On the way back to our chambers, we made a detour, stopping at Angie and Lauren’s apartment. I was eager to tell them we’d returned safely.

I knocked on the door, listening for the sound of feet shuffling in the room beyond. A moment later the door was wrenched open, and Angie’s face stared out into the hallway. She jumped on me as soon as she saw me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“Don’t you dare go running off like that again, without saying a word! Bashrik told us what happened. We’ve been worried sick!” she exclaimed.

“I’m so sorry for worrying you. I wanted to come and tell you, but I ran out of time,” I sighed, squeezing my friend tight.

Lauren appeared in the doorway, a wave of relief washing over her face. “Riley! You’re back! Thank God you’re safe. When Bashrik said you’d gone to the South on a mission, we didn’t know if we’d ever see you again,” she gasped, joining the huddle.

Navan moved past me into the apartment, where Bashrik was pacing across the far side of the room, running an anxious hand through his dark hair. His expression calmed as he saw Navan, a wave of relief rippling across his face. The poor guy looked frazzled, like he hadn’t sat down or allowed himself to relax the whole time we’d been away. Without a word, the brothers hugged each other. It was a sweet moment, but my attention immediately returned to my friends.

“What the hell happened?” Lauren asked, releasing me, her brow furrowed with worry.

“It’s a bit of a long story. Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain everything,” I suggested.

We ventured into the warmth and sat around the fireplace on the sofas and armchairs that were scattered around. It felt almost like the first day everyone had been together in Northern Vysanthe, though the tension in the air was thicker.

I told the tale of where we’d been and what we’d been up to. I told them all about Seraphina, and the role she’d played in the evacuation of the Observatory. Even now, I struggled to tell Navan what she’d asked. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him, or believed him to be incapable of making the right decision. If anything, it was the opposite. I knew he would do everything in his power to protect my heart, but I couldn’t bear the thought of Seraphina enduring a life with that wrinkled, ancient old man, in exchange. No, I would have to tell him about it very soon, but I had to fully process my own thoughts and feelings on the whole matter first… as well as gather the courage. Because he had to return to the South, even if only for a fake marriage. There was no alternative, not if that alternative meant the suffering of someone to whom I owed my life. After all, if Seraphina hadn’t arranged for Lazar to take Orion’s deadly chip out of my neck, who knew if I would be standing here now. Besides, I liked her as a person. She was a friend.

As I came to the end of my story, recounting the new ships, the scrap with Aurelius, and the return through the mountain pass, I glanced around, my eyes resting on Navan.

“What happened to Aurelius, by the way?” I asked, realizing I had no idea. Things had gotten so crazy that I’d forgotten to find out what his fate had been, against Navan’s blades. I had just assumed Navan to be the victor, since he’d returned in one piece. Then again, if Navan had killed Aurelius, then surely that meant Seraphina was off the hook? That would sure solve a lot of problems.

Navan smirked. “He ran off with his tail between his legs.”

“So, he’s still alive?” I murmured, sighing.

“As far as I know… Why? Do you think I should have killed him?” Navan asked, frowning.

I shrugged. “I was worried he might have seen your face. It wouldn’t be good for us if he told Gianne he’d seen you,” I reasoned.

He shook his head. “I kept my hood up the whole time and kept my face turned away from him. I’m pretty sure he didn’t realize it was me.”

“So, if Brisha thought you betrayed her, how come you’re not dead?” Angie asked. I was grateful for the distraction.

“We explained we didn’t really betray her, we just got sidetracked. The information about the new ships bought us back her favor, for now,” I replied. “She wants to send Navan back the day after tomorrow to scope out the technology. I imagine she’ll want to blow a few ships up, too.”

“I’ll request to come with you,” Bashrik announced abruptly, prompting a worried glance from Angie.

Navan frowned. “Don’t you have the alchemy lab to finish?”

Bashrik shook his head, a pleased grin curving up his usually tense mouth. “We put the final touches in place today. It’s finished and raring to go. The alchemists are already back at work.” He sighed happily, a weight evidently lifted from his shoulders. “I think there’s supposed to be an unveiling ceremony in the morning, to officially open the building. However, as soon as I’m done schmoozing, I am at your disposal. I’d be more than happy to come to the South with you and scope out some ships. Besides, I can always cover for the deep-space engines. If Brisha doesn’t send anyone else with engineering knowledge, we might just get away with it, and encourage her to blow everything up instead!” he said, a boyish glee in his eyes.

“What is it with boys and blowing things up?” Angie muttered, and I could see it came from a place of concern. She didn’t want Bashrik to get mixed up in this any more than I wanted Navan to.

“Bashrik has a point, though,” Lauren chimed in, adjusting her spectacles on the bridge of her nose. “The more people we have who can vouch for the ships not being capable of deep-space travel, the better.”

