After Caliath had left, Morgana tossed and turned in bed, too giddy to fall asleep.

He was going to take her out to dinner tomorrow night for their first date. She threw off the golden plush duvet and stared at the fireflies dancing across her ceiling. Her skin was flushed, too warm. She smiled, unable to contain the excitement in her belly as she played their conversation over in her mind.

"Where are you taking me?" Morgana had asked. She'd nervously smoothed down her tangled hair, hyperaware that it was messy and that she was in her pale nightgown. Her previous rage at Caliath had prevented her from caring about the fact that she was indecently dressed in front of him.

Caliath had given her a sly smile. "You'll see."

A grin had drifted across her face. Of course he'd make it a surprise.

But when the first rays of dawn peeked through Morgana's curtains, curiosity got the better of her, so she fetched a book off her shelf that had a map of Aeperos Court in it. Her eyes trailed over the map, to the northern part of Elysia where the Vale Territory was. A territory that housed the Aeperian Seer Sect and Lake Vale, a lake that was so large that it had a community of mermaids in it. Would he take her there? Or perhaps he'd take her to the Frigard Territory? Where the large snowcapped mountains scraped the sky and sprawled the terrain. At the base of those mountains lay the Cursed Forest, the former battlefield where the Witches' War had taken place. Her eyes darted over the land that was between the Vale and Frigard Territories. The land that Caliath and his family owned, a mountainous wintery terrain full of forests and rivers. A thrill skipped down Morgana's spine as she imagined them together, alone, and wondered what the night would bring.

***

After a few hours of restless sleep Morgana got up and went to the library to help Tithonia. The day passed by in a blur of stacking and shelving books until the sun dipped below the horizon in a fiery blaze. Aelys leant against a wall outside the library and waited for Morgana to finish her volunteer work. Purple wisteria fluttered down and into the aquamarine pool behind Aelys, where some sprites played with a floating candle. The afternoon sunset bathed the hallway with golden light, making Aelys's blond hair glimmer and her silky emerald gown shine. Morgana wore an orange chiffon dress that streamed behind her as she jogged out of the library. A grin broke across her face as she excitedly told her sister about the date.

"I thought you were upset with him?" Aelys frowned, pushing away from the wall.

"I was but we've sorted it out. Will you please cover me for dinner?"

Aelys crossed her arms. "You still haven't told me what he did that made you so miserable."

"He'll tell you himself."

Aelys arched a brow. "Really? So, I can claw his eyes out for hurting you? Not terribly bright, is he?"

"Aelys!"

The princess rolled her eyes.

"Be nice to him when he tells you."

"That depends on how I feel." Aelys looked down her nose, jaw tight. "Did he do something that jeopardized our plan?"

"No."

Aelys's eyes narrowed.

"I promise it wasn't that."

"Alright then." Aelys inhaled, lips pursed, reluctant. "I'll cover for you."

"Thank you. You're the best!" Morgana gave Aelys a hug that squeezed the breath out of her.

"Just be careful, okay." They parted and Aelys brushed a lock of hair out of Morgana's eyes. "I don't want him hurting you again." Her brows knitted.

"I'll be fine." Morgana grinned and skipped off down the hallway, missing the concerned look that Aelys gave her.

All too soon, Morgana was fresh out of the bath and slipping into a gossamer lilac gown. She spritzed herself with rose water and fretted about whether she should wear her hair up or down. She decided on leaving it out, and with nothing left to do, she paced around the room, stomach fluttering, as she waited for Caliath to arrive. Morgana was wondering whether she should have a glass of wine to calm her nerves when Caliath stepped out of a shadow near her bookcase.

Morgana's breath caught in her throat. He looked so ...

Caliath's raven hair was elegantly styled, and he wore a fine black velvet suit with jade embroidery. A dark cloak was around his shoulders and a smile was on his lips. A smile that made the fluttering in Morgana's stomach worse.

Caliath paused and his gaze trailed over Morgana. Heat bloomed over her skin.

"You are ..." He took a step forward. "Utterly beguiling."

Morgana's heart quickened. She knew she should say something but words had left her, along with the air in her lungs.

He held out a hand. "Shall we?"

***

Soon, they were leaping into shadows, dashing past the woods, and jumping over the border and into Aeperos Court. It grew chillier with each jump until there was a bite of frost in the air. Morgana glimpsed snowcapped mountains and a pine forest. They darted past wide-open fields, churning rivers, and a leafless vineyard. The starry sky was clear and a crescent moon glowed. Morgana vaguely wondered whether Caliath was going to take her to Aeperos Castle when he slowed down and they emerged into a silver birch forest where the leaves had yellowed. Morgana clasped Caliath's warm hand as the chill settled around them. A bubbling brook was up ahead.

"Not much further now," Caliath murmured. They emerged out of the trees and over to the brook where clear water gurgled under a quaint wooden bridge that was lined with candles. Morgana took a moment to take it all in.

