known him for over three centuries."

"Then why didn't he take me last night?" I hissed, once more moving toward Calix like a magnet drawn to metal. Emotion ballooned in my chest, sharpening my tongue and giving me access to the recklessness I'd tried to bury so long ago. "He could have had me. I was naked. In my bath with my hands between my thighs, but he walked away because he didn't want to pressure me."

"Is that what he told you?" Calix snarled and glared up the path. "Did you ever wonder why you were so wet and willing? I'm sure they filled the bath with flowers. Did you check each blossom?"

"Are you sure you're not jealous?" I snapped back, hating how I immediately knew he was right but not wanting to give in. Because it turned out, I was spiteful too.

"I'm not jealous," he spit out, gripping me by my chin. "Because I know what tricks my brother is playing. You don't actually want him."

"Of course I do. He's charming."

Calix tugged my bottom lip down with his thumb. "My brother thinks clever words please a lady, but I find they far prefer a different application for the tongue. That's why I don't drug my women, and he does."

I jerked back, pulling too hard on the reins and causing my horse to rear. Calix's smirk turned to panic, his hands reaching out to help, but years of training took over. I leaned forward and lifted the reins toward the horse's ears. The moment her front feet returned to the ground, I spurred her into a gallop so she couldn't rear again.

"Luna!" Calix roared as I bolted into the woods.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spied Lorcan turning around, his serene expression morphing to horror when he saw me. They must both think the poor human girl was being carried away by her runaway horse. Let them think that.

Because it wasn't true. Hands on the reins, wind in my hair, and earth flying beneath the horse's hooves, I felt in control for the first time since I woke up in this bizarre wonderland. I knew I couldn't escape them, but I would go as far as I could. Long enough to get space and clear my muddled mind.

And then the King and I were going to have a long talk.