Rhysand held my hand, guiding me off his lap. He might come to regret those fateful words.

I turned and smirked. "Hearts content, you have no idea the monster you just unleashed." Then sauntered off, brushing hair behind my shoulder. Straight to the wine table, I grabbed a glass and grinned as I held it up. He waved a hand and I walked towards Morrigan. Cassian to a step to the side indicating my place I was to stand. Sandwiched between them.

Mor held the glass t half cover her mouth. "Girl, how did you get down here. Did you Winnow and mess up?"

I mimicked her. "No, it was what I found in the library. My problem is I like learning new things, I found a door and its little puzzle. I followed it down to an even bigger library."

Cassian put a hand on my shoulder as Azriel appeared, blocking the crowd. "Be careful next time, at least take Azriel with you. If he were, they would not have touched you or even gave it a second thought."

"I'm not completely helpless."

"Nightshade." One word form Azriel had me in silence. I was still in a Fea body, but it was the amount of worry for me that shocked me. They had ganged up on me, not to be controlling, but to express concern. Not limit me where I could go, but to take someone with me.

I crossed one arm over her stomach and leaned on the wall. "Fine, more careful. I wasn't trying to crash the party."

"Well, you're here now." Azriel looked at Rhysand and nodded.

Azriel and Cassian stood on either side of us like bodyguards. Cassian standing tall as he crossed his arms, Azriel leaning on the wall, his shadows making him bling in. soon most only notice Cassian or I; many averted their eyes from Mor.

Rhysand's face was to the crowd, but his eyes were on me. I bit my lip, My Cali. Two innocent words, but dangerous together, in that manor. That amount of attention, dedication to ignoring those around him, caring for me. Swoon. The way he grabbed my chin, dead.

This was closer to a ballroom than a throne room. A magnificent obsidian chandelier glimmered starlight over the room. An untouched organ in the background as those around were dancing to violins and other strings instruments. Flutes made lovelier sounds than the ones used by drunk fairies the fateful night I was whisked away under the mountain. While those around me danced, I found this party dull and more political.

I opened that little bond, tugging on that little connection until his head turned. "Your staring, you might burn holes in me at this rate."

"They say you look at the most interesting or beautiful thing in the room. You are both."

I took a drink. "You're playing with fire."

"Then I shall bring enough water to quinch that fire."

"Shameless flirt." He chuckled down the bond as his eyes flicked to something that appeared in front of his face. Other courtiers around him backing off as he snatched it from the air. I had never seen such a method of mailing, suppose it is a form of texting.

He leaned back cracking it open. His eyes narrowed as he leaned to the side, hand on his chin to prop his face. Eyes flicked to me as he read the contents. He gritted his teeth as he crinkled the side of the letter in one hand and stared at the closet person who dared walk up the steps with a bottle of wine in hand. They backed down, fleeing to the corner.

Predatory eyes flicked over the people, his power rippling through out the room. I wanted to approach, ask him what was wrong. This was not like him, but then again, I did not know him that well. Cassian picked his nails with a knife, like what was happening did not bother him. His eyes flicked to me, he leaned up, snapping his fingers and the letter was gone.

The golden lines on my skin glowed brighter, and I looked away, focusing on anything else. Dangerous flirtation, but those eyes, something pissed him off and I realized just how much he distracted me from those around. From all the eyes that glared. He was doing it on purpose, maybe he was assessing them, which might be a threat.

I leaned off the wall, "I'm getting one last glass of wine; I'll be right back." The table was not far off, so they did not follow. I moved through the crowd, averting those to carless to watch their feet. Grabbing a glass as a man brushed past me, bumping my arm and almost knocking the glass from my hand. My barrier came out, encasing me.

"You'll get what is coming for you, whore." A male's voice came.

Not me, us. I held my chest, unsure of how unstable I could become. The first rule was do not destroy the court. I felt fine, nothing whipping around inside. I turned, looking into the male's soul.

Eyes turning in as I seen Keir and spoke. "What did you say?" His short golden hair was combed back, it reminded me much of Morrigan's luscious locks.

"My bad, did not know you were hard of hearing as well." Rhysand was right, even this man was ready to tear anyone apart. Regardless of the pedestal they were placed on moments ago. I understand the criticism he faced under the mountain more now than before. Fury grew in my gut, and I wanted this man here to pay. For not what he just said, but for Rhysand too. Regardless of if he did not deserve it.

I cocked my head up, feeling the shadows within his windpipe and lungs. "Oh, I heard. I gave you a chance to recant. I'm curious to if you can hold your own to the filth that flows so easily from loose flaps. Someone should really help you close those windbags of yours." The shadows sang as they gripped hard.

He coughed, holding his throat. "Jus.." Air no longer moved in nor out of his lungs.

"No response? Now, I'm bored. Come now, Keir. You had such nice things to say. That complement was delightful, I am a whore, an absolute Horror."