"Did you put these candles here?" She turned to Caliath.

He nodded and gave her a smile. Under the moonlight he was so beautiful that he didn't seem real. He was like some fabled creature that Morgana had imagined.

"It's enchanting," her voice was soft and her cheeks flushed. Morgana gave him a shy smile and Caliath gently led her over the bridge and up a grassy incline, towards a cave where light flickered.

Her mouth dropped open when they stepped inside.

Spaced out on the grass were hundreds of candles that made the opal cave shimmer with rainbow light. Clumps of white luminescent flowers swayed on a breeze, and at the back of the cave was a waterfall that gushed into a small lake. Next to the shoreline was a pale plush blanket and a basket.

Morgana's throat was tight. "Did you set this all up?"

Caliath nodded.

"It's ... beautiful. No one has ever done anything like this for me before."

"Do you like it?"

"Of course."

Caliath smiled and quietly led her to the picnic and unpacked an array of exquisite cheeses, colorful fruit, and a steaming pie from the basket that smelled of chicken and herbs. A bottle of sparkling champagne was also there. Morgana gazed around in awed silence, listening to the waterfall. The flowers sweetened the air, and it was not at all what Morgana would've expected a cave to smell like. She marveled at the many shades of opal that arced overhead, a cathedral of fiery orange, pale pink, and white. She didn't realize that Aeperos Court could have such beautiful places in it.

Caliath handed Morgana a small plate that had a slice of pie. She placed a forkful of it into her mouth and the buttery pastry melted on her tongue. The savory gravy was rich with deliciously herbed chicken, mushrooms, and cream.

"You like it?"

Morgana nodded. It was one of the most delicious meals she'd ever had.

Caliath smiled. "I'm glad because it would've broken my heart if you said the pie was rubbish." He popped a grape into his mouth.

"And why is that?

"Because I made it."

"Wow." Morgana ate another piece, restraining the urge to devour it in front of him. "It's so good! Who taught you how to cook?"

"My cousin Aurora did on her days off. She taught me when I was a faeling and said that every soldier should know how to hunt and cook because it could mean the difference between survival and death if you're out in the wild. At first, she took me hunting and then we'd cook whatever we'd caught. But after that it became a sort of passion of mine. I would sneak into the kitchens and watch Albert the Head Chef prepare meals." Caliath smiled, teeth flashing white. "He taught me how to cook properly."

"I wish I knew how to cook."

"I can teach you."

"I'd love that." Morgana grinned. Thoughts of her and Caliath cooking a meal together in some foreign kitchen drifted through her mind. A kitchen filled with warm light where Caliath smiled at her as some aromatic dish baked in the oven. Deep down Morgana knew that it was a fantasy. A dream for a future when it wouldn't be dangerous for them to be together. Maybe they'll be able to live out such a simple wish soon.

They ate in comfortable silence and Caliath poured Morgana a glass of cold sparkling champagne.

"Have you been using your water ability much?" She sipped the champagne. It was light and bubbly and spread warmth throughout her body.

"Only a little. When I'm alone."

"Do your parents know about it?"

"No. You're the only one that knows. If my parents or cousins found out, they'd turn me in to Erik." Caliath's throat bobbed.

"That's right ... because of the contract." Morgana placed her glass down. "Even though it's new to you at least you can make an arrow out of ice. I wish I could."

"You'll get there. I've had years of practice using the elements. Plus, you're still new to your magic." Caliath leaned back onto his elbows.

"How long did it take you to master the elements?"

"A while. My elements were out of control when I was a faeling. Whenever I'd lose my temper, I'd accidentally break something with my earth magic or set fire to some furniture. I always got into trouble over it. Eventually, I gained control during my teen years when I was professionally trained."

"But I don't have years to get better though," Morgana sighed.

"You're a fast learner and a witch. Even though Andras set you back, it won't take you long to get to where you were before and even further than that." Caliath gave Morgana a reassuring look.

"I suppose so." She watched the flowers and grass ripple with the wind.

"Don't be so hard on yourself."

Morgana finished her champagne. "Are all your elements equally powerful?"

"Water is my weakest so far. But my earth and fire magic are the same strength."

"That's interesting." Morgana lay on her side and propped her head on her hand. Her other arm was stretched out in front of her. "Aelys says her air magic is stronger than her earth magic."

"Really?" Caliath faced her. "What about you and the other Golight royals?" He shifted closer so that they were facing each other.

"Damon's water and earth magic are on par with each other. I don't know about my mother or Erik. For me, I don't feel any one of the elements is stronger than the other yet."

Caliath began tracing a pattern on the back of Morgana's hand. "Do you think Briar and Aelys will be mad when I tell them about my water ability?"

"No. Although, I did tell Aelys to be nice to you. She knew that something had happened between us."

A pause and then, "I truly am sorry about that." Caliath brought Morgana's hand up to his lips and kissed it.

