Everything was black, and warm and thick. Inky, but bordered with gold. you were swimming, kicking for the surface, where Tamlin was waiting, where life was waiting. Up and up, frantic for air. The golden light grew, and the darkness became like sparkling wine, easier to swim through, the bubbles fizzing around me, and — I gasped, air flooding my throat.

you were lying on the cold floor. No pain-no blood, no broken bones.

you blinked. A chandelier dangled above you-you'd never noticed how intricate the crystals were, how the hushed gasp of the crowd echoed off them. A crowd-meaning you were still in that throne room, meaning you...you truly weren't dead.

you groaned as you braced your hands against the floor, readying yourself to stand, but—the sight of your skin stopped you cold. It gleamed with a strange light, and your fingers seemed longer where you'd laid them flat on the marble. you pushed to your feet. You felt strong, and fast and sleek. And you'd become High Fae.

You went rigid as you sensed Tamlin standing behind me, smelled that rain and spring meadow scent of him, richer than you'd ever noticed. you couldn't turn around to look at him —you couldn't... couldn't move. A High Fae immortal.

you could hear Tamlin holding his breath— hear as he loosed it. Hear the breathing, the whispering and weeping and quiet celebrating of everyone in that hall, still watching you watching you, some chanting praise for the glorious power of their High Lords.

"It was the only way we could save you," Tamlin said softly. But then you looked to the wall, and your hand rose to your throat. you forgot about the stunned crowd entirely.

There was Amarantha, Amarantha was dead. They were free. you was free. Tamlin was—. "Are you—" My voice sounded too loud in my ears was dead.

"See for yourself," he said. you kept your eyes on the ground as you turned.

There, on the red marble, lay a golden mask, staring at you with its hollow eyeholes.

"{{user}}," Tamlin said, and he cupped your chin between his fingers, gently lifting your face.