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“She’ll be performing tonight,” Castor says to me. “You’ll see her as the sugar plum fairy.”

“Really?” I almost can’t see through the stars in my eyes. This doesn’t feel real. I know Lux said he’d bought tickets to the ballet for us, but that was so long ago and he’d lied about so much. I wasn’t sure if we would ever actually come here.

“Our seats are ready for us.” Lux returns from the ticket booth. “As is your surprise.” He winks at me.

“There’s more?” I grab his hands. “I thought coming here was my gift.”

“Don’t be silly,” he huffs. “I bought these tickets as your gift for letting me create our bond. Your final winterfeast present is in our private viewing box.”

My eyes widen, but the princes lead me through an archway and up another set of stairs before I can ask for any more clues.

When we stop at a little door, I can barely hide my smile.

“Allow me.” Castor twists the handle, creaking the door open to reveal the last person I ever thought I’d see here.

I swallow a scream. Glittering stage lights fill my vision, casting golden light over the red velvet chairs of our viewing box. But it’s not the crimson curtain over the stage that has tears bubbling in my eyes. Or the tall demon lord leaning against the side of the box.

It’s Dahlia, in a deep red gown, grinning as wildly as I must be.

“Eden!” She charges at me, almost knocking me to the carpet. “Oh, I missed you so much!”

My arms wrap around her as I inhale her new scent. She smells of exotic fruits, sea salt, faraway spices. “How was your honeymoon?” I pull away to notice she’s tanned, too. Even her husband, Lord Tauren, is looking more bronze than usual.

“Absolutely delightful!” she exclaims. “Tauren took us to a villa where we had our own private beach and a bar, and there were so many animals, you should’ve seen them all! I can’t wait to go back. We’ll have to take you there soon, you and your—” She glances up at Lux, her lips parting. Then her gaze slides to Castor as her grin turns wicked. “So you did fuck both of them…”

“Dahlia!” I smack her arm.

“I don’t blame you. They’re gorgeous.” She pulls me over to where her husband is, taking a seat beside him and forcing me into the one next to hers. “You have to tell me everything about them. Everything. Including how in our divine realm you manage to make them both fit inside you?” My eyes widen while her husband’s jaw clenches. “Do they take it in turns or is it a cram them both inside and hope for the best type of situation?”

I blink at her, speechless.

“I’m getting drinks.” Tauren stands with a sigh. “Dahlia, please show her the letter before you go any further with this enlightening conversation,” he deadpans.

“What letter?” I ask, but he’s already leaving, taking both Castor and Lux with him.

“Oh, yes!” Dahlia rummages through her skirt. “You’ll like this. When I showed the others, they burst into tears. Happy tears, of course,” she giggles. “Well, all except for Blossom who practically threw a fit.” She slides a little cream envelope out from her pocket. “Typical Blossom.”

Guilt churns inside me. “How are they all? I haven’t seen them in so long.” Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve spoken to them before I left the palace with Lux and Castor. But everything happened so quickly.

“They’re fine.” She shrugs. “They miss you. But it’s not like they were surprised that you left with the princes. Iris said they could all tell you were in love when you spoke about Lux and Castor in the dance circle, even when you clearly didn’t know it yourself. And of course there’s the baby too. Congratulations, by the way!” She smiles. “Tauren said we can throw a party at his castle if you like? A proper baby shower. He can probably convince Father to let all the girls come too. He has a way with him.”

I can’t help but wonder if that ‘way’ includes lots of gold.

“Thank you,” I reply through tears. “A baby shower would be lovely.”

“Yes, yes. Now read this.” She pushes the letter into my hands. “Camellia wrote one for each of us⁠—”

“Camellia?” I gasp.

“...well except for me, of course,” she carries on like I said nothing at all. “Then again, I suppose I was the one who ‘rescued’ her. Though I’m not sure she was in much need of rescuing.”

Heart pounding, I rip open the tiny letter. It’s not long, but it’s definitely in Camellia’s handwriting. I recognise her perfect, cursive letters.

“She’s safe,” I breathe as I skim the words.

“More than safe,” Dahlia chuckles. “And on an island in Ilzabard of all places! Though I’m not sure if she’ll be there now. Her husband does own a very big ship, after all.”

“Her husband?” The memory of her capture floods back to me. Surely she can’t be married to the same man who…