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Kaiden had no answer for her, knowing as little as she did.

The last Alex had heard, D.C. and Jordan had gone to Woodhaven to support Bear and the rest of the Ronnigan family in the wake of William’s death. How they’d ended up in Tia Auras, she had no idea—nor did she have any clue as to why Declan was with them. All she knew was that if she and Kaiden didn’t convince the empress to revoke their group death sentence, then the lives of all their closest friends would be forfeit, along with their own.

“You have one chance to stay my hand, so I suggest you start talking,” Saefii said, the other glass dome disappearing with another flash of light, their friends vanishing with it.

Alex turned woodenly back to the empress. Thoughts fled as panic overwhelmed her. Looking around at the advanced race of beings, she suddenly feared that her reasons might seem paltry and insignificant to them. Why should the Tia Aurans care about what was happening in a world far removed from their own? What hope did Alex truly have of persuading them to help? She hadn’t even been able to convince the mortal races of Medora to agree to an alliance, not until it was too late. The consequences of their disbelief had been disastrous; the lossof life something that would stay with Alex for as long as she lived—for as long as there were stars in the sky.

A gentle nudge at her side had Alex raising her eyes to meet Kaiden’s encouraging gaze. He believed in her; he wouldn’t have risked his life by travelling across worlds if he didn’t. And his confidence was exactly what she needed right now.

With a small nod of gratitude to him, Alex turned back to Saefii. She looked from the empress to the two male advisors and then expanded her view to sweep across the silver-eyed assemblage, making sure she had everyone’s full attention.

“My name is Alexandra Jennings and I’m here because we need your help…”

“That could have gone worse.”

Alex looked across at Kaiden, noting his relaxed features as he strode over to inspect the luxurious cushions in the corner of their new surroundings.

“It could have gone better, too,” Alex replied.

After explaining their reasons for travelling to Tia Auras, she and Kaiden had been flash-transported from their glass dome into some kind of lavish common room. Free from the barrier, they now had a much larger space to wander, complete with multiple adjoining doors—all of which were locked—and a balcony.

Venturing out onto the balcony, Alex sensed Kaiden step up beside her as she peered out over the immense view and reflected on what had happened in the throne room.

The good news was that she and her friends hadn’t been executed on the spot after she’d finished speaking. The bad news was that no one had said anything, other than Saefii’s quick order to, “Move them to their rooms.”

Alex wasn’t sure what to think. She had been so deliberate in her storytelling, careful to remain succinct as she revealed the threat Aven and his Claimed army posed to Medora. More tentatively, she’d told of how Athora had offered the means to travel between their two worlds, and quietly offered news of Lady Mystique’s—or Aes Daega’s—passing. And yet, other than a few murmurs at the mention of the ancient woman’s demise, for everything Alex had shared, the Tia Aurans had given nothing away. Their faces had remained blank, their silver eyes unreadable. All she knew was that they had been satisfied enough not to kill her and her friends outright—though, for all she knew, the verdict could still be out on that one.

“It really,reallycould have gone better,” Alex repeated in a whisper, unable to keep the fear and uncertainty from her voice.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, they looked out across the shiny, golden city. It had been stunning from a distance and was no less so from wherever they now stood, in some kind of arched palace, from what Alex could tell.

“You did the best you could,” Kaiden said gently, curling his arm around her and drawing her closer to his side. “Now all we can do is wait and see what they say.”

Alex leaned into him, sighing quietly. Part of her was aware that she should feel uncomfortable or at least awkward in his embrace, but on the contrary, it felt natural. After everything they’d been through together, after he’d held her while she’d cried over Niyx, she didn’t have it in her to put up walls between them anymore. She was tired of pushing him away. So instead, she would allow herself this moment, as long as he was willing to offer it.

Together they stood and watched the setting suns disappear as twilight fell. Alex wondered why the desert had never allowed for anything but night-time, but she also realised thata new world meant new rules all over again. She didn’t plan on being in Tia Auras long enough to learn its secrets, nor did she intend to visit the unending wasteland beneath the clouds again. The mysteries of this place could remain exactly that—mysteries.

“There’s just so much riding on this,” she whispered, unable to inject more volume. “If they don’t help us—”

“Shhh,” Kaiden said, turning her so they faced each other. “You’ve done what we came to do. Don’t fear what hasn’t yet happened.”

Alex felt the tension drain out of her at his words, knowing he was right. There was little point worrying just yet. She had to remain hopeful.

She placed her hands on Kaiden’s chest, feeling his steady heartbeat under her fingers. “Thank you for coming here with me,” she told him. “Thank you for not letting me do this on my own.”

His lips twitched into a grin. “Did you really think I’d pass up any opportunity to spend time with you?” He shook his head, his bright blue eyes lit with amusement. “No chance, Alex. You should know by now, I’d follow you to the end of the world.” He glanced pointedly at the three moons now slowly rising in the star-strewn sky. “And beyond.”

Alex felt warm all over from his words, her stomach fluttering, but not in an unpleasant way. She knew how Kaiden felt about her; he hadn’t hidden his intentions. He also knew how she felt about him, even if she wasn’t yet willing to admit as much to either of them. But regardless of what they were—orweren’t—to each other, the comfort and security he offered was like a balm to her soul, enough that she couldn’t resist sliding her arms around him and leaning forward to press her head to his shoulder. Kaiden responded by drawing her even closer and resting his cheek against her hair.

It was as they stood embracing against the most romantic backdrop of all time that they heard the sound of a throat clearing, followed by Jordan’s voice.

“By all means, don’t let us interrupt.”

Alex jolted, her head moving back at the same time as Kaiden’s, only to find their friends inside the common room, standing just before the balcony’s entrance.

Pulling away from Kaiden, Alex strode towards them, torn between screaming at them and hugging them. When she halted a few steps away, she still didn’t know which reaction to lead with. While considering her options, her gaze locked on Bear, noting the shadows beneath his red-rimmed eyes and his face strained by grief.

William.