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L ess than an hour later, I was closing the doors to my chambers behind me, for what I thought might be the last time. Despite my raging emotions, I held my chin up high and kept my spine straight, forcing my emotions back behind that wall.

Father never mentioned anything about my choice of clothing, but that was the least of my worries now.

I spotted the Southern royal procession out of the windows of the castle’s foyer before we were even outside, my father talking with Princess Teagan.

There was one main carriage surrounded by multiple horses with males—as well as females, something that would never be seen in the North—atop them.

The strangest things in the procession, though, were the giant wolves in the lead and taking up the rear.

From where I stood, I could see two of them—one with an ashy gray and white coat, the other with an almost pitch-black coat and slightly larger than the first one.

Why in the Stars are those beasts so large?

“Princess Aviva!” The sound of my name from Hugo’s lips made me pause before I could reach the front doors of the castle.

Spinning on my heel, I saw Hugo and Aurora rushing towards me, faces flushed and both looking more tired than usual. My curiosity spiked when I noticed they were each holding one side of a wooden crate.

Once in front of me, they set the crate on the ground between us. Hugo bowed low and cleared his throat, which seemed to be a signal between him and Aurora, as she quickly followed his lead, bowing at the waist.

“I’m so glad we caught you in time, Princess. We were just barely able to fulfill the King’s request before you left,” Hugo stated, slightly out of breath.

“And what request would that be?” I asked.

“He asked us to make as many of your… elixirs as possible and as fast as we could. I even had to get Aurora to help me, so at least she can say she learned something new lately. This crate is all we could make with the time restraints and ingredients I had left. These should last you a long while, though! Not to worry,” he said, as though he were proud.

And why wouldn’t he be? He was just doing my father’s bidding.

Yet, it still rubbed me the wrong way. The fact that everybody in my life is somehow alright with me being shipped off to the South.

Taking a deep breath, I shoved my frustration behind those fortified walls in my mind before speaking. “Thank you, Hugo. That wasn’t even something I had stopped to think about. Your efforts, both of yours,” I nodded toward Aurora, “are greatly appreciated.”

Hugo nodded, then started ringing his hands together in front of him nervously.

I could tell by his stiff, hesitant body language that he didn’t know how to say goodbye.

In reality, I didn’t, either. I’d known Hugo for as long as I can remember.

He’d always been there when I’d needed him, and he’d always thought about the things I hadn’t even dreamed of.

He’d always been one step ahead, always prepared, such as right now.

How do you say goodbye to somebody who had been like a grandfather to you?

Somebody you’re not sure you’ ll ever see again?

Loosening a breath, I closed the distance between us and embraced the older male in a firm hug.

“Thank you for always looking out for me, Hugo,” I said thickly. I felt his arms come around me and return my embrace, his plain, white wings tightening against his body.

“Always, my princess,” Hugo responded, his voice cracking just slightly.

He pulled away, cleared his throat, and bowed once more before turning and walking outside. I assumed he was going to update my father about the elixirs, as he lugged the chest behind him, leaving me and Aurora alone.

I turned to my best friend next, who already had tears shining in her eyes. Aurora, who had always done her best to crack a joke in order to cheer me up, suddenly had no more jokes to tell.

Well, this is going to hurt, I thought to myself.

“Aurora, I—” Before I could even speak another word, her arms and wings were thrown around me in a tight embrace.

At a loss for words, I simply returned her embrace just as firmly. My chest heaved as I felt a tear fall from her face and onto my shoulder, but I shoved those emotions deeper down and lightly stroked her hair instead.

“It’s going to be fine. This isn’t goodbye, alright?

Take care of Eden for me. I’ll see you both again.

In this life, or the next,” I said, biting my lip so it wouldn’t quiver.

I didn’t even get to say goodbye to my griffin, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Father had done that on purpose.

At least I’d had one final fly with her last night.

That would have to be good enough. And I knew Aurora would take good care of her in my stead.

“I will see you again, Viva. I promise,” she said through her tears. I wasn’t sure if I could force myself to believe her, so I simply nodded my head instead of voicing my doubts.

