Kestrel and Seraiah snuck out the back entrance and into a deserted hallway. It was strangely quiet after the noise of the room they had left behind.

“When are you going to tell me where we’re going?” Seraiah asked, as they hurried away from the courtiers.

“Yes, Kestrel, where are the two of you running off to?” Eryx asked, appearing in front of them to block their exit.

“None of your business, Eryx. Now, step aside,” Kestrel ordered.

One brow rose. “Does Prince Kaimana know you’re leaving with his special guest?” He moved slightly, leaving enough space for them to pass by if they wanted.

“No, and you aren’t going to tell him, either. If you must know, we’re going into the city to see the real Eostre celebration and not that stuffy one,” Kestrel said, gesturing back the way they’d come.

To Seraiah’s surprise, Eryx laughed. “I’ll give you that one. The court’s version of celebrating isn’t exactly exhilarating.”

“A bunch of preening and favor trading,” Kestrel grumbled. “That’s not a party.”

“All the same, do you think it’s a good idea to take her out of the castle?”

Kestrel tilted her head, her chin jutting out ever so slightly as she regarded him.

Seraiah hid a grin behind her hand. She’d seen Kestrel give Kai this look before and knew Eryx was in for it now.

“Since when do you question your superiors, Commander Eryx?” Kestrel’s voice had sharpened, and no longer held that playful quality.

“Since my superior goes missing for months on end for no apparent reason,” he responded.

Kestrel’s eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, Seraiah jumped in. “If you are concerned for our safety, Commander Eryx, why don’t you join us?”

Kestrel’s glare turned on her, and she gave a slight shake of her head. Seraiah ignored her. If this kept up, they might stand here arguing all night, and then she’d never get to see this party Kestrel had been excited to attend.

Eryx pretended to think about it. “I suppose I could,” he drawled.

“Well, I think it would be better served if you stayed here—where you are supposed to be,” Kestrel said.

“Then I shall have to go inform Prince Kaimana of your disappearance.” He took a few steps toward the ballroom.

Kestrel sighed. “All right, fine. You can come with us, but don’t interfere with our fun.”

“I am the fun,” Eryx tossed over his shoulder.

Kestrel snorted and rolled her eyes. She thought she may have covered up the way she’d looked at Eryx, but Seraiah had seen it.

This should be a very interesting night, she thought as she followed the pair.

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Their little threesome exited the castle and caught a ride on a wagon heading to the party. Seraiah felt overdressed in her fancy gown, perched on a straw bale.

“It would be a long walk—most of the celebration is technically held outside the city walls on the beach below,” Kestrel explained, as they bumped along over the cobblestones.

Seraiah tilted her head back to take in the stars glittering overhead and sucked in a deep breath of the salty air. Already she was feeling more at ease than she had in the castle.

When their wagon came to a halt, Seraiah got her first look at the party. This was more like what she had expected.

Kestrel thanked their driver, and Eryx helped them down.

“Take off your shoes, and it will be easier to walk,” Kestrel instructed, as she slipped off her own.

Seraiah did as Kestrel said, the cool sand squishing between her toes as they made their way toward the revelers.

Lilting music similar to what was played in the castle filled the air, but where the music in the castle had been refined and elegant, this music seemed wilder. The sound of the waves crashing on the beach blended with it—making it all the more beautiful.

Tiny orbs of glowing light, no bigger than her pinky fingernail, filled the air, blinking on and off. It felt to Seraiah as though they were walking among the stars. She tried to touch one of the orbs, but it disappeared as soon as she reached for it.

“Care for a drink, miss?” A young girl held out a tray of glasses filled with a bubbly golden liquid.

“She would love one,” Kestrel answered for her, swiping two from the girl’s tray and handing one to Seraiah.

When the girl offered her tray to Eryx, he declined.

Kestrel finished her drink off in a few sips before Seraiah had even tried hers.

