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“Fine,” dad snaps, turning and starting out of the tent. I glance up at Cole as we follow. He looks seriously down at me, his mouth drawn to a grim line. I can almosthearhim saying it –I told you this would be trouble, Nadia.

I exhale slowly, ready to face it.

We follow dad in silence across the camp and into the command tent, following him inside. Cole and I stand before dad’s desk as he moves around it, turning to us seriously.

“Nadia,” dad says, his full focus on me, completely ignoring Cole. “Your behavior last night was unacceptable.”

I blanche at him. “Dad, youcan’tbe serious.”

“Iamserious,” he snaps. “You are here as anurse– you have ajob. Youabandonedthat job to go on an absolutelyrecklessmission utterly without clearance –“

“Sorry,” I cry out, “did youwantthose little girls to starve in that cave, or get recaptured by Slaken?” I lean across the desk even as I gesture toward the entrance and the refugee children beyond it. “Did youwantthose boys to continue to stalk us, reporting our location and activities?”

“Theresultsof your mission are immaterial,” dad says, glaring hard at me. “Just because this illicit mission ended positively does not mean that others like it wouldn’t have ended in capture ordeath–“

“We were fine!”

“You broke the rules!” dad snaps, shaking his head once, harsh.

I gape at him before spinning my head to Cole, wanting support on this.

“No,” dad snaps, bringing my gaze back to him. He leans forward, his glare increasing. “You leantoo muchon your royal connection, Nadia –“

“Oh, that’s rich coming from you,” I growl, narrowing my eyes at my father.

“Any other nursing student would be expelled for this behavior, whether or not they had a Prince to intercede on their behalf,” dad says. “So, that’s precisely what is happening toyou.”

I stand up straight, gaping at him.

Dad shakes his head at me, his face cold, even as I watch his throat work before he speaks again. “You are talented and bright, Nadia, but you’reundisciplined, impetuous, and at times arrogant in your pig-headed pursuit of whateveryouthink is right –“

“Dad!” I step back, tears springing to my eyes.

“I love you,” he says, taking a step toward me, even with the desk between us. “But I cannot accept your actions here. Nadia, you’ve beenexpelledfrom this program. You’re being sent home.”

I gape at him, feeling the tears start down my cheeks even as my throat clicks. But no words come out.

I have none.

I – I can’t believe this is happening.

“I’m sorry,” dad says, shaking his head. “I know how dedicated you are. I just…we need discipline and order in these camps, Nadia, foreveryone’ssafety. You’ll have to find a new way. Go home, take a few days to consider your options. I recommend finding a new nursing program if you insist on continuing to not live up to your full promise. But my recommendation would be to take the summer to study and enroll in a doctoral program in the fall.”

I just…stare. Fully unable to comprehend that it is mydadwho is the one ending my dream.

Silence rings out in the tent. I watch as grief moves over my father’s face, chased quickly by stern assurance.

Cole is the one who speaks. “Is that all, sir?”

Dad shifts his eyes to Cole. “It is. Nadia will take the first train home in the morning. I suggest you say goodbye.”

“No, we’ll be leaving tonight,” Cole says. “I’m tendering my resignation as well.”

Dad gapes as Cole leans forward, snatching the bulky satellite phone off of dad’s desk. “I’m going to borrow this,” Cole says, meeting dad’s eyes calmly. “I’ll return it later. I recommend Tommy for my replacement in command.”

“Cole,” dad says, a stern frown taking his mouth. “I can’tbelievethat you’d abandon –“

“Thank you, doctor.Thatwill be all.” Cole turns to me, slipping an arm around my waist and tugging me close. “Do you want to say goodbye to your dad?”