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The nymph directs us to our rooms, a small section of the servants’ quarters that have been emptied for the occasion. My room is the last on the left.
“Enjoy your beautiful, spacious chamber with its unparalleled views of the meadow,” the nymph says blandly. “You will take dinner in here, followed by one turn around the courtyard before bed.”
O-kay, then. I glance over my beautiful, spacious room, which is really a tiny broom closet with an open window barely large enough to fit my head through. A metal cot is pushed against one side, and pieces of hay poke from the lumpy mattress.
“Gee, thank you,” I murmur. “The Spring Court heir really went all out for our accommodations.”
The nymph doesn’t speak sarcasm, apparently, because she gives me an odd look before saying, “Yes, the Spring Prince is generous and beautiful. Everyone says so.”
I’m fairly sure everyone only says so because they like living. I’m also fairly certain she’s serious about locking us in until after dinner.
“What do we do if we need to use the restroom?”
She nods cheerfully to a bucket in the corner.
“You can’t be serious?”
“You’ll be safe in your chamber,” she repeats before closing the door. A click of the lock follows.
By the time dinner rolls around, I’m contemplating trying to shimmy out my tiny window to the ground three stories below. Twilight fell hours ago, and the only light in my room comes from two lanterns filled to the brim with trapped fireflies. Their glow is ethereal, otherworldly, but it comes at a cruel price.
I’ve just finished setting the second lantern of fireflies free when a garden hob opens my door, blinks curiously at the swarm of free fireflies, hands me a covered plate, and leaves.
I hold my breath, waiting to hear the lock click, but it never comes. My relief gives way to disappointment as I survey my dinner—a meager portion of elderberries, pistachios, dried mushrooms and beets, a chilled melon soup, and a wheel of some type of soft cheese.
One would think by now the Fae would remember what mortals eat, but I’m too happy about my release to ruminate on it.
A hob with a warty nose leads me outside to an interior courtyard reserved for mortals. Torches of magic line the stone walls. Their glow reveals a small gathering area surrounded by well-kept gardens, a pond, and a hedge maze.
A few other fourth years mill around the pond, while more recline on the benches scattering the courtyard.
“Summer!”
The gravel crunches beneath my sneakers as I turn, my spirits soaring. Mack rushes toward me so fast I think she’s going to tackle me. Actually—
The force of her hug sends us sprawling into the nearest azalea bushes.
Ignoring the strange stares from the other students, we sit on our butts, laughing as we pull twigs and petals from our hair.
“I’m so sorry,” Mack says when she finally catches her breath. “I—I should have called you.”
“It’s okay.” I find her hand and squeeze. “Really. I understand why you had to enter the final gauntlet, and why you might be mad at me.”
“Even if I’m competing with you to win?”
I haven’t told her the reason I have to win—my bargain with Helle-Douche—but she assumes I’m motivated by the internship. To apply, I only had to be enrolled in the final gauntlet, and as long as I pass, technically I’ll still be considered for the position.
But everyone knows the Summer Queen will likely choose the winner of the gauntlet for the internship spot.
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather compete against,” I say.
Mack scoots back until she finds a patch of plush grass to lay back on. “I shouldn’t have blamed you for failing school. It wasn’t just that one test. This whole year has been an epic fail. I let Reina get in my head. I was so focused on not eating and keeping up with some stupid standard that it was impossible to focus. And then, when you declared you were applying for the internship . . . I just felt lost, you know? Like you were leaving me behind.”
“Never. If you had only told me everything you were going through, we could have dealt with it together.”
“That’s what Asher said. He’s surprisingly full of wisdom . . . sometimes.” I raise my eyebrow and she adds, “He came to Manhattan to help me train over the break. He and Eclipsa. She didn’t tell you?”
I shake my head, stunned.
