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T hat whole thing was not my favorite. It was clear to me that Marissa hated me and wanted nothing to do with me as a daughter. Nothing new there. I had tons of experience with mother figures who didn’t want me. I was primed for this.

But it didn’t make it hurt any less.

It didn’t matter in the end anyway. Nothing was going to happen, so there was no point in wasting time or energy feeling bad about a woman I had no intention of winning over.

I just had to make peace with her, navigate this whole engagement thing carefully, and focus on my main objective: to get Jacob back.

Once I had him, the rest of it wouldn’t matter anymore. We’d be gone.

After Marissa’s ominous “promise,” I went straight back to my room and passed out, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster that was my life.

The following morning, I ended up sleeping in.

I was so used to the damn horns blaring in the barracks, I half expected to hear them ringing at the castle, too.

But, as it turned out, when you were the future First Lady, no one bothered you and they let you sleep as long as you wanted.

And boy, did I sleep…until eleven in the morning, actually.

I couldn’t remember the last time I slept in.

Probably back at Edith’s when I was living with her following my release from the hospital.

It felt good.

But as the sun continued to climb, it shined through the stained-glass window, casting brilliant colors across the walls. I woke up bleary-eyed, and sat there for a moment, trying to give my brain the chance to process everything that happened in the past twenty-four hours.

Sasha was going to become the new president of Telvia when everything was over.

Marissa didn’t want me to marry Wes and made some interesting comments that made me think I needed to be extra cautious around her.

Wes didn’t want to marry me either, but always suspected he was going to have to.

And that helped explain why he was always a major ass to me and kept telling me to leave the rebel camp. No Mara meant no marriage.

So where did that leave me?

In exactly the same place. None of it changed anything.

I needed to rescue my brother from the tower ASAP because he had less than two months to live before Raúl burned him alive in the Telvian colosseum.

And that meant I needed to talk to Sasha.

Several days had passed since I agreed to being the bargaining chip in this whole parade, and last night it was announced to the entire UFA Council.

It was official. I had fulfilled my side of the bargain.

Now it was her turn, and I hadn’t heard a single word from her except for last night’s dinner.

In fact, I hadn’t spoken or heard from anyone…

no one had mentioned a rescue operation or discussed a timeline with me, or anything.

So, that was next on my list. If Sasha wasn’t going to get this ball rolling, then I sure as hell would.

And with that, I was off. I showered, dried my hair, and dressed myself in jeans, a black t-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes.

I had to admit, I enjoyed getting to choose my clothes again.

It was a little overwhelming with a closet the size of a park, but it was also kind of fun.

I even got to brush my hair, straighten it, and leave it down.

I’d forgotten how long it really was. Wearing it in tight buns all the time in the barracks meant I rarely took the time to really look at it—or myself, for that matter—anymore.

After getting dressed, I was off. I left my room before realizing I didn’t really know where to go, but bumped into a maid who became a helpful source of information.

She shared my mini-tab had a contact entitled Calvernon Estate Staff that allowed me to ask for anything I needed at any time.

Ten minutes later I was picked up by Roger, one of the chauffeurs, and whisked off to Fort Warren to find Sasha.

***

The drive through the city reminded me of how different Telvia was, and how lost. It was a city of lies, living in fear and believing in tales of scarcity.

But the North only proved Raúl more and more wrong.

And the silent drive only emphasized to me how much my father needed to be taken down, and someone else put in his place.

At that moment, I realized I didn’t care who replaced Raúl.

It just had to be someone who was going to do better, be better.

Although I didn’t really know Sasha that well, I had seen enough to know that she was going to be a million times better than my father.

If she ran Telvia the way she ran the Dissenters, then Telvia had a bright future in front of it.

The realization softened some of the frustration I felt toward her and eased the anxiety that kicked up from the night before.

What it didn’t change, however, was my need to get this rescue mission on the road so I could get the hell out of Dodge before I was stuck actually marrying Wes.

