Sweat dripped off my nose and splattered on the stone floors as I hunched over to catch my breath. Hours of hitting the punching bag left my knuckles bloodied and bruised, but the throbbing pain was only a faint echo compared to the anger tightening my chest. The anger that drove me to rise and resume beating the bag until I thought my bones my snap against the leather.

I hated this place. A sob broke loose and bubbled up, but I forced it back down, refusing to give Faerie anymore of my tears. In two more days, I would be home, and I would be happy.

And I knew that was a lie.

Lorcan had been right all along. There was nothing waiting for me back in the mortal realm. An apartment I didn't own, a job I didn't love, and books that couldn't offer me comfort any longer, not now that the veil of blissful ignorance had been lifted. The only person who might miss me was Jones, but as much as I loved my friend, I knew him well enough. He wouldn't mourn my loss for long.

Three quick jabs. Tap. Tap. Tap. The bag swung under the force. Blood soaked into the leather, darkening the brown to black.

Staying here wasn't an option. At least, not in the Summer Court. I could ask to join another, but I couldn't trust anyone else would be as invested in my safety as this court. Or, if they were, strings would be attached. Another male seeking my fertile human body. Another gilded prison.

I stepped back and rubbed the back of my hand over my forehead. If only I knew more about what would happen if I stayed here. Calix and Lorcan told me I would change. Might even get abilities. Were those abilities dependent upon me or the Court I joined? And could they be enough to allow me to be protect myself?

"Ugh," I shouted, shoving the bag away so hard it snapped the chain holding it onto the beam.

Grabbing my towel and water, I wandered deeper into the atrium and settled onto a bench between two Silk Willows trees. I'd discovered them after sparring with Calix one day and declared them my favorite tree in Faerie.

Similar to the Willow trees I grew up with, the trunks were sturdy and forked, turning to long supple branches that fell over like curtains beneath the weight of their leaves. But these leaves were nothing like the single strips of tender green. They were actual silk, like spider webs spun into leaves, and they sparkled in the sun.

I grimaced. I'd chosen this spot to rest because it was secluded. Sitting here now, all I could think about was how Calix shook the branches as I sat beneath them, making everything glitter, and when I picked a fallen leaf from the ground, he whispered in my ear that the most beautiful pieces of Faerie lingerie were made from the silk.

What an idiot I was. The Fae Prince had been a walking red flag from the moment I met him. Literally, since he'd struck me and knocked me unconscious. That was the first offense on a long list that included sexual harassment and cruel words. In my books, it was easy to forgive the hero for speaking so harshly because we always learned he did terrible things to push her away to himself or her.

Calix had no reason to do either of those things. I chose him because I trusted him. But also because I wanted him. Flower or no flower, my body yearned for his in a way that went beyond normal lust, and now that I'd had him, I couldn't imagine any other male touching me. He was right. He'd ruined me for all others.

And I hated him for that.

Plants rustled. I froze and sank into the foliage, unwilling to speak to anyone right now, least of all Calix, who was the only one who might suspect I would come to the Atrium.

When I heard Niamh's voice, I realized there was someone I wanted to speak to less than the prince. Since yesterday morning, she had spoken of nothing else but wedding dresses, and I didn't have the heart to tell her there would be no wedding.

"Why are you just now telling me this?" Niamh demanded. Through the sheer curtain of silk leaves, I could see her outline.

A taller Fae stepped forward. Arms crossed. He looked down at Niamh. Did she have a lover? A little thrill went through me at the thought, but it died the moment I heard Lorcan speak.

"I figured you guessed as much yesterday."

"I guessed it was you. It would be so much easier if it were you."

A low rumble. Was Lorcan growling?

"That was a risky move. What happened was a miracle."

"It doesn't matter. As long as she's willing..."

"What makes you think she will be?"

I wished I could get closer. Whatever Niamh said was too low for me to hear, but whatever it was, Lorcan didn't like it. He gave a short, bitter laugh.

"Haven't you figured her out yet, sister? Luna is not easily persuaded to do anything she doesn't want to do."

My mouth went dry. They were talking about me. But what had been risky and what had happened yesterday besides... I gasped, then cursed as the two Fae went motionless.

There was nowhere for me to run, and hiding wasn't an option. Even among all these flowers, I couldn't be sure they wouldn't be able to smell me.

"Luna?" Lorcan pushed back the branches, revealing me to them. His golden brows flattened over eyes brimming with displeasure. "What are you doing here? Are you injured?"

Injured? I looked at my hands. "Oh, I was sparring."

Niamh glanced around. "Alone? Or with Calix?"

If my suspicions weren't raised, I might have thought it a casual question. As it was, I could see the hungry curiosity twisting her pretty face as she waited for my answer.

"Alone. Calix has reverted to being an asshole again."

She directed her next words to Lorcan. "He won't be far if she's here."

"I guarantee he's very far from here. He told me he's counting down the days until I leave."

The Fae shared a look. Then Lorcan moved in and put his arm around my shoulders. His touch made my skin crawl, and I hated that Calix was right. That we couldn't call him out for drugging me without admitting what we'd done together, but it wouldn't matter in three days. I would be home, and Faerie would become a memory. Like one from a bad acid trip.

"Let's get you cleaned up and fed."

"I'm not hungry, but something for my hands would be nice."

"You've hardly eaten anything lately," Niamh fussed.

Calix delivered dinner to me last night and breakfast this morning. As soon as I picked up the tray of food, he vanished. Not that I minded since I cried in the bathtub for an hour afterwards last night while wondering if he wasn't running away because I was terrible in bed.

"Let her be," Lorcan said. He rubbed a strand of my hair between his fingers. "I think it's time to discuss preparations for our journey."

"Our journey? Home?"

Another look passed between the siblings. I wanted to slap their faces.

"About that. There's something I need to tell you, Luna, and it may change your mind about going home."