The murmurs in the ballroom died.

Morgana's stomach roiled as if she'd drank curdled milk.

"Her Majesty, Queen Larania of Golah Court!" announced the gnome.

Queen Larania glided through the doors as gracefully as a swan, head held high. A smattering of applause followed, and Morgana's mouth ran dry as she looked at the ceiling.

All too shortly Damon was announced, then Aelys.

Morgana's heart thundered as she stepped up to the doors, a loud ringing in her ears.

"Lady Morgana of Golah Court!" the gnome's voice echoed, as if he were shouting from down a deep well.

She stepped through the doorway, and the smell of intoxicating flowers and fruit wrapped around her in a delicious ribbon. The ceiling of the ballroom dripped wisteria and fireflies waltzed between the petals. Under her shoes the ground was carpeted with a mosaic of different petals. Up the white quartz pillars climbed roses, orchids, and lilies. Small trees dotted the floor and next to them were tables overflowing with sugared berries, peaches, and apples. There were glasses of sparkling champagne and ruby wine, ready to be taken.

"Move," hissed the gnome.

Morgana hadn't realized she'd froze in the entryway. Face heating, she hurried down the red carpet and took a sharp turn to where a crowd of aristocratic and wealthy fae stood. They were resplendent in gowns and suits in all colors. Morgana's blood pounded, as beautiful, elegant fae turned to her like wolves scenting a rabbit. Lips smirked and noses wrinkled. Morgana's eyes went to the floor. She tried not to search for her bullies.

She knew they were there.

She could feel it.

The red carpet went through the crowd to a dais, where her family sat on thrones made of gold and gemstones. An empty chair for Morgana was on the dais below Aelys. In the middle was King Erik on the most opulent throne. He wore a suit made of dark velvet with a gold crown on his long platinum hair. He gazed at Morgana with a stony expression.

Lined up below the dais were two female fae debuting that spring. They wore sparkling white gowns like Morgana's gown, a symbol of their debutante status.

However, Morgana felt as if her dress symbolized her as chum for the sharks. She glanced at Damon who was staring at her wide-eyed. He jerked his head as if to say, move. Morgana blinked and forced her numb feet to walk through the sea of sneering aristocrats. Her stomach churned as she curtseyed to her mother. Morgana lined up next to Octavia, a former classmate who had pale skin, pink hair, and smelled of petunias.

Larania's gown rustled as she stood up. "My esteemed members of Golah Court. I'm proud to present to you Lady Scilla, Lady Octavia, and Lady Morgana as our new debutantes this spring!"

Applause followed.

"These ladies are exceptional members of our community and whoever shall take them as wives will be a lucky fae indeed." Larania grinned. "Lady Scilla is especially talented at dance, loves to read, and is one of our best fire users." Larania gestured to a beautiful fae with lavender hair and dark skin.

"Lady Octavia has a flair for cooking and has used her earth magic to help build homes in Golah Village."

Murmurs of appreciation rippled through the crowd as various ladies and lords looked at Octavia with interest.

"Lady Morgana is a member of the Golah household, who loves to garden and sew."

Morgana blinked. She'd never planted a thing in her life, and she hated sewing.

"As a human she has survived the magic of Elysia and this speaks to her strength of character. She would make a wonderful addition to anyone's household." Larania smiled warmly at her adopted daughter.

Morgana's cheeks flamed and she turned back to the crowd, wishing she could just crawl into a cave and die. Most of the fae were trying to hold in their laughter behind pursed lips. They wouldn't seriously consider her for marriage. Especially when matches were made for elemental strength, or status. After that mortifying announcement, Morgana sat down on her chair, glad that it was over. The other debutantes melted into the crowd.

The Lords of Golah Court were sprinkled throughout the crowd. Lord Osiah Elwyn, owner of the erudium mines and ruler of the Elwyn Territory, was near the front. He was an air user who wore a suit of sunburnt orange that complimented his dark skin. His eyelids shimmered gold from butterfly powder. Next to him was Lord Devlin Dranadak, Queen Larania's father. He was a water user with a stern face and short white hair. Devlin wore a simple navy blue suit, not one for embellishments or jewelry. His territory prospered through vegetable and cattle farms.

The crowd stilled, as the gnome announced, "I present to you, Lady Aurora Frigard and Lady Willow Frigard of Aeperos Court!"

Two fae who looked as if they were a decade older than Morgana marched down the red carpet. They wore dark armor with swords strapped to their hips and an array of knives nestled in their belts. Willow and Aurora were identical with brown skin, auburn hair, and hazel eyes. The one named Willow sported a tattoo of a beast on her neck that looked awfully like an aswang, a monstrous faery that loved to dine on the hearts and livers of humans.

