We didn’t have makeup, but Kaley twisted my frizzy hair into a braid. She tossed a jade dress my way with tulle spurting from the skirt like an upside-down fountain of stiff slime.

Kaley’s wood armour was gone; she fashioned a slender turquoise gown. I couldn’t guess how she’d gotten her hands on the dresses, but with her dark brown hair and green eyes, she looked pretty. I, on the other hand, looked like I’d just crawled out of the sewers.

We walked in silence through Timber Castle. Cold wind rushed down the halls through the shattered windows. “We’re being watched,” Kaley said.

I glanced back and sure enough, two burly men drifted around the corner a second after we did.

Kaley led the way to the spiral staircase, newly embellished with dangling streamers of lights. The pin-point-size bulbs hung like a curtain of stars, brilliantly kissing the staircase with the glow of a false sunset.

At the bottom, Eliot waited, back in his silver jacket with the missing button. I spotted Zane and Lucas further off.

Zane was rigid until I reached him and spoke. “Guess who? It’s your favourite grumpy Trite.” His shoulders relaxed, and I reached to take his hand to lead him out, but a man with a dozen wood rings appeared between us.

“Lord and Lady of the East,” the man addressed Eliot and me, “The queen would like you to begin the dance this eve to welcome the bride and groom.”

I looked at Eliot, who looked back at me. The hand that was meant for Zane dropped back to my side.

But Zane smirked, twisting the cut on his lip. “I wish you good tidings with your dancing,” he said as the man left.

“I bet you’re just tickled you don’t have to watch.” I took my coat from Kaley and shoved my arms through the sleeves.

“Quite the opposite. I’m heartwrenched I can’t see you thump around the forest floor like a rampaging toddler.”

Biting down on a smile, I tried to reach back and swat him but Lucas caught my hand and shook a finger. “Tisk, tisk, Trite. Smacking a blind folk is scotchy manners.”

“So is telling someone they’re a bad dancer.” I tugged my hand back.

Zane laughed, and despite our situation, the sound of it warmed the room. I let myself smile.

Outside, Eliot studied me with a bothered face. The air was crisp and sharp, needling cold into my collar and brushing a shudder up my spine. I nearly toppled off the sleigh when the polar bears took off toward a clearing on the castle grounds.

“What’s the deal with you and Cohen?” Eliot asked when we were flying over the snow. “Even during the season past, I couldn’t figure you two out. Rumour was you had a strong Patrol-Carrier bond, but I didn’t think it was…”