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If I one before he has a chance to snatch me

His shoulders tense, and he cocks his head to the side

I freeze

He turns

I drop lass of wine

He catches it before it hits the stone floor

“Beth, is it?” He grins and hands lass

I put a hand tothat get-up to a party?” I shout and down the rest of the wine

“I calance to a changeling who sits at one of the long tables, his eyes downcast as he munches on some fruit He’s dirty and bruised, but he’s alive, likely thanks to Phinelas

“Setting that one free?” I try to play off my heart attack

“Of course” His dark eyes glint as he gives ood bit better than you hen I saw you in the Gray Mountains”

“If that’s a compliment, I’ll take it” I return the once-over Phinelas is a fine fae—tall, dark, lanky “Hey, you into changelings?”

A grin twists his full lips “Why? Do you know one who’d be interested in me?”

I step closer and tilt my head back to look up at him with the finest flirt I possess “Maybe, but she’s not sure just yet”

“What will it take to convince her?” He

“A demonstration”

“I think I can arrange that” His gaze turns heated, but he glances at the new changeling “Have herroom near the castle entry in 15 minutes”

“I’ll see what I can do She’s a real wild one Never knohat sheher doon’t be easy”

He leans towardher doill be plenty easy for me”

Sexy fae I step back as he turns to the changeling boy and offers hioblet of water and more food

I hum as I make my way out of the lass of wine in hand I stop and ad away in the distance as the sun sets on the winter realm

My pesky thoughts keep returning to Gareth Where is he? I’ve passed plenty of revelers, but he wasn’t a Is he with so cere I feel and remind myself he doesn’t like me He never has

“For the longest tihtdown his feelings because ‘ ” I frown at my wine and finish it off “But nope, heto do with me He didn’t say it, but he didn’t have to He avoided me the entire way back from the Gray Mountains, and he hasn’t made any effort to seeit out loud hurts lass

Maybe Phinelas is just what I need to shake it off, to forget about broody Gareth I stuh walls Coh to kill my buzz, so I pet its head and continue tohat I think is the front of the castle