“Taste it,” Kestrel urged, switching out her empty glass for another one from a different passerby’s tray.

“What is it?” Seraiah asked, sniffing it first. It smelled slightly fruity.

“Nectar,” Eryx answered her.

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“From flowers?”

“Of course, silly. What else?” Kestrel already seemed more relaxed now that they were away from the castle.

“There is also fruit involved. I believe the closest thing humans have to it is wine,” Eryx told her.

She’d only had wine once, and it had been awful, so she didn’t have high expectations as she lifted the glass and took a small sip.

The liquid was sweet, but tangy, and tasted a bit like fruit, but none that she could name. In short, it was delicious.

Her glass was empty almost as fast as Kestrel’s, and before she knew it, Kestrel was pressing another one into her hands.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? She probably shouldn’t have too many,” Eryx said disapprovingly.

“It’s fine.” Kestrel waved her hand at him. “I think you could use a few as well. Come on, Eryx. Enjoy yourself a little. You said you were the fun.” She winked suggestively.

He frowned at her. “Someone needs to make sure you two don’t hurt yourselves.”

“We are fine. See.” Kestrel gave a little twirl, almost spilling her glass. “We don’t need you hanging out and ruining our night.”

Kestrel’s words sounded funny to Seraiah’s ears, but she didn’t comment on it.

Another elf approached them with an armful of flowers woven together in circles. She offered them each one. Kestrel accepted, placing the circle of flowers on her head like a crown. It made her look exactly like what Seraiah imagined the faery princesses from Sterling’s book would look like.

Kestrel linked her arm with Seraiah’s, pulling her toward the music, with Eryx trailing along behind them. “We must dance,” Kestrel proclaimed.

Suddenly, the idea of dancing no longer seemed that bad to Seraiah. It almost felt like the music was calling to her. “Yes, we do,” she agreed, finishing off her third—or maybe it was her fourth glass of the delightful golden nectar.

The group of dancers took up the part of the beach closest to the ocean, twirling in and out of the waves. The girls joined them, and it didn’t take long for them to lose themselves in the music. They laughed and twirled with the others as the ocean pulled at their dresses and lapped at their legs.

Eventually, they stopped for a break and were sipping on fresh glasses of nectar when Seraiah remembered Kai and Virelai.

“I hate that girl,” Seraiah declared.

“What girl?” Kestrel asked from the ground. She had sat down on the sand and was drawing shapes with her fingers.

“Vi—Ve—,” her tongue was not cooperating as she tried to say the girl’s name.

Kestrel burst into a fit of giggles.

“What’s so funny?” Seraiah pouted, plopping down next to Kestrel on the sand.

“You,” Kestrel said, waving a finger in her face. “You have a crush on the prince,” she singsonged.

“He’s so handsome.” As soon as the words were out, she clapped her hands over her mouth, wishing she could stuff them back in.

“I knew it!” Kestrel shrieked, drawing more than a few stares. She burst into giggles again, falling back on the sand.

“All right, you two. I think it’s time to get you back to the castle before you embarrass yourselves further,” Eryx said, standing over them.

He helped them to their feet, but as soon as Seraiah tried to walk, the world swayed beneath her. Eryx caught her before she could hit the sand, while Kestrel burst into giggles again.

“Someone had too much nectar,” Kestrel declared.

Eryx sighed. “I think you have both had too much nectar. And don’t think I am going to let you forget about this tomorrow, Kes.”

“You never do,” she answered as he helped both of them back to the castle.

----------------------------------------

When Kai determined he’d danced enough dances and spoken to enough of his court, he bid everyone good night. As soon as he was free of the ballroom, he loosened his collar. Dealing with so many of the elves at once was exhausting. He’d rather go back to traveling all day and night with little to no sleep.

Kestrel and Seraiah, he’d noted, had never returned to the ballroom. He was slightly concerned about their whereabouts, but more than anything, he was jealous they’d managed to escape.

