Adrian's unexpected declaration momentarily caught me off guard. The 'Rabid Rabbit' in front of me responded with a smile, adding to the intrigue of the moment.

Lady Solara exchanged a brief glance with her mother, Queen Titania, who gave a subtle nod of approval. "Adrian, esteemed guest of House Cheshire and candidate of the King, we acknowledge your position for the time being," Solara announced, her gaze sweeping across the gathered Fey before clapping her hands once. Instantly, doors along the sides of the room swung open.

Addressing the assembly, she declared, "The sentencing is postponed, and all are hereby excused. Please enjoy the refreshments and dancing. Clan Cheshire and Clan Rabbiton, kindly remain with us a bit longer," Solara requested.

Lord Cheshire and Lord Rabbit, the leader of Clan Rabbiton, remained stoically in place, unaffected by the shifting atmosphere in the hall.

As the room emptied and the doors closed, a collective sigh of relief seemed to sweep through those remaining. Lord Rabbit, his posture relaxing, set down his axe. "I must commend you, Lord Cheshire. Your youngest certainly has a fiery spirit. She played her part exceptionally well." he remarked with a hint of admiration.

I stood there, dumbfounded, my mind reeling. Performance? What were they talking about? And then, the mention of dancing caught me off guard. "Wait, there's actually dancing?" I blurted out, confused. I thought there wasn't going to be any.

Lysandra gave me a quizzical look, one eyebrow arched, while Purrlyn couldn't suppress a giggle at my reaction. "Typical." she teased.

Lady Solara covered her mouth to hide a smile, nodding subtly in agreement with their amusement. A flicker of frustration crossed my mind when Adrian approached, placing his hands reassuringly on my shoulders.

"Alex, relax, it's all part of the act," he said gently, positioning himself to block my view of Lord Rabbit, forcing me to focus on him. Gradually, his calming presence eased my racing heartbeat, and I nodded in understanding.

Regaining my composure, I looked at him squarely. "Alright, I'm calm now. Can someone please explain what's going on?"

"That'll have to wait, young one," Queen Titania interjected, her voice softer now. She descended from her throne, shrinking into a form resembling a smaller Solara.

"Purrlyn, for now, the charges stand," Solara declared as guards clamped heavy iron cuffs on Purrlyn, eliciting the sound of sizzling skin.

Lord Cheshire commented, "Iron – it blocks our magic, rendering us nearly human." Purrlyn was shortly escorted out behind the Queen and Princesses. Father did not look pleased.

Overhearing my earlier question, Lord Rabbiton quipped, "Planning to challenge me, little one?" His demeanor shifted from seriousness to laughter. "I like her. Barnaby, I want her."

Lord Cheshire's face tightened. "She's my daughter, she's Winter. Too noble for the likes of you." The air crackled with tension.

Rabbiton, undeterred, spun his axe. "How about a game of Cat and Mouse?"

Adrian stepped in, shielding me. "Enough. We'll discuss this later. Alex, Tiger, come. I'll explain. Lord Cheshire?"

The Rabbit Lord's face turned stern. "I wasn't joking, Lord Adrian."

Ignoring him, Lord Cheshire warned Adrian, "Take care of my daughter. Any harm, and you'll answer to me. Candidate or not." I saw Adrian Shudder.

"Touching," Rabbiton remarked dryly, his voice laced with sarcasm as he realized he was being ignored. With a signal, he summoned the Rabbiton clan, and the other rabbit-like Fey promptly departed. The room soon emptied, leaving only six of us: Lord Cheshire, Elkanor, the Troll, Tiger, Adrian, and myself.

Concerned, I turned to Lord Cheshire. "Where are they taking Purrlyn?" I asked, anxiety evident in my voice.

Lord Cheshire responded with a patient tone, "You heard the Queen. Purrlyn has been charged with treason. They'll keep her under close watch until the sentencing is resolved."

"What? But I thought this was all a ruse! A diversion, a trick!" I exclaimed, confused and alarmed.

Adrian began to walk away, with Tiger in tow. "Yes and no, Alex. I'll explain," he said, signaling me to follow.

