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"It would be the easiest way to see if she’s keeping the violin in her chambers You could even offer to serenade her"

"If Titania discovers me, I’ll be dead before I have a chance to draw edy? "Ice-boy," I said, grinning, "please As if I would let that happen Your disguise is foolproof Just don’t use Winter glah his hair and leaned closer "Puck," he said in a harsh voice "I…I can’t do it This isn’t a ga h treason and besides…" He looked away, his face tightening "I’et the violin back, or not?" He actually looked stricken, and I felt a little sorry for the guy "Look, ice-boy," I whispered, "I don’t expect you to take her to bed, or even kiss her Just the thought of that…ugh!" I shuddered and pushed the thought away, drawing reat, now that ie is stuck inTell her about your ‘adventures’ Then if she gets too touchy-feely, excuse yourself and get out I’ll take care of the rest"

"I don’t like it"

"I didn’t think you would Hold still" Swiftly I brought the dagger up, cutting a strand of his long hair before he could react It dropped into ed, ice-boy"

Ash reared back, eyes flashing, fingers going to his sword I shot hi his hand fro, Goodfellow?" he snarled

"Keep it down, Prince" I studied the strand between e from pale blond to jet-black, and smirked "It’s all part of the plan, don’t worry"

With a loud creak, the gates swung open and a satyr in a herald’s uniforo, ice-boy Try to keep it together in front of the queen"

Chapter Four

Ill Met by Moonlight, Proud Titania

We walked through the gate into the flowering tunnel of thorns on the other side I breathed in deeply and sighed, loving the potent, fragrant smells of the forest Beside me, Ash did not look as enauess I couldn’t bla into the heart of eneic or his weapon Iwasn’t so darn a

The tunnel ended in a curtain of vines Dark shapes and a haunting, eerie tune filled the air on the other side The melody pulled atat Ash, and the pale deter back now, ice-boy," I h the curtain into the room beyond

Oberon and Titania’s throne roo a vaulted ceiling overhead Thick es of the clearing A waterfall trickled into a crystal pool, where will-o-the-wisps and piskie lights danced, bobbing through the clearing like drunken stars Suentry, in their ridiculously fancy outfits, sat or stood around a pair of thrones in the , one empty, but the other quite occupied

Oberon wasn’t here, of course, but Queen Titania sat on her throne with the s a flock of , beautiful, absolutely captivating Yeah, I guess she is, but so is a volcanic eruption, and probably less volatile Working in the Seelie Court is certainly interesting at times, to say the least The Summer rulers have caused floods and wildfires in the ue into thehairpin Fortunately Oberon can usually cales and temper tantrums…when he decides to involve himself, that is Many times, he turns a blind eye to his wife’s activities--until they affect hi seemed to notice us as we ca at the foot of her throne Ash took in the roolance, and his eyes suddenly widened I followed his gaze, and my heart sank

Theand dark and beautiful, wasn’t played by any of Titania’s harp girls or servants or faery e at first, because it was of a kind not normally heard in the faery courts It wasn’t a harp, or a flute or any of the strange ical instru played by a ht as she sawed and ripped at the strings She wore a siany hair was the same color as the instrument in her arms Her eyes were closed as she played for her inhunorant of the queen’s dainty white hand resting atop her skull

And I knew Leanansidhe’s prized possession, and Titania’s newest plaything, wasn’t the instruirl herself This was our "violin"

Well, things just got a lot irl’s eyes opened, dark and serious and a tad bemused, as if she wasn’t quite sure if this was a drea their hands and breathing save a small, pleased sirl’s hair with her fingers The sazed up at the faery queen with soleretfully Her voice was reedy and breathless, as if the violin had taken all the volu" She sniffed and bit her bottom lip "I’m sorry, I wanted to play it better"

"Oh, my dear, it was perfect" Titania sirl’s face "Wasn’t it?" she added, looking fiercely at the nobles, who tittered and nodded and ree inaudible and shot lance