Because there was no way I was going to do that.

After Chase and Matias, I was seriously jaded on the whole love story thing.

As far as I was concerned, being a single cat lady sounded pretty good.

After driving for just over an hour, we approached the base. The limo with the Calvernon family crest painted on the side granted us easy access into Fort Warren, and Roger drove me to the main administration building, parking right in front.

Opening my door, he gave me a big smile and chipper attitude. “Here you are, Miss de la Puente.”

“Thank you.” Stepping out of the car, I took in the familiar gray world of the base.

“Of course, miss. I’ll park the car. When you’re ready, just message me, and I’ll meet you here out front.”

“Got it.” And with that, Roger stepped back into the limo and drove off. I turned to face the administration building, all red brick and beautifully molded white cements, depicting leaves and swirls and scrolls. With a quick clearing of my throat, I marched inside.

I remembered there was a secretary’s desk, and so I figured she’d know where Sasha’s office might be. Through the front doors, I walked into the lobby and up to the desk. The woman, dressed in her regulatory uniform and tight bun, glanced up at me.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m looking for Sasha De’vor. Is she here?”

“President De’vor is in her office. Is she expecting you?”

“She should be.” It was a lie, but it felt so true in my heart. If Sasha didn’t expect me to show up here, demanding we get this party started, then she didn’t know me at all.

“I’ll let her know you’re here. Just have a seat.”

I stepped away from the desk, but my angst made me restless.

I stood by the window and looked out at the base.

Nothing but rows of identical looking, square cement buildings.

My stomach growled, reminding me that skipping dinner and breakfast was not my stomach’s idea of a good time.

The whole remembering to eat thing was kind of a drag.

As much as I enjoyed savoring real food, it was a time suck when you were busy and had stuff to do.

And, of course, I was terrible at remembering to eat meals on my own.

I’m going to have to get food after this.

“Miss, President De’vor is ready to see you.”

Perfect.

I nodded and followed the woman down the left hall, took a turn, and then stopped in front of a door with a nameplate that read Sasha’s name. She knocked on the door and then opened it, leading me in.

“President De’vor, your guest.”

I stepped around the secretary, immediately catching Sasha’s gaze. Her face gave nothing away, but she smiled and dismissed the woman before returning her attention to me. The door clicked closed behind us.

“Mara, I wasn’t expecting you. But, then again, I suppose I should have.” She extended her hand out in front of her, motioning to a chair on the opposite side of her desk. “Would you like to sit? Or are you going to stand like the last time we met?”

I bristled. Why is it always a power struggle with her now?

Ever since that day in the hospital when she promised to rescue Jacob, I constantly felt like I was playing the hardest game of chess ever, and my brother’s life was on the line.

It was unsettling, and I hated it. I wasn’t cut out for all of this political nonsense.

And yet, here I was. Standing taller, I took the seat.

“Can I get you anything? Tea, perhaps?”

Food!

“Actually, can I get something to eat?”

Sasha’s eyes glimmered as she reached for the intercom box on her desk and pushed a button. “Lindy, can I get tea and a sandwich delivered to my office?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Lindy.” Sasha let go of the button and returned her attention to me. “There. Lunch is on the way. Now, what do you need, child?”

Though her facial expressions convened warmth, something about her tone spoke of annoyance.

I couldn’t blame her, really. I did just show up and interrupt whatever it was she was doing.

I took a deep breath, trying to settle the growing angst inside me.

“I want to start planning Jacob’s rescue.

I’ve done my part, so it’s time to do yours. ”

Sasha leaned back in her chair, lacing her fingers and placing them in her lap. “And what makes you think I haven’t done mine?”

Wait…did she? Did she already rescue him? “Uh…did you—”

“Of course not. You and I only just agreed to our bargain several days ago. That’s not nearly enough time to plan an operation of this magnitude.”

I was confused. “So…I don’t get your question then.”