After that, Jason and I made small talk. At first it was forced and cold, but after awhile things thawed out. We talked about what we would do first when we got home. Jason was going to book a relaxing vacation in the Caribbean. I was going to come up with a good excuse to explain my three-day disappearance to my parents. And then I was going to think of things to do while grounded, because there was no way on earth my parents would buy any excuse I gave them.

Donovan didn’t say anything. Maybe he didn’t want to blow his cover. Or maybe he was thinking of his probation officer. How much trouble would he be in for disappearing?

A couple of times while we walked through the forest, the branches of trees swayed in a way that made me suspect Donovan was pilfering more fairy wealth. After we’d passed through the diamond trees, I heard Donovan’s footsteps at my side, then felt something heavy slip into my pocket. When I checked to see what he’d put there, I found three small branches, a gold, silver, and diamond one. “For me?” I asked. Earlier, he’d given me some gold leaves. I hadn’t expected more.

“You should get something from your stint in this fairy tale besides Jason’s undying love.”

“Thanks.”

The princess procession reached the lake. Jason’s boat sat on the shore exactly where I’d left it last night. The other princes stood by their boats, waiting, and cheered when they saw Jason, human and well. Several came up to clap him on the back and rib him about his time spent as an amphibian. Geoffrey, Rosamund’s prince, predicted he’d be the quickest rower, since he’d been lounging around with the princesses while the rest of them had worked vigorously.

That prediction proved false, but Jason wasn’t bothered—at least not much—by being last again. This time he knew our boat was heavier due to an invisible stowaway.

“I don’t see why I have to row the whole way,” he grumbled. “Why can’t Mr. Invisible take a turn?”

“Because,” I said patiently, “it would look odd if the oars appeared to be moving by themselves.”

Jason pulled at the oars, halfheartedly trying to catch up with the other boats. “You’re not invisible. Whatever happened to equal rights?”

I relaxed against the side of the boat, listening to the slosh of the waves. “They haven’t been invented yet.”

Jason spent the rest of ride to the pavilion alternating between complaining about being shanghaied into the past and predicting our doom. I mostly tuned him out and talked to Donovan.

Once we got to the pavilion, Jason spent a while at the refreshment table, filling his plate, and then filling it again. I should have eaten too. I should have enjoyed what was possibly my last meal, but my stomach wanted no part of it. I stood next to him nibbling at flower petals I didn’t taste.

Kailen wasn’t around again tonight. Good. One less pair of eyes to watch us. Rosamund and Geoffrey came to the table for drinks, flushed from dancing. I took Rosamund aside. I had an irrational desire to fix this fairy tale. I didn’t want to disappear back to my own century and leave my sisters’ story unfinished.

I used my body to shield her from any passing glances and slipped the silver, gold, and diamond twigs into her hand. “Put these in your purse, and give them to Geoffrey before the ball ends. He needs to come to the castle, pretend to be a suitor from a distant land, and show the twigs to father as proof he’s solved the slipper mystery. Geoffrey will choose you as his bride, and he’ll inherit the kingdom.”

Rosamund’s gaze darted to the queen’s table to make sure we weren’t being watched. “Such a thing is impossible. Father would put a stop to our ball and never let our sisters see their princes again. I couldn’t marry Geoffrey knowing that by doing so I’ll ruin my sisters’ chances for happiness.”

She pressed the twigs back at me. I didn’t take them. “Trust me about this. He’ll let the princes marry the princesses. Probably insist on it, in fact.”

“He won’t. You know his stubbornness.”

“Yes, but I also know he loves us. It will outweigh his stubbornness.” I was suddenly sure of this fact, which was a nice bit of knowledge to have. In the story, the princesses wed and lived happily ever after. Despite his gruffness and threats, the king wanted his daughters to be happy.

Rosamund still looked unconvinced, but she slipped the twigs into her purse. “Mother did say she would talk to him about restoring the provinces’ rights.”

I nodded at her. “Mother will bring him around.”

Rosamund pressed her lips together, thinking. “She might be a willing ally.”

“Absolutely,” I said.

Rosamund smiled, suddenly hopeful. “I’ll ask Geoffrey his opinion of such a plan.”

After that, Jason decided he wanted to dance and led me out on the floor. As I waltzed to the swaying sounds of the fairy music, I kept surreptitiously checking the clock, watching as the hands made their way around the face. Eleven came. Then eleven thirty. Eleven forty. Eleven fifty. With every passing minute, my heart beat faster.

I both wanted midnight to come and dreaded it. I wondered where Donovan was. He told me when I switched the goblets, he’d be near the table. Ready to help me if I needed it.

When the clock struck twelve, Jason and I danced our way toward the queen’s table. She pulled a vial from her gown took the lid off, and poured the liquid into the goblet. Fear tingled up my back. My palms felt sweaty. It was almost time to make the switch.

Queen Orlaith picked up the cup, swirling it as she spoke. “Magic cup within my hand, make me wise to understand. I’ve bathed my trees in love’s sweet air, yet even so, their boughs are bare. They’ve soaked up light from love’s true kiss. They’re watered by such tears of bliss. What need they more to grow and thrive? Tell me the key to save their lives.”

The answer from the goblet came quicker than it had the other nights, as though it was weary of answering. “How can one show what you won’t see? How can one tell what you won’t be? Love is a tree, love is a river. Love is the gift and not the giver. True love becomes eternal, when offerings make love supernal.”

She put down the cup, her expression fierce in its frustration. We had to make the switch before she locked the goblet back in the box.

I moved closer to Jason. “This is it. Ready?”

Instead of answering, he stepped over to the queen’s table, swaggering as he walked. If he was anxious, he didn’t show it. Perhaps that’s what happened when you were constantly in front of cameras. You became immune to nerves.

The queen barely glanced at us. She fingered the goblet’s stem, repeating its words, muttering bits of it like a chant. “A tree. A river. What is both tree and river?” She turned the goblet absently. “Roots spread out like rivers. One finds water the other gives it. But love is the gift not the giver. Water. What does water have to do with love?”

Jason bowed. “Your Majesty, please forgive me for last night. I only meant to refill your cup. In my land, guys do that for girls.”

Her gaze flickered to him. “You’re a mortal. Tell me, how does your love differ from that of the fairies?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never loved a fairy.” He gave the queen a wink. “I could give it a try, though.”

One shouldn’t joke with fairy queens, especially frustrated ones. She gave him a look that could have dropped the temperature by ten degrees.

“Insolent, barbaric creatures,” she muttered. “They’re as weak as wind-blown leaves. How could their love be strong enough to matter?” She waved her fingers in our direction, dismissing us. “Go dance. Your apology is accepted.”

Jason bowed again. “May I sing for you, Your Highness? My music is the only gift I have that’s worthy of a fairy.”

When he said the word “gift,” Queen Orlaith’s gaze swung back to him. She seemed to grab onto the word, hold it up and consider it. “Yes, sing about love. Sing to your princess.” She gestured to me. “You sing too.”