I watched as he slowly collapsed, gapping, smirking as I crouched down beside him. "What's wrong? You look like a fish fresh from the sea. Are you in need of some water?" I huffed a laugh through my nose. "Here, you need this more than me." I dumped half my glass of wine on him and released the hold, he gasped for air as I stood. "It's a miracle, I saved the fish lipped man."

"The High lord will not stand for this." He held his throat, and I felt the barrier he just placed on himself.

"Hmm, possibly, but I was told to enjoy myself and not to break the court, but people were on the table like a feast. I did find mild entertainment from this." His claws came out, his eyes dilated. I knew this look, fight or flight.

'Cali, let me handle this.' Rhysand spoke to my mind. I had not closed my mind, minor slip up. I didn't want him to fight all my battles. Not after that Fea man, I did not know if he was alive or dead, but he screamed like a dying creature. He was at a minimum broken, and I was only half sure Rhysand would do the same to him.

'Prison rules, right to defend oneself.' My focus on Keir, I looked him over. "Even your claws look inadequate and gnarly. You could use a manicure." He stepped in, but I held his gaze.

He leaned in. "You think you're slick, but once he tires of you, you will have no protection. If you think you're the first, you are wrong. This will most likely be your only visit, do enjoy."

"Oh, I will be here for at least half my life." He lifted a hand, but pulled himself back, I raised an eye. "Did you just, no, I'm sure you didn't. What were you going to do? Hmm?"

"You luck will run out and I'll be there for your fall. Look now as he does nothing like he does not care." I glanced over a shoulder, Rhysand only glared as he lounged like a unamused king. Hoe high lordly of him to let a lady finish her fight.

A grin arose on my lips. "Do you know why?" I turned back. "Or is that what you think? Look harder to the magic that has been formed around you. You're not leaving until I say."

He glanced around. "A silly barrier is not keeping him out, he could shatter that in an instant."

I licked my lips slightly as I bit them. The fight, he was on edge. As my grin grew, so did the hate in his eyes. "Bring it old man, I can guarantee you I have more experience than you." The organ in the corner began to play under my command, and then I downed the glass of wine dropping it to the floor watching it shatter. "In fact, I think I can make you concede in ten or less minutes." I forged an hourglass and held it up, twisting it. "You win, I will allow you to call me as you see fit. I win, you apologize. Shall we make it a bargain?"

He scoffed. "You want to fight me? Quit bold of you."

"Ladies don't start fights, they finish them. If I recall, you shoulder checked me, then insulted me thereafter. That's how things started." The barrier expanded, pushing the crowd further away.

"You speak rather tall for a mortal turned Fae. Your maybe eighteen?"

"Sure." I gave a have shrug. "I'll throw in a free shot if you feel that much incompetence coursing through your veins?"

"No need, but you have your deal." The deal was made, a tattoo forming around free my wrist, as well as one of his.

"Let's go bubble guppy, right here." I tapped my cheek. "Best shot."

He brought his hand up, claws extended. As he brought it down, I swiftly took his arm and bit down.

"You fucking bit me. You little…" He came back with the other hand, and I took his hand and twisted him into a dip before I let go, dropping him to the floor.

"Oppsies, you're not supposed to drop your partner. I'm curious, Little what? Don't tell me the only insult this bag of bones you got is whore. Broaden that dense horizon of yours to the seas of charismatic possibilities. Let's dance, golden boy, this pace is a drag. There is music, Keir. Be a shame to waste it."

He stood; thumb wiping his bottom lip from blood. I took his hand twirling him into a dip. "This was more proper." His hands reached for my neck, phasing though my shadows. I could not contain the excitement of a fight I knew I would win.

I twisted his body around, holding his hands as he leaned off the floor, just above the glass. I pulled him back spinning him out, giggling. He caught himself, and I used my shadows to surround him and force him to dance with me.

"Now this is fun. Come on, Keir. One, two, three, four. Five, six, and dip hold gaze."

"Stop this Nonsense."

"Are you conceding already?"

"No."

"There is your answer. This is much more sophisticated, is it not?"

"What are you doing?"

"Is it not obvious? Dancing Keir, this party is quite dull. Just wait for the finally, I think you'll like it." Just at that eight-minute marker hit and I opened a shadow portal under him, waving to him as he fell. He clawed at the ground, but the hole only expanded.

"Bye, bye." He was sucked in, and I made a new one above that spot of glass. He fell through covered in ice, and char, wind cuts and sun burns, and his hands landed in the glass. He recoiled, holding his hands.

His eyes were wide, his face a little sunk. He held his body shaking, blood and glass on his hands. "I- c..con…concede. P…please…" He bowed slightly. "P..please, f..forgive me."

