The solstice dawn arrived like a held breath finally released. Ali woke to find her room filled with light that seemed almost solid in its intensity. Even the eternal twilight of the Summer Court had given way to pure, brilliant sunshine that made every surface gleam with magical potential.

  "It's time," Sage said, already dressed in her ceremonial gown. Her voice held a mixture of excitement and nervousness that Ali felt echoed in her own racing heart.

  Servants arrived to help them prepare, their movements quick and precise as they arranged Ali's hair with blooming flowers that matched her gown perfectly. The dress itself seemed to have evolved one final time overnight—the captured sunlight in its fabric now moved like living gold, responding to her every movement with shimmers of pure summer magic.

  The light pendant felt warm against her skin as she fastened it carefully at her throat, its steady pulse helping to calm her nerves. One of the servants paused in her work, eyeing the pendant with interest.

  "A gift from Twilight-Stars-Dancing, yes?" the servant asked, her fingers weaving flowers into Ali's hair. "She rarely bestows such tokens on students."

  "She said it would help with my light-weaving," Ali replied carefully, noting how the other servants exchanged glances at this.

  "Help, yes," the first servant said. "But perhaps in ways not entirely expected." Before Ali could ask what she meant, they finished their work and departed, leaving behind the scent of summer flowers.

  The great hall was transformed when they arrived for the morning meal. Garlands of ever-blooming flowers cascaded from the ceiling, their colors shifting in waves that matched the movements of fae nobles beneath them. The air itself seemed to shimmer with concentrated summer magic.

  Melody-in-Moonlight stood near the high table, deep in conversation with other musicians. She wore ceremonial robes that seemed woven from twilight itself, her silver-white hair now streaked with hints of gold that caught the brilliant solstice light. When she turned and saw Ali, her expression shifted almost imperceptibly before her usual serene mask slipped back into place.

  "Final preparations in the music pavilion after breakfast," she announced, their voice carrying easily through the hall despite its soft tone. "We must ensure every note is perfect for tonight's ceremony."

  Ali tried to focus on her food, but found her appetite diminished by the nervous energy that filled the air. Around her, other tributes picked at their plates while discussing the ceremony in excited whispers. The light pendant maintained its steady, warm pulse against her skin, like a tiny heartbeat helping to ground her amid the growing magical intensity.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  The music pavilion had undergone one final transformation. The dome of flowering vines now pulsed with visible magic, each bloom opening and closing in perfect harmony with the summer court's natural rhythms. The ritual circle of instruments had been expanded further, with crystalline focusing stones that caught and amplified the brilliant solstice light.

  "Remember," Melody said as musicians took their places, though she seemed to be speaking particularly to Ali, "the ceremony guides the sun through its longest journey. Perfect harmony is essential."

  They began the final rehearsal, playing through the ceremonial progressions that would accompany the solstice celebrations. Ali focused carefully on maintaining the prescribed patterns, even as she felt deeper harmonies rising within her like sap in summer growth. The light pendant helped, its warmth guiding her through the complex transitions.

  But during the twilight movement, she felt it again—that magnetic pull between her music and Melody's, their separate melodies reaching for each other like vines growing toward sunlight. The flowering dome overhead responded, blooms opening in cascading waves that matched their combined harmony.

  This time, though, Melody didn't pull back immediately. For a few breathtaking measures, they let their music twine together, creating something wild and beautiful that made the very air seem to shimmer with possibility. Ali saw other musicians exchange meaningful glances, and even Twilight-Stars-Dancing raised an eyebrow at the display.

  Then Melody smoothly transitioned back to the ceremonial progression, though Ali noticed her hands trembled slightly on the crystalline harp strings. The rest of the rehearsal passed without incident, but Ali felt a new tension in the air, like storm pressure building before rainfall.

  "The solstice ceremony begins at sunset," Melody announced as they finished. "Until then, rest and prepare yourselves. Tonight will demand everything we have to give."

  As musicians began to disperse, Twilight-Stars-Dancing approached Ali. "A word," she said quietly, drawing her aside. Her expression was serious as she studied her. "You understand that tonight's ceremony is more than just music and light-weaving?"

  Ali nodded, touching the pendant she had given her. "It's about maintaining balance in the Summer Court, isn't it?"

  "Yes," she replied. "But balance takes many forms. Sometimes..." she glanced at where Melody was carefully putting away her harp, "sometimes what appears to disturb harmony actually strengthens it, if we're brave enough to let it."

  Before Ali could ask what she meant, she turned away, leaving her to ponder her words as the brilliant solstice light streamed through the flowering dome overhead.

  The rest of the day passed in a blur of final preparations. Ali found herself constantly aware of Melody's presence whenever they were in the same space, as if some invisible thread connected them. The light pendant seemed to pulse in time with this awareness, its warmth a constant reminder of magic barely contained.

  "Tonight changes everything," Sage said as they prepared for the ceremony, servants once again helping them with final adjustments to their attire. "Mother said the solstice celebration reveals truths we didn't even know we were hiding."

  Ali thought of Twilight-Stars-Dancing's words about balance, and of Melody's trembling hands on her harp strings. "What if some truths are too dangerous to reveal?" she asked softly.

  Sage met her eyes in the mirror. "In the fae courts," she replied, "the most dangerous truth is the one we refuse to acknowledge."