TWO CAN PLAY THE FAE GAME
Chen, who did not glow, watched and said, "I don't glow, but my hydrangeas glow. Can I be heir of hydrangeas?"
Court laughed, but Elena knelt to Mrs. Chen, took her hand, and placed faint light — not Starlight, but Winter light — because Mrs. Chen had called news but then said "I like magic."
"You are heir of market," Elena said, queen voice, kind. "Because you saw snow in August and didn't call police. You called magic. That's Starlight enough."
Adrian watched Elena teach — queen who fixed toilets, built markets, found heirs, taught small stars — and felt bond hum, warm, proud, possessive.