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I don’t even need to look to know who it is.

“Good morning. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Castor saunters in. I turn to see his usual smirk while his hands are shoved in his pockets.

“Get out,” Lux barks. “I told you before, you’re not to come in⁠—”

“Today is the last day of autumn,” he cuts him off. “I was hoping I could show Eden one of my favourite villages in the faerie woods.”

Lux snarls, “Absolutely not.”

“As I said, today is the last day of autumn,” Castor says pointedly as my gaze narrows. “After tonight, Nettlestone will no longer have its autumn decorations. They’re really quite beautiful. I’d hate for you to miss it,” he says to me while Lux scoffs.

“Thank you for the offer, Castor,” I say before Lux can decline for me. “But that’s quite alright. I was hoping I could write to my sisters today.” Lux’s brow lifts. “I think it’s finally time I explained my situation to them. I’ve put this off long enough.”

“You can write to them tomorrow.” Castor shrugs.

“Castor,” Lux warns.

“Lux,” Castor mimics his tone, but for some reason I shiver.

“Perhaps we should all go together in the carriage.” The suggestion spills out of me.

Lux shakes his head. “We do not have to go anywhere.”

“I want to,” I say before I can stop myself. I really don’t, but I want more to fix their relationship. It’s been two weeks of this nonsense, and I can see it’s hurting them both. Perhaps a trip to this faerie village will help?

I couldn’t count the number of times Amaryllis sent Dahlia and Camellia out to our dance circle until they learnt to be kind to each other again. And it worked! Most of the time…

“Let’s all go.” I smile at the brothers. “I think some fresh air could help all of us, and I want to learn more about the faeries.” That part is partially true. If I’m to marry Lux, I ought to know more about his kind. I’ve had a faerie bond for weeks and I know so little about it.

“Fine,” Lux sighs. “We’ll go together.”

Thankfully, Castor doesn’t disagree. “Call for me once you’re dressed.” He shoots me a wink that leaves me feeling oddly breathless.

Nettlestone is just as beautiful as Castor said it would be. Tiny cottages with thatched roofs surround a quiet square. Orange leaf garlands drape between the street lanterns while autumn wreaths hang from every door. In the centre of the square is a perfectly manicured garden full of flowers blooming in the colours of an evening sky.

It’s quite possibly the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. Or at least it would be were it not for the two scowling brothers keeping me tightly between them.

No matter where I try to walk along the little stone paths, Lux keeps his arm wrapped around my waist while Castor follows as close as my midday shadow.

It’s almost suffocating.

“How many faeries live here?” I ask, failing once again to put a little bit of distance between myself and the princes.

“A few hundred,” Castor explains. “It’s one of the closest villages to the faerie palace, so it’s a popular place to live for nobles who enjoy visiting the palace, but don’t want to live there themselves.”

I nod as we pass two faerie women dressed in beautiful flower-themed gowns. Their skirts look like they’re made from giant petals.

It’s hard to resist the urge to stop them and ask them for the name of their seamstress so I can learn how to make a gown like that myself.

Not that I could get out of the prince sandwich I’m stuck between. Lux’s hold on me grows more possessive by the minute.

“What’s the faerie palace like?” I ask.

“Big,” Lux grunts. He’s been giving one word answers since we left the manor.

“How big?” I push.

“Bigger than your father’s,” Castor replies. “It’s practically a city. There’s probably a thousand faeries living in the top branches alone.”