The Fae Soiree is here, and it's the perfect time to find a mate!Except that Nidaw, a winter fae with deep violet eyes and soft lavender hair, doesn't want a mate - it's going to be too painful. Xyr skin is covered with angry, never-healing bruises from everyone else's touches, and xe's not eager to acquire more daily reminders that love, any kind of love, is agony. Xe has a plan though. Make it through the soiree without finding a mate and even xyr House will have to give up on xem and name someone else as heir.Strings are starting to tangle with all the plans afoot.Ziarila is happy with how things are going for this year's soiree. Her work is being exhibited, a new piece playing with light magic, and she's optimistically hopeful that it will help her attract a mate since the shifting colors of her art are similar to how her eyes shift in hue. Curious to see how some might be discussing her work, but not wanting to go in solo in case that'll give off negative vibes, she wrangles a bored-looking fae into a mini-date... which ends in disaster when her twin appears and her and "date and " suddenly vanishes.With all the dreams and hopes of four fae colliding, who will be any winners? Derya has a few days leave from his guard work and while it's not enough time to go all the way home, it'll be plenty to enjoy the soiree. Originally he wasn't going to, since he's not looking for a mate, but out of sheer boredom he starts walking around and gets entangled with Ziarila and Nidaw. It's obvious he's found trouble, or like most of his life, trouble's found him. Drawing sword and shield, he's ready protect lives and discovers something even more precious to defend. Love.Three fae. Two nights. One relationship! happy ending, neopronouns xe xem xyrs, nonbinary bisexual Nidaw, bisexual Derya, poly is the solution not the problem, fated mates, found family, lots of comfort, poetic justice, all the gooey feelings, love affirmations, happy ending, steamy and u0026 spicy nights