Page 110 of Bright Soul

“To be fair, my sponsor also wanted more information than I was gathering. He wanted me to be your friend,” Grant put in.

“Yeah. So the deal was of friendship,” Roe said, nodding. “He would spy for us and do whatever we needed for free, and in exchange I would visit the Autumn Court with him to compete with other fae nobility for the crown prince’s hand.”

Áine’s cold shoulder thawed almost immediately. “What?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at Roe in disbelief.

Roe smiled sheepishly. “He said I didn’t have to take it too seriously.”

The faun turned a glare on Grant. “Well,changeling, how about you explain why you’d ask for something like that of my best friend.”

I sensed that Ben wanted some popcorn. Most of us watched this play out, heads turning back and forth between the three of them. I had to admit, I was curious about the competition too. But the Autumn Court…helmed by a bloodthirsty queen who’d once sacrificed countless lives to the old mother tree that’d anchored the pocket dimension where Northern Supernatural University and the rest of New Salem resided. That was too dangerous a place for Roe to go alone.

“All right,” Grant said, flicking his green and orange braid over his shoulder. “Long answer or short?”

Our friends shouted their answers, punctuated by Áine’s eye roll and drawl of, “Tell me everything.”

“Everything, cool. So, I’m Ambrose.” He put a hand on his chest. “That’s part of my true name, I mean. Before Roe and I shook on our deal, I told her the whole thing and so she can order me to dance myself to death if she wants. I’m the crown prince’s body double and have spent most of my life learning how to be him.”

“He’s the mysterious sponsor,” Roe said.

Ambrose sighed, his dragonfly wings shifting and layering over one another tightly on his back. “Prince Soryn asked me to seek out potential brides in the ruins of the Fall Court. Little did I expect to find it a bustling metropolis and for my cover story to tie me to the most important coven of witches in the whole of Moongrove Academy. I’ve been winging it for a while, pun not intended.”

Phaeron felt badly for him, I sensed. “Your spying has been invaluable to us,” he said.

“Well, thank you. I’ve been keeping Soryn alive for a few years, since I came of age and earned permission to impersonate his lordship. Believe it or not, I can’t take the shape of folks that are above a certain power level threshold. I’ve never been Geo or Phaeron.” He pointed at the two men with his thumb. “And trust me, I’ve tried.”

“Don’t try anymore,” Geo grumbled.

“It’s all good, I need your permission and blood to ever be able to,” Ambrose said. “Anyway, there’s a somewhat likely chance that Soryn is still alive without me. He doesn’t actually want to get married, but he does want to end his mother’s curse. Most of you are familiar with the old Fall Court’s bloody past, I presume?”

Áine scowled. “I was the one who told most of them.”

“Well, she made a deal with one of the Unspoken Ones long ago to have the power to augment her first mother tree with the blood of sacrifices. A side effect of that deal wastrue immortality. But she’s kind of…rotting.” Ambrose flinched as he said it. “Like, she has enough enemies that she’s been assassinated a few times, but her body just gets back up and continues on. And as more time passes and she doesn’t fulfill her end of the bargain, the more Autumn Court denizens get afflicted this way too.”

“Undeath, then,” Phaeron said, tilting his head. “Unspoken One, as in a death fae?”

“Yup. Thus the undeath. He’s getting impatient. Soryn is gathering allies for what we’re calling Turning Leaf, a movement to remove both the Autumn Queen and the Unspoken One so our friends and family members can rest in peace and we can finally make amends to courts we’ve wronged.” Ambrose nodded toward Áine, who seemed to finally be listening and accepting what he was saying. “In the meantime, Roe is considered royal fae by technicality, so I’m going to look like I’m doing my job by bringing her home to star in the next bridal competition the Autumn Queen puts on for Soryn. And there’s your long answer, Áine.”

“Hmph. I’m coming with you,” she said to Roe.

“Wait—” she began to protest.

“I’ll hide my Spring-ness, promise. If you’re going to be in a bridal competition, you’re going to need a fae you trust,” the faun huffed.

“Sounds like a party. Can I come too?” Ben asked. Both of them said a quick ‘no’ at him. “Okay, fine. But how is Roe fae anything? She’s human. Right?” He eyed her as if waiting for her to drop a glamor too.

“The Crystal Prince is one of my fathers. Technically, that puts me in line for the Crystal Court throne,” Roe answered. “But if the bridal competition is held in typical fae style, Prince Soryn shouldn’t even look twice at me. I’ll be in and out before you know it.”

Ambrose glanced away from her. From his expression, he thought otherwise. Giving his head a shake, he schooled his face and said, “And as for me, I’m hopping through the ocean gate wearing Willow’s face tomorrow. Girl, if someone tries to kill me, you owe me twice over.”

“Sorry. It might happen, given the history.” Willow ducked her head shyly under the room’s concentrated attention. “I, uh, I wanted to stay and fight. My control has gotten better.”

I raised a brow and glanced around. “Who here is leaving through the ocean gate tomorrow?” I asked. Only Ambrose raised his hand, though he’d shifted to look exactly like Willow. Her reedy form swam in the clothes he’d been wearing.

“Really?” I asked in surprise.

“Furies finish what they start,” Grace said.

Roe held up a fist. “You know I’m not going anywhere. I got your back.”

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