The hourglass tipped; he meant it. I propped an elbow in my hand as I held my chin. "Eight minutes and… about ten seconds. Not bad for merely playing around. So, what should I forgive you for?" He looked up, and I pushed his head down with my foot. "You have no right to look at me right now." Hands on the ground, he stared to the red carpet. "Bow lower"

He shook as he pressed his head to the floor. "I insulted you, please forgive that insolence."

"Ah, I remember now. Hmm, I could." I grinned, stepping back. "No, I'm to petty. Maybe another trip in the shadows." I held my hand out.

"Anything but that, I'll give you anything." He held a hand towards me, palm up, not looking. "Please."

"Oh, anything?" I pulled back, letting the shadows whirl around my fingers in a snake dance.

"Yes, within my power."

"Now this just got interesting. I like the sound. My terms, you must grant one favor within your power at a time of my choosing with full cooperation. Hmm, actually… make it three favors."

"Three?" He glared and I glared, he averted his eyes.

"It's symbolic, three trials, three favors. Tell me are the shadows any better?" I let darkness consume my hand opening a portal below his face. He moved back, but not far as he hit the barrier. I took a fist full of hair, yanking up to make him look at Rhysand. Whispering in his ear: "Look now as he does nothing like he does not care."

I continued our presence lost in shadow. "There was a time in my life, my mother threw me to the darkness, and I stayed there for five hundred plus years. That's when I became friends with shadows. I learned every secret there was to learn." I pushed fingers through his face, shadows sending chills through him. "You lost the moment you touched me. You never would have touched me if I did not have a barrier up in the crowd." I grabbed his chin. "What will it be honeybee."

"Three, I agree to your terms."

"Good choice." I stood, taking a step back as I held a handout, he took it. "A deal made by breath, forged in the name of magic. Bind our word of agreement for three favors of my choosing to be used when I please, with full cooperation or I may punish as I see fit." Darkness, shadows and light. Wind, water, fire and earth. The tendrils of magic consumed the shadows as a golden tattoo wrapped around his neck with the ancient number three in the center. Shadows fell, and i clapped him on the back.

"I think I like you Keir. This was fun." I touched the top of his head, healing all his wounds and smiled brightly. "I also want you to know I am as sweet as pie." I dropped that smile. "Until you piss me off." I shifted back to a smile again, like nothing ever happened. "Bye, bye." I waved.

His eyes widened as he looked around the floor.

I linked with Rhysand. "Please, don't be mad, I'm securing the future."

"Drop the barrier, Cali."

"Be a good boy and walk away now while I'm in a better mood." He stood and I dropped the barrier.

Rhysand's warm hand grabbed one of mine, spinning me around and into a dip. "Hmm, I was thinking how I should punish him. Seems even you have a few tricks to torture yourself." He pressed his head to mine and I caved to the touch, his eyes locked on mine. "My little nightmare, are you happy with this outcome?"

I blinked, unable to keep that gaze as I peered at his full lips, smiling, face heating. "I feel satisfied, yes."

"This party might be the best one I have ever been too. I think the only thing I'm not pleased with, is the fact you danced with another man."

"The music still plays, Lord of night."

"No games, songbird." Like that, it was like being under the mountain with him. The him I wanted back. I was pulled up and twirled around. But I was nothing but games. How bold of him to think I would not attempt.

I pushed into the lead, but he was ready with a counter. Swinging me around into a dip. The bewilderment to his counter had me moving back to his lead with how quickly he learned the tactics. The room shifted, the court was gone, and in that place was the living room of the moon stone palace.

He let go, crossing his arms. "What were you thinking?"

"I like seeing you struggle to dance with me, that dip was perf." I held up an okay sigh to him with a wink.

"No, Keir."

"Prison rules?" My voice raised; I knew this was coming. I waited for the yelling, waited to be scolded.

"And just what are those exactly?"

"Every man for themselves? You find the biggest guy, assert your dominance and then no one picks on you."

"You just let the whole court know I have the most powerful Shadowsinger in all the land nesting here. I was hoping to keep you secret for as long as possible."

Morrigan came in behind him. "Keir won't want anyone to talk about his loss or deal, he will silence the court. For now, she is safe."

"I don't need that level of protection." I protested.

Rhysand's eyes furrowed. "I almost lost you, you were dying in my hands, Cali."

"I'm sorry I dragged you from your night court to see me then." I turned away from him.

A hand turned my face to his and he cupped around my cheeks. His eyes softened and I swear the lilac eyes glistened a little. "I am glad you did. If you had not, I would have lost this beautiful being. That, Cali Dear, would have been a far worse pain. Cas was ready to send his Illyrian armies for what he did, I was ready to take the night court army. By force if need be. I shattered that barrier with a thought, and I brought you here, kept you with me when I moved from home to home."

"Bu... Why?"

"So, I could be there when you woke up. That's where I wanted to be, by you. Right now, I'm taking you to my favorite home, a place further away from here. A safe place." He held me close, and we left again for a more homely place.