“Has Eryx been around?” Kai asked the guard trailing him down the hall.

“He was last seen a few minutes ago, headed upstairs with the Commander and the human girl,” the guard reported. “Would you like someone sent for him?”

“No, thank you. I can find him myself.”

At least now he knew Seraiah was in the castle. He changed directions and headed for the stairs to the Queen’s rooms.

“You may go for the night,” Kai said to his guard before he started the climb.

The guard shifted uncomfortably, but knew better to argue with him. Instead, he bowed and left.

Kai climbed three flights of stairs before he heard voices in what sounded like an argument.

When he turned the corner, he found Seraiah sitting on the steps while Kestrel leaned against the wall. Eryx stood opposite Kestrel with his arms crossed over his chest.

“I only need a small break,” Seraiah was saying. “There are too many stairs.” Her words were slightly slurred.

“It’s been ten minutes already,” Eryx said. “You’re falling asleep.”

“Oh, leave her alone,” Kestrel said. “It is a lot of stairs. Did you add more while I was gone?”

Eryx sighed and then caught sight of him.

“Something I can help with?” Kai asked.

“Thank the gods you’re here.” Eryx looked so relieved that it was a struggle for Kai not to laugh.

“What happened?” he asked.

“There are too many stairs,” Seraiah answered. Sand clung to the bottom of her skirts, and he noticed she was no longer wearing any shoes.

“Noted,” Kai said. “I’ll have someone look into removing some of them.”

Eryx gave him a long suffering look. “These two went to the celebration on the beach and had a little too much nectar. I’m trying to return them to their respective rooms, but as you can see, we have not made much progress. Now that you are here, you can deal with this one,” He gestured to Seraiah, “and I’ll get Kestrel to her bed.”

“Aw,” Kestrel leaned across the stairwell and grabbed hold of the lapels on Eryx’s uniform jacket, “I thought you were taking me to your bed.”

Eryx looked pained as he slowly unlatched her fingers. “I never said that. Now, come on.” Eryx tugged Kestrel past Kai and down the stairs.

“You said you were fun, but I think you’re being very unfun right now,” Kai heard Kestrel say.

He chuckled. He did not envy Eryx.

“What’s funny?” Seraiah asked.

“Oh, nothing. Think you can walk, or do you need me to carry you?”

“I can walk. See,” she said, pulling herself to her feet using the railing. She wobbled, and she hadn’t even let go of the rail yet. There was no way she was going to make it up the remaining flights of stairs on her own.

“Wait. What are you doing?” she demanded, when he hooked one arm behind her knees and scooped her up.

Her skirt was still damp from the ocean, and her hair smelled like flowers.

“Trust me,” he said. “This will be faster.”

“Mmm,” Seraiah murmured sleepily against his neck.

Kai carried her up the stairs to her rooms. At the door, he had to set her on her feet again. He doubted Wisteria was still around at this time of night, but maybe he should fetch her.

As Kai reached past Seraiah to open the door, she swayed on her feet. He quickly wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her upright and prevent her from falling backward into the room.

“You all right?” he asked. She was going to feel terrible in the morning, which might pose a problem for their council meeting tomorrow. He was going to have a word with Kestrel about this.

Seraiah nodded. Her eyes didn’t make it to his face, but stayed glued on the bit of exposed skin where he’d unbuttoned his collar.

“Do you want me to find Wisteria?” he asked, trying to walk her into the room. “Or will you be fine on your own?”

Seraiah didn’t budge and only pressed closer to him. She also didn’t appear to have heard his question.

Kai brought his free hand to her chin and tilted it up, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Seraiah, did you hear what I asked?”

“Yes.”

“And?” Her skin was soft and warm under his fingers.

She leaned closer, bringing her face mere inches from his. The gold paint lining her eyes was smudged. “You’re not as awful as I thought,” she said, not slurring a single word.

Then she pressed her mouth to his.