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The lull of voices starts to rise over us, inviting us into the edges of the party.

I swing my eyes at the frozen lake, sandy beach, and shadowed forest. “I hear it, but I can’t see it.”

As if my thoughts summon her, a slender, dark hand reaches through thin air. It grabs the front of my jersey, pulling me forward.

Within a second, we are pulled through the myrage that has been blocking the party. I look down at the hand and follow the strong, delicate frame to Selene, who is smirking and already a little buzzed. She turns over her shoulder. “Some of the Goad Squad has arrived!”

Cheers erupt from behind Selene. People are clustered around the giant fire on the beach, some already paired up in the surrounding darkness, and others are on the ice.

The entire lake is carved into a geometric structure that would impress an architect. Columns of ice stretch up in spirals, separating different designated areas: A bar, where Gryphon is currently pouring himself a stiff glass of amber liquid, an elevated dance floor, and a throne.

Sun burn me.

A throne, complete with a matching ice castle, is where the River Prince is already sitting, legs spread and blue hair falling in waves across his eyes. He’s laughing at something Sabra is saying but looking straight at me. I wore his jersey, so I don’t know why I feel like such a… traitor.

“I’m going to get a drink,” I say quickly to Akemi and Esther and run straight to Gryphon before they have a chance to respond.

The bar is sparkling with different bottles of liquor, complete with ornate shelves carved from the ice.

“This is insane,” I say, admiring the frozen bar carved straight out of a Telling.

Gryphon reaches for a few bottles. “Made it myself. Took me a while, though. Maybe I’m just exhausted from the game, but it seemed harder to create this time around.”

“There had to be something Moon’chers are good for.”

“Hey!” Gryphon punches my shoulder playfully. “Be nice. I’m making you a drink.”

I sigh. “Alright, fine. Truce.”

“Truce.”

I take a sip of the purple drink. Not bad. “Congratulations on the game, by the way. Made it to the finals.”

“Oh yes! It was absolutely crazy how adding in Prince Ladon really made a diff—” Gryphon cuts off abruptly, and I look up to find him staring above my head, drink frozen halfway to his lips.

“What?” I turn around into a wall of muscle. A chest, to be exact.

“Take it off,” Leaf commands. He looks furious as his eyes rake down my form.

I hold up a finger and finish the rest of my drink, making him wait. Then I look up, and up, and meet Leaf with the same energy. “No.”

Leaf’s pupils constrict for a second before returning. “I think I heard you incorrectly. I said, take it off.”

I jut out my chin slightly. “No.”

His entire body coils with tension. Leaf leans forward, arching his form so close I can feel the heat radiating off his skin. I freeze, transfixed by his proximity.

“Here, bud.” Gryphon slides Leaf a matching purple drink, and he downs in it one gulp.

Then the full weight of his attention is on me again. He curls his head down lower until his lips touch the edge of my ear, voice so low only I can hear. “I’m going to give you one last chance to answer this correctly. Don’t be mistaken, Ramona, there is only one right answer.”

My entire body ignites with his words.

“Fine,” I state, matter-of-fact, then I pull the navy blue jersey over my head and toss it to the side so that I’m standing in my sports bra and practice shorts from the game.

“Umm, I’m going to go. Have to water my, uh, socks,” Gryphon says before darting away.

My vision tunnels around the edges, honing in on the furious creature before me. My fingers itch to reach for my daggers, but I remain still. A part of my subconscious self recognizes that I prodded too far at a threat. Angered a predator.