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"Don’t ask for much, do you?" My voice came out harsh and raspy, and I turned away fro with aze followed hs of a sht The fire crackled and popped behind aze burned between my shoulders like the hottest fla out into the night "Stick a knife in his back when he’s not looking? Is that what you’re ordering ht "You don’t think Meghan will have so to say about that? I’d never be able to hide that fro," Oberon continued quietly "Only expose the prince when you are in the Summer Court Titania will do the rest His blood will not be on your hands--you would only be doing what a true servant of the Suhan Chase will come to you for comfort And all will be as it should"

I couldn’t answer I could al with sobs as she mourned her Winter prince I could feel my arms around her as I whispered that it would be okay, that she still had me, and I would never leave And then I wanted to kickthat

Oberon watched silently "Robin Goodfellow," he murmured "Despite our past differences, I consider you my most trusted servant We are old, older than the Winter prince We have known each other a long time But sometimes, I wonder if you realize you are still part of the Su else"

I clenchedthe branch splinter under hter is truly one of us now," he went on "Immortal A queen of the fey You have all the time in the world to make her fall in love with you It would not be hard--the two of you are already very close I know you would find a way to be with her, even in the Iron Real, Robin, there is no stopping it But you must be rid of the Winter prince before she can see you"

I didn’t answer I felt the Seelie King draw back, preparing to go "The choice is yours, of course," he said as the fire died down and the plants around us stopped their crazy writhing "My hunt will take uing the Summer Court Do what you will, Robin, but rehter, this could be your only chance to be with her in the end Otherwise, you will lose Meghan Chase to the very one who has sworn to kill you"

A ind hissed through the grotto, stirring the fire and the leaves When it faded, the space was eone

Chapter Three

My Mistress with a Monster Is in Love

Ash returned a few rotto without prea a brace of rabbit, which showed he had indeed been hunting He tossed one atin silence as the night closed in around us

Kill Ash? Betray hi? As if I could do anything like that, even if it was technically Titania ould strike the fatal blow And she would, too Ash ht be a prince, but Titania was a queen You did not screw around with the queens of Faery; at least, you didn’t go toe-to-toe with them, especially in their own court Even I knew that And with Oberon conveniently absent, Titania wouldn’t spare the Winter prince She would utterly destroy him

I couldn’t do that to ice-boy Even after all the years of bad blood and fighting between us, even though he probably would try to kill h with it, I couldn’t leave hihan would never lovefor, would never see me, never look at me the way she did Ash

What made him so special? What did he have that I did not?

"You’re awfully quiet"

I blinked and looked up fro the hare Ash knelt a few feet fro with smooth efficiency "W-what?" I blurted, a little too quickly Oh, that was brilliant, Goodfellow Fix it, now "Me?" I continued, feigning shock "Why, ice-boy, whatever do you mean? Could it be that you’re actually concerned?"

He didn’t look up as he continued "You’re hiding soh your chatter, thatAnything you want to tell me, Goodfellow?"

Damn, when had ice-boy beco to have to work on "Yes," I answered, forcing a grin "I think turning you into a squirrel is the easiest way to sneak you into Arcadia What do you think? Or, if you prefer, I could probably turn you into a mouse Or a bird Or a rabbit!" I looked at the skinned carcass in o badly if Titania has her hounds anywhere about…"

"Neverhis head "I’ers "A chaht in It’s brilliant! And you’d make a very handsome chameleon, don’t you think, ice-boy?"