Alexia, guised as Lady Snow, sat with Soon-mi on the high balcony that overlooked the entrance to the main house of the estate, sipped her wine in the late-afternoon shade, and watched people arrive.

This house really was perfect to the occasion. Soon-mi had done well snapping it up. It had belonged to a Swan, previously, but Alexia was all but certain it had been designed by a Serpent. Cleverly hidden nooks and corridors, rooms that were an even mix of bright and airy and dark and intimate, an array of small pools surrounded by greenery and private—this was the perfect place for a Lady Snow party. She’d have to arrange a larger gathering here later this year. For this event, she would have to keep an eye on the small group to make certain they didn’t get too spread out.

The only blur on this estate’s perfection—and it was, Alexia hoped, a temporary one—was that this estate bordered Alexia’s own. Separated by acres of ground and a strip of woodland between, but still close enough Alexia could feel it. The tainted nima were still there, still dissonant against Alexia’s senses. Not so close that the other akashics here—Soon-mi, Corinne—would notice. But it was a reminder of everything Alexia had been avoiding.

Kristoph-as-Frost was below, greeting people. Which left Alexia and Soon-mi alone and, since Alexia was in disguise, freed of the burden of using the time productively with discussions of matters of state. Instead, she got to simply admire and gossip.

Ruby and Sapphire had arrived, glittering and exquisite as ever. Beside Alexia, Soon-mi gave a soft sigh. “May I confess something?”

“Always.”

“Sapphire, just look at star. Have you ever seen anyone so flawlessly beautiful?” Another sigh. “I’m jealous. I wish I had the time to look like that.”

Sapphire’s long, flowing hair was interspersed with tiny braids of glittering blue, and stars dark skin was dusted to shimmer the same color. Stars long skirt swirled and caught the light with a similar shimmer over its white beaded lace. Ruby was a mirror image in red. Rather than masks, their faces were painted with such artistry and depth it was hard to believe there was no more than skin beneath.

There was no denying the perfection of Sapphire and Ruby both. Dancers in their real lives, with one of the elite Swan companies, this sort of theatrical beauty really was part of their job. No wonder they were expert at it.

“Truly, they belong in a gallery somewhere.”

Soon-mi’s lips twisted into a wicked smile. “But instead, they’re here.”

“Thinking of what you might do with those beauties?”

“I might be having some thoughts.”

Alexia allowed herself a smile. This was what she liked to see—people enjoying themselves and each other. Soon-mi hadn’t played with the pair before, but their desires would be well matched to each other. “I’ll tell you this, for all the work they put in to arrive looking perfect, they both consider the evening wasted if they leave that way.”

“Transitory art. How delightful. It will be my pleasure to muss them.”

“Yes it will,” Alexia mused, as another flyer touched down on the landing pad and Corinne emerged, resplendent in red and gold, with a brand new dragon mask.

Soon-mi, strangely, tensed. “You invited Ember?” she asked in a tone that was clearly taking effort to be so casual.

A surprising response. “Is that a problem?”

“She’s very new,” Soon-mi said, but Alexia could feel this wasn’t the truth of her objection.

“Amaranth,” she said with just an edge of reprimand.

Which earned her a rueful expression. “No evading the truth with you, is there? All right. I have…plans for Corinne,” she said softly. “I want her to work for me. I don’t want to…” she stopped, obviously searching for the words, “to confuse any decision she’s going to make.”

This was the first Alexia had heard of Soon-mi’s plans, but the idea was perfect. “I’ll keep an eye on making certain there’s no awkwardness.”

“Thank you.”

Soon-mi was still uncomfortable, but Alexia wasn’t worried. Lady Snow had navigated far more delicate situations. Corinne would be fine.

Alexia would see to it.