The palace shimmered in the midday sun. Five full minutes of staring, and I still wasn't certain it wasn't an illusion created by magic or even a figment of my imagination created by desperation. Nearly everything that had happened after being separated from Calix and Lorcan was a blur. Only the chill in my bones, so deep even the scorching summer sun could not erase it and the odd memory of a strange light lingered as I made my way back to the palace.

How I chose the right path, I couldn't be certain, but I was certain the path was right. I didn't encounter another soul in the woods or on the road—not even one of the many magical beasts I'd spied from my bedroom window. But as my legs gave out, sending me to the stones in a shivering heap, I glimpsed a blue hawk circling overhead.

"Niamh," I mumbled, hissing as the sun heated stones burned my exposed flesh. My dress was little more than a stained rag barely covering the important bits and certainly no protection against the elements.

Niamh called out, and even in the wild shriek, I could hear an encouraging note. Almost as if the princess was at my side telling me to get up and keep going. Trembling, I tried to rise, palms stinging as I placed them flat on the ground and rolled to my knees. Standing wasn't an option, but maybe I could crawl.

Broken rock and pebbles wobbled as the ground shook. Was it thundering? I squinted and swayed. No, there were no clouds in the sky. Hooves. A horse was coming.

Covering my eyes, I looked down the path. Golden hair streaming behind him like a banner, the Fae King rode toward me, a determined expression plastered across his beautiful face.

But he didn't reach me first. Black mist whipped around me, each particle gliding over my fevered skin like a lover's caress before coalescing into the form of one very angry Fae Prince. Those beautiful starlight eyes were dark and flickering. Lightning strikes in a storm, growing with intensity with every step he took toward me.

"Are you hurt?" He rasped, dropping to a knee and cupping my face. A hiss slid through his clenched teeth. "You're burning up."

Lorcan swung down from his horse in a single fluid motion. He elbowed Calix out of the way, scooping me up and clutching me against his chest. I burrowed my face into him, for the warmth he put off as much as for comfort, only to jerk back when I remembered Calix's comment about the King sewing Druil blossoms into his clothing. Then again, a little lust might be helpful right now. Something to warm me from the inside out. I didn't know how I could be so cold while my skin burned.

Returning to his horse, Lorcan set me on the saddle, pulled himself up behind me, and tucked me between his thighs before urging the great white beast to move. Calix stood slowly, clenched fists against at his side and his gaze locked on my face. Above us, Niamh called out again. She flew ahead, her great wings spreading wide enough to cast a shadow across us. When I looked back at where Calix had been, he was gone.

I barely registered the rest of the ride or being carried to my room. It had been stubborn strength that carried me to safety this morning, and I had none of it left now that I had made it back.

Lorcan murmured foreign words to me while pushing sweaty hair from my face and flipping my pillow to the cold side. He only moved away to allow Niamh to pour a foul concoction down my throat. It was too thick and sour, but with every swallow, the fog receded from my brain, and the aches in my body lessened.

At some point, I must have dozed off. Opening my eyes, the bright light of morning had shifted to evening gold, and my entire bedchamber was aglow. Lorcan sat in a bedside chair, his face hidden in his hands.

I watched him for several seconds, so many emotions swirling through me as I appraised him. There must truly be magic at play. Otherwise, how could I feel so much for someone I'd only met two days ago?

A noise drew my attention to the window. Calix sat on the ledge, his back against the wall and one knee hugged against his chest. Shadows covered his face, but I could feel the weight of his gaze. I wanted to shout at him. To blame him for what happened. But he wasn't to blame. He'd only spoken a truth I hadn't wanted to hear. And possibly, I wanted to hate him because I very much didn't hate how my body responded to his touch.

"You're awake." Lorcan took my hands in his and pressed his mouth against my knuckles. "Thank the Ancient Ones. Niamh and the healers told us there was nothing else they could do."

I wrinkled my nose and withdrew my hands slowly, hoping he wouldn't take notice and take offense. From the crease in his brow, he noticed. Calix remained as he had been—still and silent.

"I don't understand how I got so sick." My voice was rough and low. "I've been caught in a thunderstorm before. Of course, I've never been in rain that cold before for so long. It was practically a winter storm. Not what I would expect in the Summer Court."

"Cold?" Boots thudded on the stone floors and Calix came around to the other side of the bed. His black hair fell into his eyes. "Was there ice?"

It was difficult to remember much of anything after I was separated from the brothers. But... "I think so. It kept getting colder and colder."

Still frowning at the space where our hands were no longer joined, Lorcan added, "Do you think it was the magic you sensed last night? You said you felt Winter magic."

A muscle in Calix's jaw ticked. "It would have to be, but we cannot do anything about it. Eira isn't an idiot. She won't attack directly on our lands again, but from this moment on, Luna should not leave the palace grounds. We were foolish to travel so close to the Middle Lands."

A dull pounding spread behind my eyes, but I ignored it. "The Middle Lands?"

Lorcan put his hand on my forehead and rubbed his thumb between my eyes. It eased the pain, so I didn't ask him to stop. His smile was gentle when he replied, "Neutral territory. It's where the Courts convene to discuss politics or celebrate. No one holds jurisdiction there, so if Queen Eira was behind the storm, she was within her rights to use her magic."

"Why did you run?" Calix demanded. There was nothing gentle in his expression.

"Calix," Lorcan said, his tone dark with warning. "She didn't run. She lost control of her mount. We saw Flower return riderless. Luna isn't at fault."

"Is that what happened, Luna?"

Calix folded his arms over his chest while I swallowed hard. He knew. The bastard knew I'd been in complete control when we bolted, and he was daring me to lie.

Chin lifted, I met his eyes without flinching. "The horse got away from me, and by the time she'd calmed, it was dark and storming."

Something a lot like disappointment skittered across his expression, but it was gone so quickly I thought it might have been a shadow. A sound between a sigh and a growl rumbled through him, and he scratched the dark stubble which had sprouted across his jaw.

"Where did you take cover last night?" Lorcan asked.

"I—" The light. Violet and flickering. It led me somewhere. "A temple, I think? There were statues, but it was covered. I'm afraid I don't remember much else. I think I was feverish by then."

Lorcan stiffened, and his thumb stopped moving. Now it was his turn to pull away, and his smile was strained. "I'm so glad you found a place to get out of the elements. You should rest now. We'll talk more about everything tomorrow."

He kissed my brow and left the room. Calix frowned but didn't follow. After a few seconds, he took the vacated chair.

"What are you doing?" I demanded when he propped his feet on the bed.

Eyes closed and lips turned up in a smirk, he replied, "Oh, Little Moon. You really think I'd let you out of my sight again?"