Dread coiled in Morgana's stomach, as murmurs broke out amongst the crowd. Some of the Golights hissed insults at the newcomers. Aelys's eyes narrowed, as the two Aeperian fae approached. Erik and Larania's features were schooled into cold masks. And Damon's lip curled in disgust.

No, the Aeperians were not welcome in their court.

Ever since they'd sided with the witches in the war an animosity had festered between the two courts.

The two Aeperian fae wore blank looks on their faces, as if they were used to this kind of treatment. Morgana was awed by their presence because she'd never seen a guard who was a lady. It was an oddly progressive move by the Aeperians because none of the ladies in Golah Court were allowed to be part of the guard. Under King Erik's rule, the highest achievement and main purpose a lady could attain was marriage and motherhood.

The two Aeperians halted before the throne and stood to attention.

"I present King Magnus, Queen Odessa, and Prince Caliath of Aeperos Court," the gnome announced.

Morgana leaned forward, curiosity spiking. She was eager to see what the royal Aeperos family looked like. Today was the first time she'd ever laid eyes on any Aeperian.

King Magnus and Queen Odessa strode forward, arm in arm, and Morgana's eyes widened. King Magnus was a striking fae with olive skin, bronze eyes, and short black hair. He wore a simple crown of white gold, and a magnificent black suit with white snakeroot embroidery. Queen Odessa was equally divine with pale skin, jade eyes, and a sheet of glossy fiery hair. She wore a matching crown of white gold, and a black gown layered with silvery organza that made her look as if she were draped in the night sky.

Morgana had heard all sorts of tales about the Aeperians at court, about how they were evil and how they delighted in the pain of others. She'd assumed the royals would be as frightening as the sluagh, horrendous faeries with glowing eyes, sharp teeth and talons, who hunted in packs and ripped fae apart. It was said that the sluagh were the reincarnations of the dead that had committed unforgivable deeds. They resided in the mountains that bordered both courts, independent of either Aeperos or Golah Court's rule.

But no, the Aeperian King and Queen didn't look monstrous or didn't seem evil. But Morgana knew that looks could be deceiving.

Behind them was their son, Prince Caliath, who looked to be about Morgana's age. Her breath caught in her throat. Caliath was the most beautiful fae she'd ever seen. He had olive skin, high cheekbones, and full lips. Caliath wore a dark suit with nightshade embroidery on the collar and cuffs. A white gold crown wove around his thick dark hair. Morgana's cheeks burned when Caliath's alluring emerald eyes met hers.

She looked away, stomach flipping.

A tense silence fell.

Caliath had looked away from her and was now glaring at Damon.

"Welcome to Spring Ceremony, citizens of Golah Court and Aeperos Court," King Erik announced. "Today we give back to the Goddess for the bounties she has provided us through the season of spring. Thanks be to the Goddess."

The crowd murmured their thanks.

"Please join me as we head out for the ceremony. Afterwards, we shall feast on the fruits of spring and remember this as a time of bounty, fruition, and new beginnings."

Applause rippled throughout the room as King Erik stood up.

The Aeperians stepped aside and flanked the edge of the red carpet to make way for Erik. He strode past them, followed by Larania, Damon, then Aelys. Morgana was last. She dared another look at Prince Caliath and his eyes met hers again. His face was blank as if he were looking at something unimportant. Unremarkable. Morgana looked away, stomach fluttering as a flush crept up her neck.

The fae went through a set of glass double doors and onto the sprawling lawns behind the castle. The fresh air was a welcome reprieve from the cloying, flowery scents of the ballroom. Magenta and gold streaked the sky from the setting sun as they walked down a stone path and over a hill. In the distance were the woods that stretched for miles. A cool breeze rustled the trees. Under a giant oak tree stood the High Seer; a stooped, wrinkled fae named Balthazaar who had a puff of white hair. He wore a white robe edged with the gold markings of the Seer Sect and he held a staff. At his feet was a line of freshly tilled earth, planted with seeds. Orbs filled with light floated in the air beside him.

"Go over there, Morgana. This part is not for you." Larania nodded to a spot under a willow tree.

Morgana walked away, and her family lined up in front of the soil with the Aeperoses. The rest of the fae gathered behind them, like spectators about to watch a play. The High Seer stomped his staff, silencing the murmurs from the crowd.

