Whatever you do, don't offer him food. Kendryek's words bounced around my skull. If you offer him food, the magic could interpret it as an acceptance of the mating bond. Just talk. Don't eat, don't drink.

Lysander was in his room, I was in mine. Kendryek and Rosalind were nearby, ready to assist if I were to be attacked.

Servants had prepared the room, setting out piping hot water, biscuits, and jars tea at the table for us. I was at my seat, already having poured myself a cup and selected a type - one that smelled strongly of vanilla.

The clock struck three. I held my breath.

Terrin entered. He smiled warmly at me, but I saw straight through it. There was no feeling in his eyes.

I sat up straighter, pulled my shoulders back, and smiled back at him. I did not have a plan for what was next.

"How has The Gathering been for you so far?" he asked as he took his seat. I took a deep breath.

"It has been a tremendously unique experience," I replied. "It is incredible, meeting all of the different High Lords and Ladies. I never imagined I would see them with my own two eyes, let alone attending a Meeting with them."

"Did you ever imagine being one?" Terrin asked. He selected the same type of tea as me and spooned it into a strainer. I shook my head, maintaining eye contact with him.

"I never did."

"Neither did I." I blinked. He stared at his cup as he poured water from the pot. "I was born expecting to be under my father's rule until the end of time, but the madness changed everything. I believe the Autumn Court understands what I mean." I did not respond. I was not going to give him any information.

I took a drink from my tea, then placed it as close to me as possible on the table. He laughed humorlessly.

"I'm not going to poison you, Allyn," he said.

"But you would go to war for me." He shook his head.

"No, I would go to war to save myself from madness. Wouldn't you do the same?"

"Often, the female is unaffected by a rejected bond," I replied.

"Are you willing to throw away your mate's life to save your own?" he asked.

"Are you?" I asked. "The Autumn Court is my home. The people there are my…family." Terrin cocked his head and leaned forward.

"Are you sure?" I swallowed and looked down, breaking eye contact for the first time so far.

"Yes."

"Don't you know a fae could smell a lie from a mile away?"

"No, they can't," I replied. Looking at him now, I realized how similar he was to Lysander. They had the same eyes, the same chin, the same cheekbones. Only he was missing the humor and the scar.

"I cannot literally smell a lie, but I am smart enough to tell when one was said. When Lysander attacked Samanthia and took a portion of her memories, she did the same. What she learned was brief, but important." Shit. The air was sucked out of my chest. I took another deep breath to steady myself. "Kendryek does not treat you well there."

"Lysander's memories do not tell you the full story," I countered. Things weren't great, but I could not complain.

"If they were your family, you would not feel the need to use your persuasive magic on them." I felt that statement like a punch to my gut. I couldn't come up with a response before he said, "Kendryek owns Lysander, Hadrian, and you. His will is your way. In my court, that would not be the case." I shook my head.

"That's not true." Lysander's word held far more weight than Terrin knew, but I was not about to tell him that. "And how do I know you are not lying?"

"You could ask Samanthia, or any other member of my court the amount of freedom I give them." I remembered the statue I had seen on my first day in Prythian. There was no freedom there. He was lying. Blatantly lying.

"Tell me Terrin, are the mines still in operation?" He laughed again, a hollow, empty laugh.

"Has Kendryek never told you about the ones he benefits from?" he asked. "No court on the face of Prythian is perfect or without suffering. From Kalista's 'Living Gardens' to the Night Court's Hewn City, you will be hard pressed to find a court without black on its name." He took a drink of his tea. "There are costs to running a court. Especially one that suffocated under the rule of a madman for hundreds of years.

"Improvements are being made, daily. I have only been truly in power for the better part of four decades. Change takes time, but we are making progress in leaps and bounds. I do not want my court to be plunged into more chaos due to another failed mating bond."

Would the Spring Court crumble like the Autumn Court had? Would it collapse entirely? How much more suffering would happen because of my selfishness?

"I still don't entirely believe we are mated," I said, pivoting the conversation. "I have not felt any kind of bond or attraction to you, no offense."

"None taken. Mating bonds are simpler than an intense feeling of love. They exist only to create powerful offspring. Both of us are children of one of The Seven. It is unsurprising that we would be mated to one another." He leaned back in his chair, sitting casually. "I am not asking for your constant attention or company. I ask that you are with me enough to prevent madness and nothing more. For that, you could get anything in the court that you could want."

"I just still see no proof of it, Terrin. The Suriel we met was one of Samanthia's projections. I would have to take your word for it," I replied. "What if you are wrong? What if the suriel you spoke to meant something entirely different?" My words came out faster now, less controlled. I was getting closer to making a choice.

A hint of satisfaction crept into his voice. He knew he was winning me over. "If I am wrong, which I do not believe I am, then I will let you choose again between my court or that of Kendryek's," he said.

"Would I be able to shut down the mines? Permanently?"

"I swear on my life that you will be able to do so," he replied. I fought to keep my breathing under control. My hands shook uncontrollably as I reached across the table and picked up the plate of biscuits.

"Would you like one?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I could hardly believe what I was doing, but I knew it was for the best.

"I would," he said, grinning from ear to ear. He picked one up off the plate and took a bite.

I waited for something to change.

A second passed. Nothing happened. The seconds turned into a minute. Still, nothing changed. The grin on his face faded.

"Do you feel any change?" he asked. I shook my head. Anger, fear, disappointment, all flashed in his eyes for the briefest of moments. Then, it was gone.

"What did the suriel you spoke to say?"

"That you were mated to me."

"No, what did it say exactly? Word for word," I pressed, finding my voice.

"The daughter of winter would be mated to the son of stone." I spoke slowly, not wanting to anger him.

"Is it possible that the suriel meant something different?" He raised his voice, letting the emotionless mask slip for a second time today.

"I asked her that. She said 'the daughter of winter is the only living daughter of Kalista and the son of stone is the heir to the Spring Court.' You are mated to me, there is no other possible meaning!"

"But what if you aren't the heir to the Spring Court?" Terrin stood up, knocking his chair over in the process. His breathing was heavy.

"I did not ask you to speak with me only for you to say blasphemous things. I understand the choice that you court has made. You will regret this decision," he stated before storming out of the room.

I flinched as the door slammed shut behind him. Kendryek opened it seconds later.

"What happened? Are you all right?"

"Yes. I suggested that he may not be the heir to the Spring Court."

"You must have struck a nerve."

"I definitely did."