Soo’s glittering purple lips lift into a sly smile. “I am a Wyvern-shifter, toiya. A matchmaker by trade. Of course, I am sure. He wants to devour you whole.”

A shocked laugh bursts from Lucretia.

It can’t be. There’s no way calm, tea-sipping, reserved Jules wants to...devour her whole? Lucretia’s water magic spirals into an excited churn, her usually unflappable nerves completely and thoroughly lit up.

Soo turns serious as she reaches out to take Lucretia’s hand, the points of her plum-painted talons resting featherlight on Lucretia’s skin. “I love you, Lu,” Soo says with that warm, velvet voice of hers. “And I know how many Fae youth are here in the East because of you.” She glances around the seating area, easily finding narrow-eyed disapproval focused on Lucretia.

Soollyndrile frowns. “I also see how you are shunned because of the Mage green of your skin.” Her expression softens. “Lulu, take your moment of happiness on this Xishlon. Jules Kristian returns your passion. Go claim your mate.”

Tears are suddenly brimming in Lucretia’s eyes. Can it be true? After so many years of secretly working together for the Resistance, breaking the laws of every Realm together, risking our lives together...

“I told you. I’m Gardnerian,” Lucretia says, an attempt to be wry, but her voice hitches around the words. “I don’t know how to...claim a mate.”

“But you seek to devour him, as well,” Soo puts in, silver eyes sparkling.

Lucretia shrinks down, feeling as if she’s a diary read aloud to the whole patisserie.

Soo’s smile broadens, her sharpened teeth on display. “Break with Mage ways in this. You already have in everything else. Go find your mate and bring him the moon.”

Lucretia glances up at the Xishlon orb, the luminous purple moon lightning up the Vo River in a dazzling display of rippling violet, the world transformed into a purple garden, ripe with romantic possibility. And suddenly, Lucretia’s very skin is lit up by the draw of this moon, the way it coaxes a heart’s hidden affections to life and pushes away life’s shadows.

“Listen to me, Lu,” Soo says, leaning farther in, emphatic now. “War is coming to this land. Who knows how much time any of us has. And this festival, it might seem like a frivolous thing, but none of it is trivial. This, toiya—” she motions loosely around at the scattered Noi couples kissing at tables, under plum trees “—this is the reason to work for a better world.” She laughs, squeezing Lucretia’s hand. “It’s all about the love.”

Lucretia finds herself unexpectedly moved beyond words, a tear sliding down her cheek. And she realizes, in that moment, that fellow Resistance worker Soo, with all her dramatic, Wyvern flair, her outrageous outfits and ribald sense of humor, might have the most important job in all the Realms—revealing people’s love for each other.