When Aurora had claimed she knew what he wanted to tell her, his heart had stuttered. Then she’d declared his news was that he was leaving Ulstead. He ought to have corrected her. But he hadn’t. He had let her believe that was the reason he had come to the Moors and had asked her to walk with him. It had seemed harmless. He had told himself he would be able to confess his love anyway, just a bit later. And the words were on the tip of his tongue as Maleficent had arrived.

This time, he knew he had to spit them out.

Through the woods he rode, the moon high in the sky. In time the foliage grew dense, the air became thick with the sweet scents of flowers, and the ground filled up with pools of water, reflecting the stars.

A few moments later, small glowing faeries descended on him, flitting around his head and giggling.

“This way,” they said. “Our mistress sent us to lead you.”

Phillip thought of the last time he had been led by some of the Fair Folk—led astray—and he checked the stars. He didn’t want to get lost and arrive late, especially not that night. He was well aware that this was a test, and not one he could afford to fail if he didn’t want Maleficent to continue to think ill of him. He hoped for her approval, but he would settle for her not threatening him anymore.

It seemed that the little faeries were leading him in the right direction, however. Soon the shallow pools opened into a lake dotted with tiny islands, with lights blooming beneath the surface of the water. Glowing nymphs emerged, surfacing and then diving again, leading him to the largest and most central island, where he could see the outlines of Maleficent and Aurora. A green castle with spires reaching into the sky towered behind them. They stood under a tree hung with glowing lanterns that was beside a long table. Next to them was a collection of faeries, none of their shapes familiar.

Phillip blinked in surprise at the enormous leafy palace. He was absolutely certain it hadn’t been there before. But the Moors were changeable and he supposed magic meant the landscape could alter itself in accordance with the whims of the faeries.

As he got closer, his heart thudded faster. If any of the people he knew in Ulstead had seen him doing this, they would have thought he’d run mad. Half the nobles in Perceforest would agree. There were countless stories of faerie food and how even a single bite could bind you to them, trapping you in their clutches forever. Yet with Aurora’s shy smile coming into view, he could not regret coming.

If it meant being bound to her, it could not be so terrible a fate.