Bashrik’s face softened slightly as his eyes rested on Angie. “Look, we don’t have to worry about it until after tomorrow. We can enjoy the unveiling ceremony and take pride in what we’ve achieved,” he said. “It’s not every day you build a whole lab in under a month!” I noted he kept using the word ‘we,’ the sound of it bringing a smile to my lips. They’d make a good couple, despite their mutual stubbornness.

“Wait, the alchemists have gone back to work already?” I asked, realizing what he’d just said.

“I’m afraid so. They were straight back on it, as soon as the last piece was in place,” Bashrik murmured, his expression turning grim.

If that was the case, then our human blood was on its way to being synthesized. And, with the device Yorrek had spoken about, that gave us less time than anticipated. Still, if we could get the two sisters in a position where they were fighting one another, that might buy us more time, with Brisha’s focus drawn elsewhere. The immortality elixir would remain important to her, for obvious reasons, but she might put it on the backburner while war was underway. After all, she wouldn’t want her sister stealing it from under her nose during the conflict.

“Speaking of the lab, we were just congratulating Lauren when you knocked on the door,” Angie said, distracting my attention. “In fact, I think it might be the best news you’ve heard all evening.”

Lauren smiled as I glanced in her direction. “The alchemists have offered me an apprenticeship. I sent them an essay discussing the different ways in which elixirs can be stabilized, and they asked to have me on board,” she explained, excitement bristling in her voice. “I thought it might be a good idea to have someone in the lab keeping an eye on things. Brisha trusts me, thanks to our evenings spent in the library, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to slow down any work they might be doing. Just a hint of a mishap here, too much soren root there, that sort of thing.” Her cheeks flushed slightly as everyone’s eyes turned proudly in her direction.

This was perfect news, and Lauren had done it all of her own volition. I could understand that. Had she told us of her plans, we might have tried to talk her out of it, or stick our own oars in, but this was the perfect cover. The alchemists’ desire for her knowledge had overcome their suspicion of her being an outsider. I doubted any of us could have planned it better if we’d had weeks.

After the gamble we’d taken earlier, it was just the sort of positive news I needed. With Bashrik and Navan figuring out a way to keep the deep-space engines secret, Lauren keeping an eye on the alchemists, and Brisha reinstating our good name, removing the weight of imminent punishment, things were looking brighter than they had seemed mere moments before. They were small victories, of course, since we would still be forced to send intel to Orion via Pandora and her little device, but it was something.

Even so, the thought of Earth drifted back to me. I kept wondering how a little, relatively primitive planet in the far reaches of the universe could be causing so much trouble. How could we be so important? More than that, I wondered if we’d ever see its beautiful green-and-blue surface again, or set foot on its precious soil. With each day that passed, it seemed to be getting farther and farther away.

“I’m going to turn in for the night,” I announced, feeling suddenly drained. It was too much for one day. “We’ll no doubt be expected at this grand unveiling tomorrow, so we should probably look as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as possible. Although, I think I’m going to need a miracle.” I laughed dryly, rising up from the sofa.

“Will you come down for breakfast tomorrow morning?” Lauren asked with a hopeful smile. “I start at the lab, and it’d be nice to get a pep talk before I go—the way we used to before our big exams.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I promised, hugging my friends before heading for the door.

“It’s good to see you safe and sound, Brother,” I overheard Bashrik say as I stepped out into the hallway.

“It’s good to be back in one piece,” Navan replied, pulling his brother into another tight embrace. “The two of us have much to discuss, but it can wait until the morning. Sleep well. You’ve earned it. I’m sure the lab looks incredible,” he said, before releasing his brother and following me out into the corridor.

As the door closed behind us, we set off toward our chambers, everything seeming so quiet without the energy of the other three. However, it was a silence I liked the sound of. It was a particular sort of peace, enjoyed only by a couple in love, the tension bristling between us. Truthfully, my body was tired, but there was another part of me that wanted to kiss Navan until I had no energy left, relishing in the fact that we were both still alive after everything that had gone down today.

Reaching our bedroom, all I wanted to do was curl up beside Navan in our bed, falling asleep in his arms. It seemed that was what he wanted, too, as we settled in for the night, going about our oddly domestic routine. Once Navan had showered and teased me about my smelliness, I took my own thorough shower, letting the cool water run across my skin and sloughing off the dust and dirt from the mountain pass. I dried off and changed into my nightdress, detangling my wet hair with my fingers. Navan came up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist, gazing at me through the mirror. Gently, he leaned in and kissed my neck, his eyes closing in desire, the touch of his lips thrilling my senses.

“War is coming, isn’t it?” I asked quietly, hating that I might be about to ruin the moment.

He paused in his kisses, his eyes seeking out mine. “It is, but we’ll find a way to escape it, Riley. I promise you, when the worst of it comes, we will be far from here,” he murmured against my skin. “You won’t have to watch anyone suffer. You won’t have to witness the horrors that come with it.”

