“Glenn,” I say.
“Haven’t seen much of you lately, Avery.”
“Night Crest now.”
His face twitches in sympathy. “What’s that like?”
I open my mouth, but Jeremee cuts me off. “She swore an oath.”
“Still a Scarp?” I tease instead.
“Still bad at it, too.” Glenn snorts. “Spilled shoe polish all over a lord’s linen tunic yesterday. Added about twenty more years of service.”
I wince, attention cutting to Jeremee. His face gives nothing away, his eyes straight ahead while mine fall to his trouser leg. Does he resent what I have done? Could I blame him if he did?
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I tell Glenn.
He shrugs, then nudges Jae. “More time with this one.”
My friend groans. “Your socks stink.”
“Not as much as your morning breath.”
I choke out a laugh, and Glenn beams.
“You two are the worst,” Jeremee mumbles.
We share a giggle, and while I should envy any faerie who’s been with Jae, I know Glenn gives him things that I cannot. Glenn has a good heart even if he can’t hold his cider, and he includes and indulges Benji even more than we do. When we’re all together, it doesn’t feel like competing. It feels like love compounding.
“Avery, we must go,” Briar shouts from a few yards away, the inner wall looming ahead. She stands at the mouth of a wide servants’ entrance cut into the stone, a stream of faeries flowing in, directed by guards.
“But you love us,” Glenn says to Jeremee.
Jeremee slings an arm around Glenn’s shoulders, a grin on his face, and suddenly I fear I might not like what Jae has to say tomorrow. But I need his honesty, even if it hurts, and he needs mine. If I can stand up to a High Fae even after getting smacked down, then I can do this.
“Avery!” Briar calls again.
“I should join her,” I say, stepping away. A hand reaches out, tugging me close. Jae embraces us both, Glenn laughing, and I feel crushed with care.
“Good luck out there,” Jeremee whispers into my hair, kissing the top of my head. He squeezes me tighter to stop his trembling.
“Don’t get yourself killed,” Glenn quips, and I elbow him in the stomach. “Hey!”
“Don’t spill the sparkling wine,” I say. “Apparently, that stuff’s good.”
I untangle myself from them. It’s going to be a long event, and tonight, Kassandra and I will need to impress the most privileged in the land.
I steel my nerves as I reach Briar.
“Your family?” she asks.
“I’d like to think so.” We move under the stone arch of the inner wall and toward the back entrance of the coronation hall. Bright lights and sounds spill toward us.
“Good.” She nods. “Good.”
“Do you have a partner?” I ask, knowing she doesn’t have a child.
“No, I’m waiting.”
