“You’re the one who made it happen! That takes serious leadership skills—and you’re the one who wanted to add everyone who works at the castle to the list. We would have left out an entire group if you hadn’t spoken up.”
“I let my soft heart show.” She heaves a sigh. “Look at me.I would not strike fear into the heart ofan enemy.”
Is she kidding?
“You have been scaring the shit out of me since the day we met.”
“Truly?” This seems to perk her up a bit. Her eyes sparkle like I just told her she was the most beautiful fae in theballroom.
“Um, yes, you’re terrifying.”
“You are just saying that…” she deflects, batting her long lashes, tilting her head away from me.
“Holly, I barely wanted to be in the same room as you,” I explain. “I’m just going to say it one more time because even though I’m complimenting you, I feel super rude. You are one of the scariest people I’veever met.”
“And you too kind.” She shakes her head. “I take back what I said. You forgive too easily to beat court.”
“I’m sorry. When exactly did I say I forgive you?”
“Technically, once just now.” A childish glint plays in her eyes. “It isn’t fair. I thought I would hate you forever for the way you are stealing my brother from his place of honor. But unfortunately, I think I would like to befriends.”
I flash my ring finger in her direction. “How about sisters-in-law?”
“Ifwe must.”
“Pfffft, whatever. You basically want to be my BFF.”
“I do not know what that means.”
“Moth!” I call. “Your sister wants to be my BFF!”
“By your laughter, I assume this confession has your approval,” he shouts back.
“Brother, I do not understand what your betrothed is saying.”
“Yes.” He smiles fondly in my direction. “You get usedto that.”
A zap drags our attention from each other to a form tumbling through the portal and inelegantly landing onto the front porch. Queen Plume dusts herself off, standing to her full height. I can’t help but notice the way her fabric draped wings sort ofcrunchbehind her for a moment before bouncing back into place. She’s dressed in a beautiful yet different ballgown than the one she wore on the day the festivities started. Holly did say there would be costume changes, but are they seriously still partying in the other realm?
“Now, just what do you think you are doing hiding in the mortal realm?” she scolds, zeroing in on herchildren.
“Mother,” Moth speaks first. “I do not wish to take the throne.”
Her face twists into an expression I can’t figure out at first. Her eyebrows pinch in the center, and her mouth straightens; I brace myself for some full-on mom rage, recalling the way my mom reacted the first time I told her I didn’t want to be an influencer anymore. “Well, of course not.”
“What?” Holly gasps.
“I have no intention to pass the crown to someone who doesn’t want it.” Queen Plume regards her son with a small smile. “It is clear Moth’s heart is somewhere else.”
“Was this ball not to mark his re-entrance into society?” Holly asks.
“Society? Yes. A welcomehome?Yes. Not…” She looks between the three of us. “What did you children think was going on? Can a mother not throw a welcome home party?”
“During the height of the social season?” Holly’s mouth hangs open. “Mother, even you must know the implications of such an act.”
“A party is a party,my love.”
“Not in Eclipsica.”
