Cara turned to see a slender male staring at her with a crooked grin. His eyes were black as coal, teeth pointed to razor sharp edges. He wore simple garb, an oversized tunic and plain brown trousers.

The male took a step closer, nostrils flaring. "You smell divine. What are you?"

"I'm a halfling," she stated, pulling her arm free from the Fae before them as Kiran also pulled her away from him. "And I have no interest in Seelie folk."

"Ouch." Cara heard him take a step closer.

Kiran bared his teeth at the Fae, stepping toward him and swiftly positioning Cara between himself and the new male. "She said she wasn't interested."

The threat only made his grin wider. "An Unseelie coming into the Summer Court threatening our Fae? You're outnumbered here, Unseelie. I would tread carefully, if I were you. As for you, halfling, we'll meet again, I'm sure." He took another step closer, meeting Cara's eyes. "When we do, you may call me Puck." He winked before sauntering off.

Kiran stiffened at the name, watching the other male retreat with weary eyes. Cara touched his back lightly. "Looks like you just got yourself more time with me, princess," he growled quietly.

"Why?" Cara stepped around him to look at his face, but he wouldn't look at her, not when Puck was still in sight.

"Because that one is worse than Unseelie Fae."

"I thought you said Seelie were better than Unseelie."

"Most are. Puck is notorious for his trickery. And his interest in you is not a good sign."

"So when will you go to see your sister?"

"After you attempt to meet Oberon. If it's unsuccessful, then you're coming with me. If you manage to capture his attention, I will make sure he will protect you from influences before leaving you. Visiting Olga is important, but your safety is the priority."

Cara tried to ignore the burst of gratitude she felt, but it was too prominent. She had feared the minute Kiran would leave, leaving her alone in the Seelie Court. He still planned to leave, but he wanted to be sure she was safe first. Was it only because of the bargain they had struck? Surely, whether it was fulfilled or not, he would have a body at his disposal–her mother, or a baby. Why did it matter so much that she was safe?

The music grew louder in crescendo, reminding her where they were. Puck had disappeared somewhere and the nymphs still danced behind them, occasionally looking over at them to see if they had changed their minds.

"Well, princess. Shall we carry on?" Kiran asked, looking down at her with an odd smile, almost as if he were forcing it.

Cara wrung her hands together and pursed her lips. After a shuddering breath, she nodded. They walked between the odd parties of Fae. At first, Cara had thought they were picnicking or having tea, but a majority of them weren't so innocent. One they passed had a tiny faerie, no more than four inches tall, tied up in the middle of the blanket, limbs outstretched as they poked it with various objects, watching it squirm as it bled. Tiny teeth snapped at the bigger Fae, but the tethers kept it from being a real threat as the party laughed at it. Cara felt her stomach roll, but Kiran's hand on her elbow warned her not to intervene.

Another one was boiling frogs in two separate cauldrons, the Fae chatting amongst each other in a language Cara couldn't understand. When they walked past, one of them pulled up their lip at Kiran, who ignored them. The next picnic party was drinking something that smelled particularly foul. The scent roiled Cara's stomach and she had to fight back the bile rising up her throat. It reminded her of when she walked by a decaying deer carcass when she was younger.

"Stop looking at them," Kiran hissed, pulling her along faster.

"Are all Fae so... so... disgusting?" she asked, searching for the right word. Vile came to mind first but she didn't want to have anyone overhear and cause any unnecessary attention. Kiran being an Unseelie seemed to be enough.

"Welcome to the Seelie Court, where humans aren't as hated, but aren't exactly tolerated here either. Every race of Fae has their quirks, and some prefer the more grotesque things. Still, they enjoy the sun and warmth, and peace Oberon offers. Unseelie are unruly, often rambunctious, and definitely prefer the darker aspects of life. The Seelie still maintain a certain level of, to them, fairness. Usually, they only interfere with humans, or other Fae, in what they deem is a fair treatment, based on their actions."

"So why do nymphs turn people into trees?"

"Often times, I heard, it's because the human is so beautiful, they wish to keep them forever."

Cara looked back beyond the picnics to the nymphs, still dancing among the trees. The trees were beautiful in their own right too, gorgeous cherry blossoms that scattered their petals over the ground. Their trunks looked healthy, no gnarls or knots to be seen, the bark growing in a way that made Cara wonder if it were natural or a faćade. Even the trees in her forest had patchy spots, where the woodpeckers had broken in or the deer had pulled off to munch. They looked as if they were a garden here, the nymphs like their gardeners, diligently tending to their every need.

"Are they still in there? Their souls?" Cara asked quietly, as if saying it out loud would ruin the effect of their beauty.

Kiran shrugged. "Living an eternity as a tree would not be pleasant, in my opinion. For their sakes, I hope not."

Realizing she was staring, Cara turned back around and grabbed Kiran's arm, looking down at the grass beneath their feet. Kiran said nothing, nor did he try to pull his arm free, as they continued walking. Soon enough, their feet reached a stone walkway. Arches of roses hung overhead, of varying colors. Red, orange, yellow, white. Cara had never seen so many colors on a rose before. There were even a few black ones. Stunned, she walked over to them.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you."

Cara jumped back, looking at the voice. Puck stood up the trail, arms crossed over his chest, the same half grin on his face from before. His blonde hair fell to his eyebrows, disheveled and yet stylish, like he had been running his hands through it.

He uncrossed his arms and strolled toward them. "If you value your life, that is. Oberon favors those above all his roses, and he isn't too keen on anyone disturbing them. They're quite rare." He cocked his head to the side. "Kind of like you. You're more than an ordinary halfling."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Puck's eyes flicked to Kiran. "Isn't she?"

"I don't know what she is, but it is quite tantalizing."

"Interesting. We agree on something. Are you really Unseelie?"

Kiran stiffened. "Last I checked."

"Oberon says he wants to meet you. He's curious about the halfling who doesn't smell like a halfling."

Cara glanced at Kiran in surprise. Oberon wanted to meet her? Excitement and dread swirled around in her head.

"If it'll make you feel better, the Unseelie can come too."

"Of course. Are you coming, Kiran?"

"I told you I would stay with you," he replied smoothly.

Puck grinned. "Then let's go. Oberon doesn't like to be kept waiting."

***I am so excited to announce this chapter and welcome the good Puck Goodfellow! I've loved him in every story he's been in, and I hope I can do him the same justice!***