"Today we must honor the Goddess through Spring Ceremony. As a token of our gratitude the strongest fae of Elysia must nourish the earth with their blood," Balthazaar said.

"Thanks be to the Goddess," murmured the crowd.

The royal families of Golah Court and Aeperos Court raised an arm with their palms facing the soil. The High Seer thumped his staff and sliced their palms with earth magic. Blood dripped from their hands and into the earth, scenting the air with iron. The royal fae stepped back as shoots sprung up from the ground and grew into tiny trees. Their cuts healed within seconds.

Magic hummed, vibrating along Morgana's skin, and lifting her hair. It smelled like a blooming rosebud, felt like the sun dawning over the land, and tasted like a mouthful of juicy sweet strawberries. The fae heaved a collective sigh as the magic of spring washed over them. But Morgana's heart thundered as she did her best to hide her panic. How much damage had the magic from the ceremony caused? How much closer to death was she now because if it? Would her elixir be enough to stop it? A bead of sweat trickled down her neck, as she closed her eyes, and willed her breath to slow down.

"And so, the magic of spring spreads to the farthest corners of Elysia and we give thanks to the Goddess for her gifts!" said the High Seer.

With the ceremony ended all the fae strolled back towards the castle and chatted in friendly groups. Morgana kept close behind Damon, unsure of where she stood in all of this.

***

The ball was in full swing as Morgana hid behind a tiny elm tree. A table of fruit and wine sat next to her, an excellent buffer, because the fae were more interested in the food than her. She watched the fae dance gracefully around the ballroom, their laughter and chatter rippling through the air like windchimes. The music was lively, and Morgana would've loved to dance if she wasn't so sure the fae would laugh at her.

Instead, she filled her time by searching the crowd for her bullies.

A flash of blond hair to her right had Morgana jumping, thinking it was Dain. But it was only Aelys, slinging a pale arm around Brighid Tarragon. Brighid was Aelys's best friend, and the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She was beautiful in an iridescent gown, with curly raven hair, and dark skin. They laughed, clinking their wine glasses. Their friendship made loneliness grow in Morgana's gut, like weeds choking the life out of a garden.

When she was ten years old, she'd tried to get Aelys to play with her in the hopes of forming a sisterly bond. Instead, Aelys had scolded her and had always been too busy to play. Her nose would wrinkle as if Morgana were a disgusting bug she'd stepped on.

"Can't you see that I've other things to do?" Aelys had admonished her.

Morgana tried again when she was fifteen, this time she'd asked Aelys to help her pick an outfit for school.

Aelys had scoffed, "Why? It's not as if anyone cares what you look like."

After that Morgana stopped trying.

Morgana scanned the crowd for her brother. Damon was at the far end of the ballroom, chatting to Aunt Gwynn. A pale fae with platinum hair, who wore a silvery gown.

So much for him keeping her company like he'd promised.

Elias, Lord of the Auron Territory joined them. He was Gwynn's son, and a handsome fae with blue eyes and dark hair. The Auron Territory was rich with gold and gemstone mines and was responsible for most of Golah Court's wealth. Elias's sister, Serena, had her mother's pale skin and her father's chocolate hair. Even though they were adoptive cousins, Serena didn't acknowledge Morgana's existence. She walked past Morgana as if she were a bit of decoration near the tables and gave Aelys a hug. Morgana didn't care, it's not as if she and Serena were friends.

A familiar figure caught Morgana's eye and ice froze her insides. On the edge of the ballroom was Alston, wearing a plum brocade suit and sipping a glass of red wine. Next to him was Dain, wearing a suit the color of baby vomit. And there was Elvenia, who wore a horrible gown encrusted with topaz. Judging by Elvenia's scowl and her fidgeting, the gown was as uncomfortable as it looked.

Morgana backed away into the shadows, hoping that they hadn't spotted her. But somehow Alston's dark eyes found her, like an eagle spotting a vole fleeing in the tall grass. She froze, heart racing. A slow vampire's grin spread across his face. She swallowed her scream. Damon was too far away, and Morgana couldn't count on Erik or Aelys for any help. But there, in the crowd was Larania, weaving her way towards Antonio Undine who wore a cerulean gown. He was next to his husband, Nasir Undine, Lord of the Undine Islands who wore a seafoam green suit.

Morgana fled towards her mother, panic clawing up her throat like a wild animal. She bumped into dancing fae.

Larania turned in Morgana's direction.

"Mother!" Morgana waved a hand, but a twirling couple knocked her to the floor. Pain jolted her knees.

The couple continued on as if she were nothing.

