A patch of pale brown mushrooms beside us unexpectedly shifted as one popped up. It spun around, revealing black oval eyes, spindly arms, and long legs. I jumped back when it ran across our path at a startling speed. “Was that—”
“A toadstool,” Soren confirmed.
I had the strangest urge to call after it, “I think I saw your house!” Because, of course, that cute tiny door we’d passed would’ve been the perfect height for the adorable little guy.
“Steer clear of their kind,” Soren warned, following my gaze. “Toadstools in particular have razor-sharp teeth they’re more than willing to use, and they’re extremely unfriendly.”
My brows rose. “More so than other fae?”
He frowned. “I take offense to that. I’ve been more than polite to you—”
“I’m kidding!” I laughed. “It’s like you’ve never heard of a joke before.”
Lips pursed, he shook his head. “I have heard of them, actually, but they typically involve the need to lie.”
I didn’t have a chance to tell him how ridiculous that sounded because a bulky fae whose head came up to my shoulder elbowed past, knocking me sideways. Soren caught me before I could fall, setting me back on my feet more gently than I would’ve expected.
“Don’t block the path,” the fae grunted before melting into the crowd. His hair color made me think of a greasy Ronald McDonald who hadn’t had a haircut in a couple years and who’d eaten way too many of his own hamburgers.
“What—?” I started to whisper to Soren.
“That’s a toddy wobble,” he answered before I could ask, pulling me to the side with a sigh. “They might not look dangerous, but they can smell a lie. Technically, even the fae can lie by omission, though the smell is faint. This ability, combined with how few of them exist, gives them a high status in the Hollow Court. It’s good to know he’s here, actually. I can only imagine how strongly a human lie would smell. Be cautious of what you say if one of them is nearby.”
I leaned in to whisper, “Nearby as in... a couple feet away?”
He turned, and his breath tickled my ear as he replied, “Try ten. Maybe more.”
“Got it,” I whispered back, fascinated. “And what about—” I started to point to another unique creature to one side, but he grabbed my finger and pulled it down.
“Not only do wenothave time for a history lesson on the fae, but pointing at that particular breed will get you in some serious trouble. Now...” He paused to tuck my hand under his elbow like a gentleman. “Follow my lead.”
We sashayed across the room as if Soren and I were royalty. Some fae seemed to recognize him, eyes landing on us curiously, tracking our progress. I clutched his arm tighter, trying not to let my nerves show.
Every so often, I saw a human. Some were easy to spot based on their clothes alone, while others I couldn’t tell for sure unless I caught a glimpse of their ears. I searched every face for my family, including Mom, and it hurt every single time it turned out to be someone else.
We strolled through a garden as a handful of humans watered the flowers and plants beneath pale trees. Though I studied their faces, they didn’tseemchecked out. Another group of humans played lively music with multiple violins, a cello, and a drummer. By their expressions, they were 110 percent invested in their art, grinning brightly at one another as they tapped their feet. Another human even carried a fae baby, following after the rest of the family like a hired nanny. None seemed to be here against their will, though I had no way to know for sure.
Though the court had looked like one large room at first, it twisted to the left and continued on, as if even the walls themselves liked to keep secrets. A riot of colors blurred together where fae danced. Others lounged at dining tables along the sides. Some leapt across tall tree stumps in a strange daring race.
In all the chaos, I almost missed the three elaborate thrones on the far end.
Made of velvet and intricately carved wood, they could only be reached via three sets of short, wide stairs. It set them apart, both in distance and height.
Above and behind the thrones, wider than all three put together, a huge stained glass depicted red roses.
The whole space sat empty.
Soren seemed to be leading us there, but as we drew closer, the room opened up once again into yet another large space, forming the court into an unnatural S shape.
As we passed close by a solid stone wall, part of itmoved.
I squeaked, pressing against Soren as I stepped back, eyes trailing up the side of the gray creature, which stood taller than my house. If I’d thought that blue hulk that stole my family was large, this one made it look like its baby brother.
“Is that thing safe?” I hissed in Soren’s ear.
“Not particularly,” he murmured back, though he didn’t seem nervous. “That’s a troll.”
A troll. “As in... ?”