After another moment, we both let go, and I gently wiped the tears from her cheek with the back of my hand. “Thank you. For everything,” I said, then turned around and headed for the front doors.

Before I could even take a step, a hand came down on my arm and pulled. I was suddenly face to face with a fierce looking Aurora, despite the tear tracks staining her other cheek.

“Listen to me, Aviva. Whatever you do, do not drink those elixirs anymore. I don’t know exactly what’s in them, but something is off about them.

The ingredients Hugo used don’t make sense together, and there were some ingredients I’d never even heard of in all my training.

Something isn’t right, I swear to you,” she said abruptly and very quietly, looking around the foyer as she spoke, as if to make sure there was nobody listening.

“What are you—” I began to question her, but was quickly cut off by the sound of the doors opening, and Dimitri waiting just beyond them.

I looked back at my best friend and met her eyes.

I desperately hoped all the unspoken words between us were conveyed in my eyes as I stared at her.

She nodded slightly, and I did the same.

I decided right then and there to not take any more of the elixirs from then on.

I trusted Aurora with my life, and I had no reason to suspect her of lying to me.

But if that’s the case, what had Hugo and my father been giving me all these years?

And why?

Heading outside, I came face to face with my twin. He looked even worse than when I saw him the night before, with purple circles under his eyes and his hair still disheveled. Though at least he had changed into fresh, crisp clothes.

Dimitri turned towards me as I approached him, holding his hands behind his back.

“Aviva, I… I’m sorry I couldn’t stop this,” he said, then hung his head.

In truth, part of me wanted to be angry.

I wanted somebody to blame, and Dimitri was an easy target—plus, I knew he would take it.

But I also knew that wasn’t fair. He didn't control the schemes our father puts together, and blaming him for it in what could be our last moments together wouldn’t be fair.

So instead, I simply stepped closer, flared my wings into a circle around us, and pulled him into a fierce embrace.

“I love you, brother. I appreciate you trying, I really do. This wasn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself after I’m gone,” I said, desperately trying not to choke on my own words.

He wrapped his arms around me firmly, squeezing me to him like if he held on tight enough, I wouldn’t have to go.

“I love you too, twin. When you look to the moon at night, remember that we’re looking up at the same one, and maybe you won’t feel so far away.

And don’t forget, you’ll always belong to the sky,” he said, his voice shaking slightly as he spoke.

Just as I was about to pull my wings in, Dimitri quickly pulled out a small, rectangular box from inside his cloak and shoved it towards me.

“Here, a parting gift. Viva, there’s more at play here than you know.

I found this in a box of Mother’s things.

Don’t open this until you’re alone, alright?

” he said, sliding it into my own inner cloak pocket, close to my heart.

The box was thin and went unnoticed, neatly tucked away.

I looked up at him, confused, but nodded nonetheless. “Thank you, I think,” I said, drawing my brows together in confusion.

The moment was over as quickly as it started as I pulled my wings back, and in the same motion, Dimitri and I both tilted our chins up and squared our shoulders back. Just like we’d both had ingrained in us since we were children.

Suddenly, I realized there were no Northern guards outside, or in the foyer of the castle.

Weird.

Walking towards the procession, I came upon my father and Princess Teagan speaking in hushed voices that abruptly stopped as I grew nearer.

“Hello again, Princess Teagan,” I said, dipping my head in respect to the strong female standing in front of me.

I was inclined not to trust her, but I didn’t want her to know that.

So playing it neutrally and with respect would be key in our interactions, especially as she’d soon be my sister-in-law.

Today, she was in brown leather gear that looked like what the North wears when riding our griffins. A stab of pain went through my chest at the thought of not being able to ride Eden again, but I kept a small smile playing on my face, not letting it show.

“Please, just Teagan. We are to be sisters soon enough, after all,” she said, and though she was smiling, it all seemed very forced.

I nodded, though I had to suppress a scoff.

“Can I have a moment alone with my father please, Teagan?” I asked, keeping my voice light.

“Of course. King Horace, we’ll be staying in touch,” she said with a nod towards my father, then headed towards the carriage.