She craned her neck to the far hillside, spotting a midnight-blue cloak standing before a giant castle. Her mouth dropped open as she stared at the stunning palace. Rambling roses covered the exterior stone, probably coaxed to life by the green witches tending the vibrant gardens. The sharp gray towers and pointed archways sat in stark juxta-position to the soft foliage. How fitting for the King and Queen of the Northern Court. Renwick and Rua were a strange juxtaposition of hard and soft too—cutting and delicate all at once.

Ehiris circled back, landing on the outstretched arm of the blue witch on the hill. Bri wondered how Aneryn fared in her new position as head blue witch to the King and Queen. Aneryn had served Renwick her entire life and she and Rua had quickly become best friends. Bri hoped the strain of life had eased for them. She’d left Rua at the precipice of something, the broken, budding Princess just beginning to bloom into a Queen.

Every arched window glowed with candlelight, welcoming them like a beacon on the flattened summit. By the time the carriage reached the brand-new stables, the sun was beginning to set. Bri barely had a moment to step out of the carriage before she was bombarded by her friends.

“You made it!” Remy said, bowling into her with a giant hug.

Bri squeezed her friend tightly and then turned to Hale, giving him an equally tight hug. “You look well! How is the High Mountain Court?”

“Wonderful,” he said with a charming, wolflike grin. “Though it would be far better if you and Carys were still there.”

Bri smiled, clapping him on the shoulder one more time before releasing him and turning to Rua. “Your Majesty,” Bri said with a mocking bow before pulling her friend into a hug.

“Don’t start with that,” Rua snapped though her face split into a wide smile. “I knew you wouldn’t let me live it down.”

“Aren’t you meant to be receiving me in your grand hall?” Bri arched her brow, looking between Rua and Remy. “I don’t think Queens are meant to greet visitors in their stables.”

“When you win the Eastern crown,” Rua taunted, “then you can tell us what a Queen does and doesn’t do.”

The group moved on to hug Carys and greet Lina as she followed Bri out of the carriage. Spring rains pelted the sides of the stables, and Carys was soaked from head to toe, but their friends hugged her anyway. As the group shuffled past her to greet the others, Bri spotted another figure leaning against a splintering beam.

Seeing him was like a punch to the chest. The same golden-amber eyes and auburn hair as her own—Talhan—her twin.