“Something good,” he emphasized. “No cow tongue or sheep stomachs or any of that other crap they pass off as delicacies here.” He went through the door mumbling, “Seriously, there are no decent places to eat in this century.”

I slid the fireplace closed, glad it was easier to do than it looked.

“So,” a voice came from behind me. “Sneaking guys out of your room?”

I spun around, startled. Chrissy stood there, wearing her Team Sadie T-shirt and a flouncy blue miniskirt that made her wings glimmer with blue highlights. She held her wand loosely like it was a drumstick.

I put a hand on my pounding heart. “You just scared me to death.”

She smiled, unworried about my health, and sashayed closer. “I hear you and Jason kissed last night. Twice. How romantic.”

“He was a frog at the time.”

“Well, it can only get better then, right?”

I motioned for her to walk with me away from the fireplace, in case Jason could hear us. “I’m not kissing him again.”

Chrissy raised an eyebrow. “Have your eye on someone else?”

I blushed. Was I that transparent? I didn’t want to tell her about Donovan. He was supposed to be my competition, and I knew she wouldn’t approve.

Chrissy put her hand on my arm sympathetically. “I know Kailen is the hottest guy you’ve ever seen, but don’t pin your hopes on him. He’s not into mortals.”

“Oh.” Relief. “Okay.”

“Besides, he’s way too cocky.” Chrissy tossed her long pink hair off her shoulder. I would have looked ridiculous swishing my hair around like that. On her, it was graceful, natural. “A few months ago I was at a party with this buff elf guy, and Kailen and a couple of his friends came in. The first thing you know, Kailen was swaggering around, showing off for the girls—making vines snake around the elf guys, stuff like that. My date said something along the lines of, ‘Real men don’t wear wings,’ and the next thing I knew he and Kailen were brawling like drunken frat boys.”

“Really?”

“And then after my date stormed off to have his teeth fixed, Kailen asked for my number.”

“That is cocky.”

Chrissy folded her arms. “He never called.” Another head toss. “Really, I hate it when guys treat me like a trophy.”

I had no idea what to say to that. She’d actually given Kailen her number after he’d beaten up her date?

“Anyway,” Chrissy said, returning her attention to me, “I wanted to check in, give you a pep talk, and remind you that even though I’ve got tons of things to do tonight, I’ll once again be eagerly waiting to hear that you’ve got the goblet.” Her wings opened and closed. “It’s your third night here. Exactly what are you waiting for?”

“I’m going to take it tonight.”

“Good. And you should look your best while doing it.” She brushed a piece of lint off my shoulder and then, still unhappy with my appearance, snapped her fingers. “Much better.”

I glanced in the mirror to see what she’d done. I was now wearing makeup, including deep red lipstick.

“Remember,” Chrissy said, “I can’t go on Queen Orlaith’s land, so you have to make it through the forest and out onto the meadow before I can take the goblet. Call me as soon as you pass the last tree. Once it’s in my hand, I’ll send you and Jason wherever you’d like.” She gave me a cheering smile. “I bet he takes you to some posh Hollywood party.”

“I’ll call you as soon as I pass the last tree.”

“Awesome.” She flicked her wand and sparkles spun in the air around her. “Oh, and after you steal the goblet, keep clear of stray vines. You don’t want to end up as plant food.” The sparkles fountained around her until she disappeared.

I watched her go and wondered which part of the last conversation was supposed to be a pep talk.

Chapter 26

That night, when my sisters and I went down the stairs to the fairy realm, Jason walked beside me, holding my lantern. I’d stopped waiting for him to be chivalrous, and I’d forced the lantern on him, telling him I needed both hands to hold up my skirts in order to lessen the chance I’d trip and plunge to my death.

“After the queen asks her question,” I whispered to Jason, “Offer to sing her a song—your apology for the unfortunate misunderstanding last night. Keep her eyes on you. When you’ve finished singing, apologizing, and groveling in general, look at me. If I touch my hair, that means I’ve got the goblet.

“Tell the queen you still haven’t recovered your stamina after being a frog, so you and I are making an early night of it. We’ll need to get out of Queen Orlaith’s domain as quickly as we can.”

Jason switched the lantern from one hand to the other, nervously wiping his palms on his jerkin. “How come I have to be the distraction?”

“Because I’m the only one who can touch the goblet. It’s a girl thing, remember?”

“Why can’t Donovan be the distraction?”

“Because he’s invisible.”

“He could make something float.”

“We want her diverted, not suspicious.”

Jason scowled and lowered his voice to a hiss. “If Queen Orlaith catches you, she’ll change us both into something horrible. No, thank you. I’ve already done time being repulsive.”

Behind me, Donovan let out a disbelieving cough. “Is that sentence over?”

I kept my attention on Jason. “We have to take our chances. You don’t want to stay here, do you?”

Jason made exasperated grumbling sounds as he thunked angrily down the stairs. “You never should have wished me here.”

“You think?” I snapped, tired of his complaints. “I could have used that wish for something useful like, oh I don’t know . . . anything else in the world.”

I held up one hand to stop him from protesting. “I know there are hordes of girls who would love to be in your presence no matter how whiny you’re being, but I’ve realized I’m not one of them.”

He sputtered at that. “You’re insulting me, when all of this is your fault?”

From behind us, Donovan whispered, “I think you should ask the queen to turn him back into a frog.”

Jason turned the lantern to the sound of his voice, scattering light up the stairs. “Keep hiding, punk. If I see you, I will totally take you down!”

Donovan didn’t answer.

Jason waved a finger in his direction. “That’s right. You’re not so tough now.”

I put my hand on Jason’s arm and turned him the right direction. The princesses had stopped descending the stairs and were staring curiously at him.

“Who are you shouting at?” Penny asked, holding her lantern higher so its circle of light increased.

Jason dropped his hand. “Um, no one.” He cleared his throat. “I just do that sometimes. Yell randomly.” More throat clearing. “It’s a guy thing.”

I slipped my arm through Jason’s arm. “He’s fine now.”

The other princesses sent a few more puzzled looks in Jason’s direction, then turned and went down the stairs again, murmuring things. Probably none of it complimentary. Jason and I followed more slowly. “And that,” I whispered, “is why you can’t win an argument with an invisible man.”

Jason shot Donovan an angry look over his shoulder, then picked up his pace. “I don’t know why you like him, let alone trust him.”

I wasn’t going to let the conversation turn in that direction. Especially not with Donovan listening. “Don’t worry about him. I’ll get you home or die trying. All I’m asking you to do is sing for the queen. I’ll do the rest.”

Jason’s gaze went to me, surprised. “You’d die for me?”

“Well, it’s not part of the game plan, but it’s a possibility.”

Jason remained quiet for a few moments. The light from our lantern spilled down the stairs, one white marble step at a time. Finally he said, “I’m sorry I’ve been hard on you. I know you didn’t mean to screw up my life.”

Donovan snorted at that. Apparently he didn’t think much of the apology.

“It’s okay,” I said, both to Jason and Donovan.