Before I could probe Lord Cheshire further for answers, I suddenly found myself scooped up and carried away. Looking down, I saw the hairy, orange back of Tiger. Lord Barnaby Cheshire gave me a wave before vanishing into thin air along with Elkanor and the Troll.

"Tiger, you can put me down now," I commanded firmly. He complied, setting me down gently. I realized we had ventured deeper into the castle's labyrinthine halls.

Turning to Adrian, I asked with a mix of curiosity and a hint of annoyance, "Where are we going?"

Adrian's response came as he continued walking ahead. "We're heading to my chambers. We need to prepare for the journey ahead. The human capital is quite distant, and with the gates destroyed, we'll likely have to travel over land. Unless, of course, we can persuade a sea captain to aid us, though that's a long shot – Fey are often seen as bad omens by the superstitious."

His mention of 'his room' stirred my curiosity. Had Adrian and Tiger been residing in the palace all this while? Why then was I assigned a modest hut? I couldn't help but laugh. "Some things are still the same."

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Adrian paused, turning to glance at me with a knowing look. He gently placed an arm on my back, guiding me towards a set of grand doors. "No, some things never will," he replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. Tiger reached the doors first, opening them with ease.

The room that lay before us was magnificent. The walls, adorned with glowing green vines, exuded an ethereal charm. A vast chandelier, crafted from an unfamiliar material, hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in a soft blue light.

"This is impressive," I remarked as I took in the grandeur of Adrian's quarters.

He motioned for me to sit on a bench positioned before a small pond at the center of the room. I obliged, carefully smoothing my dress as I sat down. Tiger settled himself on the floor behind me, his massive form still towering over me. Adrian joined me on the bench.

"Alright Alex, I'm going to tell you everything. I'm not going to hold back. You need to know what is really going on," Adrian began, his gaze drifting towards the chandelier. "After we met Barnaby and had been separated, that first night was gruesome. Barnaby toyed with us like children. I don't know how he did it, but he was somehow able to maim us over and over. The injuries never stuck, but he would do it again and again. Just when I felt myself about to break, it all stopped." His face scrunched up in anger. "After hours of this, suddenly the harmless looking cat you see every day stood in front of us. He told us that he would break us and reforge us into proper Fey."

I listened quietly, absorbing every word without interruption.

"After some rest, we met Queen Titania. She was much more accommodating," he continued, gesturing to the grandiose room. "After the episode with Barnaby, it was nice to have someone not trying to kill us. The Fey of summer have been kind but also have high expectations. They informed me that I was a king's candidate. Apparently, several of us have been summoned, one for each court, and we are to compete to see who will take the place of the deceased king." He turned to look at me, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze.

"Alex, you being summoned was not an accident. You're one of those candidates. Barnaby doesn't believe it, but Titania knows this. You're Winter's summon, and I am Summer's. Natural-born enemies, but we don't have to be." He then stood up, his gaze never leaving me.

"Queen Titania knows how we can bring the two courts together. If we can unite just Summer and Winter, then Spring and Autumn will fall in line. Summons or not. With Queen Mab, that's your Queen of Winter, secluding herself away, she has left her court in disarray. Titania has taken to grooming Mab's daughter." He smiled slightly, sharing this revelation.

The revelation that I might be a candidate startled me. It contradicted what the Goddess had said about my accidental summoning. "But the Goddess herself said my arrival was an accident. I'm not sure I'm meant to be here..."

Adrian's hands landed firmly on my shoulders, his eyes alight with conviction. The grin on his face broadened, but it only served to heighten my sense of unease. "It was an accident for her to summon you, yes. But you were always meant to be summoned, just not by her and not at that time. When you clung to me during the summoning, you were inadvertently brought along. I'm certain you're meant to be here, Alex. Lady Lysandra even believes you're Winter's candidate. I just know it."

His eyes gleamed with a fervor I recognized – a mirror of my own when I lost control. Instinctively, I stiffened and reached up to his wrist. His grip felt larger, or perhaps my wrists had grown smaller?

