I couldn't breathe.
The royal house of Catonia had finally forced the issue and had officially demanded Alar's release from the Dragon Force.
Elucia had no choice but to comply.
Alar was going home.
The two contradicting emotions rushing through me nearly tore me in half. Relief, bright and sharp and undeniable, because by leaving he would be spared the fate I'd seen in my dreams. And devastation, deep and cold and absolute, because the man I loved was about to walk out of my life.
"We need to talk," Alar said, taking my hand. He glanced at the others, who were watching from the table with expressions ranging from Morek's open concern to Codric's careful blankness that was masking his own devastation. "Please forgive us, but I need to talk to Kailin in private."
He was already sliding into his princely persona, using words that were too polite and smooth for a bunch of friends who had been through thick and thin together.
"You need to eat," I said as he led me toward our bedroom. "Morek improved on the stew so it's actually edible."
"I have no appetite." He gave me a weak smile and kept walking.
After closing the door behind us, he led me to the bed, and we sat side by side on the edge, our hands still clasped between us. The room was dim, lit only by the auroral light coming through the window and the reading lamp on my nightstand that I had forgotten to turn off.
"You've been summoned home," I said.
He nodded and told me about the formal demand for his immediate release and repatriation, submitted through all the appropriate diplomatic channels.
"Elucia can't refuse without endangering the alliance," he said. "I'm leaving tomorrow after breakfast. Elucian ground forces will escort me to the port of entry, and federation soldiers will be waiting for me on the other side to escort me safely home."
Tomorrow. Not next week, not in a month. Tomorrow.
"What did the summons say? That you are needed home because your father is dying?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I wasn't given the opportunity to read it. I called my mother, though. Saphir took me to his office and let me use his private line to call her. I asked her about Father's health, but she was evasive, which tells me that his so-called illness is political in nature rather than physical. Something is happening in Catonia, maybe across the entire Federation. She wouldn't say more over the phone."
"But he's not dying."
"She said his death is not imminent. That was as much as she'd commit to."
I squeezed his hand so tightly that my fingers ached. "You'll be safe there. Away from Veynathei and the Elucian mountains. That's all that matters."
"Is it?" He turned to look at me, and his blue eyes were so full of pain that I had to fight the urge to look away. "Is that really what matters most to you right now? My safety?"
"Yes," I said with all the conviction I felt. "You are everything to me, Alar, and I've watched you die four times in my dreams. If you leaving means I never have to watch it in real life, then yes, that matters more to me than anything else."
He remained quiet, staring at our joined hands.
"What about Codric?" I asked. "Is he going with you?"
Alar shook his head. "The official request didn't mention him. They demanded the return of Prince Alaranthus Tekumuton the Fifth. Catonia can't demand his return as well without stretching the diplomatic protocols even further."
"So, he stays."
"He stays. He's one of the seven, and he's needed here." Alar sighed. "I need to tell him. I need to tell all of them."
I nodded. "It's going to be difficult for Codric."
"I know."
"You also need to tell Shovia and Morek who you are. Otherwise it will be difficult to explain why you are leaving, and Codric is staying."
"I intend to." He ran his free hand through his hair. "They deserve to hear it from me rather than through the rumor mill, which is probably already churning."
