Page 37 of A Court of Sugar and Spice
The forest looks far different than it did yesterday. All the foliage has either turned brilliant yellow or has transformed into transparent skeleton leaves. Frigid air nips at my fingers until the Sugarplum Faerie conjures me a pair of little black gloves.
“Don’t you have autumn here in Faerie?” I ask him.
“Not much of one, he replies. “A day or two at most.”
“How strange, to switch directly from late summer to winter!”
“We don’t think of it that way here,” he says. “For us, the seasons are warm and cold, rejoicing and rest. Two sides of a coin—one for growth, the other for quiet reflection. Did you know some Fae hibernate, like certain animals in your realm?”
“I didn’t know.” I rub my arms swiftly against the chill.
The Sugarplum Faerie touches my shoulder. Warmth suffuses the fabric of the overdress and leggings, until I’m walking in perfect comfort despite the cold.
“That feels wonderful. Ishismagic as strong as yours?” I nod ahead, indicating the Prince.
“Are you joking?” says the SugarPlum Faerie. “He’s theCrown Prince of Faerie.”
“So… yes?”
The Sugarplum Faerie lowers his voice. “When Lir is at his full strength, with the might of the throne and the crown behind him, nothing can resist him.”
“Lir?” I whisper.
“Damn it.” The pink-haired faerie closes his eyes. “I have a bad habit of letting names slip. Yes, he’s Lirannon, and I’m Finias. His father the king—my uncle—died recently and passed his royal power to Lir. As far as the magic of the land is concerned, Lir is the true king. But the official coronation hadn’t taken place yet when he was captured, and Lir, being the stickler that he is, refuses to call himself ‘king’ until the ceremony is complete.”
Before I can respond, the tall faerie ahead of us calls back dryly, “I’ve heard you say my name at least four times now, Finias.”
Finias wrinkles his freckled nose, glancing at me. “It’s rude to tell a human another faerie’s name without their permission.”
“Such private information is best saved for when the faerie in question is ready to divulge it.” The Prince turns around and walks backward for a moment, looking sternly at us both. Though he has discarded the hat, he’s still wearing his scarlet uniform, and despite the hours that have passed overnight, he looks remarkably un-cursed. His black hair is soft and wavy, his mouth mobile and soft, and his green eyes quick and cool. There’s no hint of the wooden doll about him, except a very slight stiffness in his gait and bearing.
“If you were anyone else, I would ask you to punish me for my foolishness,” says the Sugarplum Faerie, with a plaintive sigh. “I do love being punished. But since you’re my cousin, that would be more irritating than pleasurable.”
“I’ll let it pass,” says the Prince. “Since you’re aiding me in this quest of mine.”
The look he gives Finias shies nearer to true thankfulness than any expression I’ve seen from him.
“Look at you, being grateful. It’s fucking adorable.” With a burst of humming wings, Finias flies ahead and gives his cousin a hearty kiss on the cheek.
“Ugh, get off, Fin.” Lir shoves him away, but he’s half-smiling.
A companionable silence follows, but it doesn’t last long, because Finias likes to talk almost as much as I do. After answering some of my questions about Faerie, he begins to complain about the pace at which we’re traveling.
“I forgot how slowly one must go when humans are along,” he groans. “You see, Louisa, if you were Fae and Lir wasn’t cursed, we could go much faster. All it takes is a bit of magic, and—”
He speeds off, zigzagging among the trees until he’s out of sight.
Lir glances at me. “Don’t worry, he’ll be back in a moment.”
“I assumed so.” I look away from him. “I want to apologize to you for my thoughtlessness last night.”
“Very well.” A moment’s silence, and then he raises his eyebrows. “Was that it? Was that the apology?”
I glower at him. “Yes.”
“Humans,” he scoffs. “So lazy when it comes to making amends.”
“Forget it,” I snap. “I take back the apology.”