"Adrian," Tiger interjected, a note of warning in his voice. Both Adrian and I had momentarily forgotten his presence.

As quickly as it had emerged, Adrian's intense Fey nature receded. He stepped back, releasing his grip. "I'm sorry. I still struggle to control that side of me," he said, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "As I was saying, you're Winter's candidate. Titania sees a way to unite our courts, which is vital now. Mankind has rediscovered powers that once almost brought the Fey to ruin. And for some reason, Purrlyn seems to be aiding them."

"Purrlyn would never betray Winter," I replied instantly, defending my sister without a second thought. "I understand Purrlyn's loyalty to Winter, and the Cheshire's longstanding role as its guardians," I said, still trying to reconcile the idea of her betrayal. "But endangering all Fey for the sake of one court? That doesn't sound like her."

Adrian's concern was evident as he replied, "Alex, remember, you've only known her a few days." His gaze was earnest. "The pact with Barnaby Cheshire could be clouding your judgment. It might be affecting how you and Tiger see things."

He had a point. My time with Purrlyn had been brief, yet I felt a strong sense of trust towards her. She had sworn not to mislead me, and her actions had embodied what I believed a sister should be. However, Adrian's suggestion that the pact might be influencing my perception was troubling. Was my newfound trust a result of the Goddess's influence, the mark, or my transformation?

The possibility that Adrian himself might be the one being manipulated crossed my mind. It was a plausible theory, considering everything I knew. But how could I discern the truth in this convoluted world where I still felt so out of place?

Adrian continued, bringing a glimmer of hope to the conversation. "The good news is, I've found a way for us to leave here. The longer I stay, the more my own clarity fades. Titania agrees that an alliance with mankind is our best course now. Another war would be catastrophic for the Fey."

As Adrian exhaled, a look of resolve crossed his face. "Okay, I can do this," he affirmed, turning to face me squarely.

His words made me fully grasp the enormity of the task before us. It wasn't just his burden; it was ours—a responsibility towards an entire race, now being torn asunder by internal strife. "I understand, Adrian," I responded, seeing the surprise flicker across his face. "I agree with you. If there's to be a delegation to the humans, it should include us. We, the 'mankin' here, understand them in ways no other Fey could."

Tiger's approving nod confirmed my sentiment, while Adrian appeared slightly annoyed. He bent down, bringing his eyes level with mine, just as a knock echoed through the room. We all turned towards the door, which began to open slowly.

A diminutive pixie fluttered into the room, her wings shimmering in the light as she curtsied respectfully. "My Lords, Lady," she began, her voice soft yet clear. "I apologize for disturbing you, but Lady Cheshire has been summoned."

Adrian's response was swift, his tone tinged with unexpected frustration. "By whom?" he demanded, a rare loss of composure evident in his reddening face.

The pixie, maintaining her poise, addressed him. "My Lord, with all due respect, the request is specifically for Cheshire. I was instructed to deliver it directly to her Ladyship and my Lord," indicating Tiger with a slight gesture.

Adrian, upon hearing this, rose and took a moment to smooth his pants, betraying a hint of unease. "Very well. Tiger and Lady Cheshire, I bid you a good evening. We shall meet again in the morning," he said before turning to leave.

The pixie, now turning her attention to Tiger and me, apologized again. "My Lady, I'm sorry for the disturbance. I..." she began.

Recognition dawned on me. "Toony!" I exclaimed, pointing at her. "Tiger, remember? This is the pixie you caught backstage."

Acknowledging the pixie with a nod, Tiger watched as Toony visibly flinched. "I've been asked to deliver a message from Lady Purrlyn," she continued, her tone somber.

My initial excitement dampened upon hearing Purrlyn's name. "Lady Alex, your sister requests your presence as soon as possible. She stressed its utmost importance," Toony conveyed, bowing gracefully.

Standing, I instinctively smoothed my dress, a habit forming. "Lead the way, Toony," I said with resolve.

We departed from the splendor of the room, following the pixie, Toony, into the depths of the enchanted castle, embarking on a journey filled with uncertainty and urgency.