Morgana blinked and warmth crept up her cheeks. Caliath's eyes lingered on her face. "What's Aeperos Castle like?" she blurted.

Caliath smiled and placed her hand down. "One day you'll see it."

"So mysterious."

"I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. I want to see the look on your face when I take you there."

Morgana smiled. "Where do your parents think you are now?"

"They think I'm out searching for the missing grimoire. Erik knows we couldn't have taken it because of the contract, so he ordered my father to help find it."

"Little does he know." Morgana snorted.

"That I already know where it really is."

They shared a grin.

"What was it like growing up in Aeperos Court?"

Caliath lay on his back and placed his hands behind his head. "I grew up learning about how our court betrayed fae-kind in the war." He closed his eyes. "But after a time, I got sick of it. I got sick of hearing how bad we were when I saw how the Golights treated us. I got sick of bowing to them."

"That can't have been easy." Morgana glanced at him, took note of his serene profile, at the way the light danced over his dark brows, his closed lids, and the soft contours of his mouth. He looked as if he were asleep.

Caliath's eyes opened, as green as the grass around them. "It's what made me want to change things for my court. I'm lucky I've had Orin throughout it all. He understood my values when I clashed with my parents over their rulership. Orin's not under the contract though, that's probably why he has the same values as me when it comes to our courts."

"So, you don't get on with your parents?"

"Sometimes I do. I'm closer to my mother." There was a wistful expression on his face. "She's fierce. She's the one who taught me how to use my elements in combat."

Morgana smiled. "She sounds incredible."

"She is. How was it for you, growing up in Golah Court?" Caliath turned to his side and faced Morgana again. He brushed a lock of dark hair back off his face, it fell back, brushing along his sharp cheekbone.

Morgana sighed. "Well, because everyone thinks I'm a human I was bullied by the fae when I was in school. I was afraid all the time. I kept thinking either the fae were either going to kill me or that the magic in the land would." Morgana's throat worked. "I was lonely. I had no friends except for Damon. He made living there bearable."

There was regret in Caliath's eyes as he clasped Morgana's hand. "I hate how that happened to you. I wish you'd grown up in our court and that your parents weren't taken from you ... Do you think about them often?"

"I do. I miss them. I miss the joy I used to feel when they were with me. I miss that innocence ... I hate how that future with my parents was stolen from me."

"I wish they were still here."

"Me too." Morgana swallowed. "Have you ever lost anyone you'd loved?"

A somberness stole over Caliath's face and he was quiet for a moment as if it were hard to find the words. He swallowed. "I lost my friend, Kai."

"What happened?"

"Twenty years ago, on the morning after Autumn Ceremony, I received a report from Lord Frigard that a young pixie was kidnapped in Frigard Village. The family was asleep when it happened. The guards found a claw mark near her cot." Caliath sat up. "A claw mark that indicated it had been a sluagh that had taken her."

Morgana sat up too, eyes wide.

"Back then, Kai, Orin, and I were all best friends. We'd gone to the same school and had stuck by each other's sides, until that day." He let out a shuddering breath. "Kai was a spy and was Willow's second-in-command. He found blood on the windowsill that trailed into the Frigard Mountains. So, we went there to rescue the pixie but ..." His voice wavered. "When we crested the lip of the mountain we found a small pit, in front of a cave, and inside it was the pixie's remains. We were too late. Then suddenly we were surrounded by the sluagh. There were all these eyes gleaming at us out of the darkness. The snarling was something I'd never forget ... there was too many of them."

Morgana placed a hand on Caliath's arm. A horrible feeling in her chest.

"Chaos erupted. Kai never made it out because one of the sluagh clawed his neck open. At that point I lost it." There was a haunted look in his eyes. "I crushed all the sluagh with my earth magic." He ran a hand through his hair. "I'll never forget the look on Willow's face. She didn't know that I was capable of doing that."

"How many were there?"

"A hundred."

Morgana's stomach flipped. For Caliath to be able to kill that many at once, it meant that he had to be one of the most powerful earth users in Elysia.

"I'm sorry about Kai."

"I just wish I'd killed them before they'd gotten to Kai. But my grief, in that moment, was what made my magic change. It was what made me strong enough to kill so many."

"So, emotions do play a part with the elements."

"Very much so. It was as if the Goddess knew that I needed that strength in that moment."

A silenced settled around them and Morgana voiced a grave thought that had plagued her for a while. "What if our plan fails? What would happen between us if ..."

Caliath locked eyes with her. "All we have is the present, and right now we're together and that's more than I could ever ask for."

He shifted closer until they were eye to eye. Gently, Caliath cupped her face, thumb brushing along her jaw until everything faded away. Morgana's breath quickened as Caliath's gaze flicked to her lips then back to her eyes. A tension wove between them that filled the cave with a heavy silence. He leaned in, hand gliding to the back of her head, as hyacinth swirled around Morgana. She closed her eyes. Then soft lips were on hers and heat exploded underneath her skin.