Red faced, Morgana stumbled to her feet. Thankfully, there was a patch of space up ahead where the King and Queen of Aeperos Court whirled. Fae scurried out of their way, like schools of fish fleeing a pair of sharks. Morgana would be able to reach her mother faster if she went towards the Aeperian King and Queen. Prince Caliath was nearby with the two Aeperian guards, a dazzling smile on his face as he chatted with them.

Suddenly, Caliath looked up and met Morgana's gaze. His smile wavered and his brows knitted.

Morgana looked away, desperate to get to her mother.

The crowd moved and blocked her way as the Aeperian King and Queen moved on.

"No!" Morgana's eyes stung with tears.

A hand landed on her shoulder. "Going somewhere?" Alston asked.

She turned. Dain and Elvenia flanked him, smirks on their faces.

"Leave me alone." Morgana swatted Alston's hand away.

"It's been a while since we saw you." Elvenia's eyes trailed over Morgana like a butcher about to carve up a cow.

"My family's here."

Dain's blue eyes flitted over the crowd. "So? They're not watching."

"Besides, we're just chatting. Nothing wrong with that." Alston brushed a finger down Morgana's cheek.

She flinched and took a step back.

Elvenia grabbed her wrist, nails digging in like pincers. "You don't get to walk away this time."

"There's too many fae around. You can't do anything."

"Can't I?" Elvenia jerked Morgana forward, she was close enough to smell the wine on Elvenia's breath. "None of the fae care about you."

As if to prove her point, Aelys's group of friends danced past them like spinning leaves in a chuckling brook. Aelys didn't notice Morgana at all. Instead, she was laughing with Brighid and heading towards the center of the ballroom.

"Once we're through with you, they'll think one of the Aeperians did it." Elvenia grinned.

"Yes, like that half-fae Lucas that was killed by an Aeperian fideal in the village last week," Dain said. "Drowned in Golah Lake."

"Yes, they're always getting into trouble," Alston agreed. "It'll be easy to blame one of them." He nodded towards the Aeperian royals, behind Morgana.

Prince Caliath was staring at them, and his frown had deepened.

Hope soared in Morgana's chest. Maybe he could help her?

Morgana moved in his direction, but Elvenia pulled her back. "Don't even think about it. The Aeperians hate humans."

And just like that, Morgana's hope disappeared like a dream at the first crack of dawn.

"I don't get why the royal family keeps her around," Dain said to Alston.

"She's like a pet to them." Alston cocked his head. "I wish I had a human pet."

Morgana's head spun. Was it the fear that was making her so dizzy? Or was it the suffocating fae sweat that smelled like rotting flowers under the hot sun?

"I've always wanted to kill a human." Alston brought his face close to Morgana's and it was like looking into the eyes of a snake. Without a second thought Morgana headbutted him and pain exploded across her forehead. Alston yelped, blood spurting from his nose.

Morgana broke free and ran through the crowd. Yells erupted as she knocked fae aside. She searched the crowd for her mother, but Larania had disappeared. A choked sob escaped her lips, and she ran to where the crowd was thinnest. If she could get outside, she could lose them.

Morgana burst through the glass double doors. Small groups of fae stared at her. Some raised their brows and snickered, others went back to their conversations as if nothing had happened. The moon glowed and a cool breeze caressed Morgana's forehead. Various fae milled about on the lawns, drinking, and talking.

Morgana looked over her shoulder. Dain, Alston, and Elvenia were gone, but that didn't mean she was in the clear. She needed to keep moving. Morgana ran down a path that edged around the castle. Her footsteps crunched on gravel as she fled through hedges and crystal archways, until she reached the rear of the castle where the gardens were.

All was silent, except for the blood pounding in her ears.

She crouched against the castle wall as sweat dripped down her neck. After a moment she peered around the corner, to see if she was in the clear. There was no one there. Morgana sighed in relief. She'd lost them. But if they found her, she was confident that she'd be able to escape them in the maze, considering it was only a few yards away. Will-o'-the-wisps bobbed through the maze, like floating lanterns carried by ghosts. Faint laughter drifted out of the darkness, drunk fae delighting in what the maze offered.

Even though Damon had trained her in combat, Morgana knew that she didn't stand a chance against Elvenia, Dain, and Alston. A while ago she'd asked Damon what to do if she were cornered by a fae ever again. He'd given her a look so serious that a chill had crept down her neck.

"You run," he'd said.

Morgana needed to find Damon or Larania and tell them what had happened. She stood up and was dusting her gown off as she turned the corner. That was when Morgana collided into someone's chest.