“That's what you promised him, Princess?" he shouted throwing up his hands. "That was your bargain? You would offer yourself to the Unseelie Court?" He turned and punched a tree, sending twigs and icicles to the ground. "Of all the stupid ideas! What is wrong with you?"-PUCK”

“I have always loved you, princess," Robin Goodfellow promised, his green eyes shining in the darkness. "I always will. And I'll take whatever you can give me."I looked down, unable to meet his open stare, human fears and self-consciousness coming to the surface. "Even if all I can offer is friendship? Will that still be enough?""Well, not really." Puck dropped his hand, his voice turning light and carefree again, more like the Puck I knew. "Damn not being able to lie. Princess, if you suddenly decide ice-boy is a first-class jerk and that you can't stand him, I'll always be here. But for now, I'll settle for being the best friend.”

“Wow, Meghan!” Kimi bounced in place, clapping her hands. “You look awesome! I love what you did with your hair.”“PRINCESS.” Ironhorse looked me up and down, nodding in approval.“TRULY, YOU ARE A VISION.”I glanced at Puck, who was staring at me in a daze. “Um…” he stammered, while I nearly went into shock with the novelty of actually rendering Puck speechless. “You look…nice,” he muttered at last.I blushed, suddenly self-conscious.”

“Puck threw Ash a mocking smile. “You look like crap, Prince. Did you missme?”Ash frowned, stabbing a faery that was clawing at his feet. “What are youdoing here, Goodfellow?” he asked coldly, which only caused Puck’s grin to widen.“Rescuing the princess from the Winter Court, of course.” Puck looked downas the wire-fey piled on the squealing boar, ripping and slicing. It exploded into a pile of leaves,and they skittered back in confusion. “Though it appears I’m saving your sorry ass, as well.”“I could’ve handled it.”“Oh, I’m sure.” Puck brandished a pair of curved daggers, the blades clear asglass. His grin turned predatory. “Well, then, shall we get on with it? Try to keep up, YourHighness.”“Just stay out of my way.”

“I glanced at Puck and smiled. "Are you going to stop me?"He held up his hands. "Wouldn't dream of it.”

“I admire your tenacity, young prince. Grimalkin is not easy to find in the best of times. You must have come far to seek him out.... And this is not the first place you have searched. I can see it on your face. Why, I wonder? Why does he come so far? What is it that he desires so badly, to risk the ire of the Bone Witch? What is it you want, Ash of the Winter Court?''Would you believe the cat owes him money?' Puck's voice came from behind my shoulder, making me wince.”

“There was a soft chuckle beside me, and my heart stopped. "So this is Oberon's famous half-blood," Ash mused as I whirled around. His eyes, cold and inhuman, glimmered with amusement. Up close, he was even more beautiful, with high cheekbones and dark tousled hair falling into his eyes. My traitor hands itched, longing to run my fingers through those bangs. Horrified, I clenched them in my lap, trying to concentrate on what Ash was saying. "And to think," the prince continued, smiling, "I lost you that day in the forest and didn't even know what I was chasing."I shrank back, eyeing Oberon and Queen Mab. They were deep in conversation and did not notice me. I didn't want to interrupt them simply because a prince of the Unseelie Court was talking to me. Besides, I was a faery princess now. Even if I didn't quite believe it, Ash certainly did. I took a deep breath, raised my chin, and looked him straight in the eye."I warn you," I said, pleased that my voice didn't tremble, "that if you try anything, my father will remove your head and stick it to a plaque on his wall."He shrugged one lean shoulder. "There are worse things." At my horrified look, he offered a faint, self-derogatory smile. "Don't worry, princess, I won't break the rules of Elysium. I have no intention of facing Mab's wrath should I embarrass her. That's not why I'm here.""Then what do you want?"He bowed. "A dance.""What!" I stared at him in disbelief. "You tried to kill me!""Technically, I was trying to kill Puck. You just happened to be there. But yes, if I'd had the shot, I would have taken it.""Then why the hell would you think I'd dance with you?""That was then." He regarded me blandly. "This is now. And it's tradition in Elysium that a son and daughter of opposite territories dance with each other, to demonstrate the goodwill between the courts.""Well, it's a stupid tradition." I crossed my arms and glared. "And you can forget it. I am not going anywhere with you."He raised an eyebrow. "Would you insult my monarch, Queen Mab, by refusing? She would take it very personally, and blame Oberon for the offense. And Mab can hold a grudge for a very, very long time."Oh, damn. I was stuck.”