I can’t believe Ever is actually here!

My relief at knowing he’s safe is like a living thing growing in my veins.

When Ever’s gaze finds mine, my breath releases with a soft woosh, my heart picking up speed until the relentless pounding is all I can hear.

Every bit of disappointment and ire melts from my bones. The drama with Trevor and Ronan no longer matters. None of it matters.

I asked Ever to come to the festival, and he did.

“Come with me.” I grab Nia’s hand, pulling her toward the riders. It’s time to allay her fears once and for all.

She tries to tug free, but my grip does not falter. “I couldn’t possibly⁠—”

“Please. I want you to meet him. To see what I see.”

Ever dismounts, one hand on the reins and the other patting his unicorn’s thick neck, hushing Nyx and watching us approach with an unreadable expression.

Nia stays behind me, her harsh breaths tickling the back of my neck as I come to a halt in front of him. “You came.”

His gaze never strays from mine, but there is the slightest lift to his lips that I’m calling a smile. A smile just for me. “The female who invited me was quite persuasive.”

Maddox appears from nowhere, stepping around Ever and clapping him on the shoulder. “Far be it for Ever here to turn down an invitation. I am Maddox, by the way.” He stretches his long-fingered greenish hand toward my cousin.

Nia’s hands remain pinned to her sides, her face devoid of color as she stares at him.

“This is my cousin, Nia Quill,” I say, urging her forward.

Gryffin joins us, not a hint of humor on his stony face. “Did we come to chat or are we going to do our fucking job and bring water across the canyon?”

Right. The water. Of course, Ever didn’t just come to see me.

“Would you like something to eat while you collect water?” There’s more than enough to go around.

Nia lets out a strangled, choking sound before snatching my hand and dragging me away from the well. “You can’t give him food,” she hisses.

“Why not?” I brough plenty of coin.

“Did you read the book Trevor gave you or just stare at the pictures?”

“I read some of it.” The first ten chapters, anyway. In my defense, the pictures were far more intriguing.

She presses a hand to her brow, her curls vibrating as she shakes her head. “Clearly you skipped the part that says giving an unmarried Unseelie food is akin to courting him.”

Courting him?

Is that why Ever kept asking about the biscuits?

No.

Is it?

And I brought them twice.

“I didn’t know that,” I whisper.

“Just be glad that he didn’t give you a gift as well.”