All this time, escape had been at the forefront of my mind. Everything we’d done was leading to getting away from Vysanthe, but now that Navan’s words had made it seem real, I wasn’t sure if that was what I wanted anymore. Perhaps Vysanthe needed something else. Perhaps it didn’t need another battle between embittered sisters, it just needed someone better equipped to steer it toward a course of peace and harmony. Seraphina’s vision for the planet seemed like a good place to start, though I wasn’t an idiot. Maybe that ideal was even more impossible than a fragile balance between two halves.

“I’ll be in soon, Navan. I just need a minute,” I whispered.

“I’ll be waiting,” he said with a smile. Pulling his t-shirt over his head as he went, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the bathroom to sift through my endless thoughts.

I caught sight of a box on the bathroom counter, tucked away in the corner by the sink. The queen’s emblem was embellished in gold upon a label, trailing down from a perfectly tied ribbon. Curious, I reached out and lifted the top off the box. There was a small brass pot inside, engraved with birds and insects, each creature entwined. I didn’t recognize the animals, but the craftsmanship was exquisite. Next to the pot was a card. Excited by the prospect of a gift, I lifted the note and read the words upon it: Enjoy. From, The Queen.

It certainly seemed as though we were back in Brisha’s good books, though the handwriting looked oddly familiar. With a wry smile, I realized it was Lauren’s bubbly letters upon the card. Queen Brisha must have asked her to write out the words in our language so she could surprise us. A sweet touch.

I unscrewed the lid of the pot and lifted it to my nose, inhaling the deliciously sweet scent of the concoction within. Moving it beneath the bathroom lamps, I noticed that the cream seemed to sparkle, the iridescence catching the light in the most remarkable way. I grinned, dabbing my finger into the rich, delicious-smelling cream before rubbing it across my hands and neck—all the places that felt dry and uncomfortable after the strain of the day. Everything felt immediately better, as though my skin had taken a huge sip of water.

Rubbing it across the rest of my body, wherever it felt like I needed some help, I inhaled the sugary scent, the aroma lifting my spirits. I’d never believed in aromatherapy before, but this was changing my mind. With my skin refreshed and a smile on my face, I stepped back into the warmth of the bedroom.

Immediately, I became aware of Navan behind me, his arms sliding around my waist, his lips caressing my skin, his hands gripping at the fabric of my nightdress. Amused, I turned to face him, catching sight of his flushed cheeks and glittering eyes.

“Well, someone’s eager,” I whispered huskily, running a hand through his hair. “Not that I’m complaining.”

His voice caught in his throat. “It’s that scent… It’s a… Vysanthean aphrodisiac. It makes the wearer…irresistible to their partner,” he murmured, his hands finding my face, his lips grazing mine with an almost desperate passion.

He sat down on the bed and pulled me onto his lap. My legs wrapped around his waist, and his hands slid beneath my nightdress, exploring the curve of my spine, each touch making me shiver. All I could see and feel was him, his body cool to the touch. I could feel his hunger in the way he kissed me, in the way his hands moved across my skin, taking in every curve and contour. This wasn’t like all the other times.

It was infectious, his desire setting my body alight. I kissed him back, hard and passionate. He gasped against my neck, growling in the back of his throat, as he lifted my nightdress over my head and threw it to the floor, leaving me naked in his arms. This time, there was no hesitation. I didn’t want to wait any longer. I wanted him, and I wanted him now.

He reached for his waistband, then paused, leaning over to the bowl that Brisha had previously left for us. He picked up two of the strange herbs, putting one in his mouth and placing the other on the tip of my tongue. I let the herb dissolve, the process feeling alien to me. In his arms, however, I felt safe and secure, knowing he would lead me.

Hurriedly, he wrestled free of his pajama bottoms. Drinking him in with a sense of surprise and excitement, I realized things were not quite as dissimilar as I’d feared they might be. We could definitely make this work.

Relaxing, I moved back onto the bed, drawing him down with me, my hands running over his smooth skin, my mouth hungrily kissing every inch of his body it could reach. My fingertips explored him cautiously, discovering things I’d never experienced before. His did the same, making my back arch against him, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps as he held me to him, guiding me through. A ripple of pure pleasure bristled through every cell in my body, setting my nerves on fire.

“I love you,” he murmured in my ear, as his hands parted my legs and he pressed himself against me.

“I love you,” I gasped back, realizing it was the first time we’d ever said the words aloud.

My breath caught in my throat as I bucked against him, wanting more, wanting all of him. My nails raked against his back, his breath mingling with mine.

No matter how hard he kissed me, or how his fingertips danced across the most sensitive parts of my body, or how his lips moved when they caressed my skin, I couldn’t get enough. In that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just him and me, entwined together, our bodies moving in perfect rhythm, everything else lost in the wake of his addictive touch.