Gwen~~

It's around six in the morning when the first of the ships from Amoria lands on the airstrip. I stand between August and Eli beside our limo that's surrounded by a dozen Veil.

Standing in one spot has been difficult when all I want to do is pace but can only allow myself small steps side to side or front to back. And my hands—I have absolutely no idea what to do with those. If I move too much, my cousins will think I'm nervous.

Which I most certainly am not. It's only that I'm here and my brothers are not.

After stairs have been rolled up to the ship, the ship's door is opened, and two Amorians exit.

I wish it had been faster for them to get here. Both Bently and Iris have been captured by the Amoris in France, and I feel absolutely powerless, while being separated from them by an ocean. I can't even begin to imagine what Jonas is feeling right now or what Bently must be experiencing. I don't even know if Iris is still alive.

Eli whistles under his breath. "He's going to be trouble."

My eyes snap up to the door of the ship. Descending the stairs, gazed fixed on me, is Alastair Moretti.

"What is he doing here?" August asks, and I don't have an answer.

Alastair is taller than I had judged from our video calls. A bronze laurel wreath crown rests on his head, and his dress shirt and pants are free of any wrinkles. He looks immaculate.

He smiles at me a bit tentatively as he reaches the tarmac. We'd spoken while he would have been on the ship and yet he had not breathed a word of his coming. My stomach churns and not in anticipation of finally meeting him in person.

The three of us walk forward to greet him, and he bows.

"Tresais, Delta, Epsilon."

My nerves are jittery as he rises. I didn't expect for him to bow to us, not when he's the future heir to Amoria.

It was one thing to speak with him over video—it had been simply business, but now that we're in person, how will he judge me? Will he think me as incapable as the rest of Amoria's Order members believe and report back to his father that I should be removed as Tresais?

"Welcome Alastairi," August says.

"Sto soleil," the heir answers in Amorian. "And please call me Alastair." His eyes shift to me. "I know you weren't expecting me."

I clasp my hands behind my back. "This is quite the surprise."

"I want to help and didn't think I could do that very well from Amoria."

I nod, tersely. "We appreciate it. Greatly. We'll be leaving for France early tomorrow morning."

As the other ships land, full of soldiers, Alastair helps us direct them into the vans and buses ready to take them to the Estate, and all I want to do is ask him why he didn't tell me he was coming. After all the soldiers have departed, we return to our limo. Alastair sits in the back row with me while August and Eli sit on the sides, failing not to hide their blatant stares at the heir. I know they're wondering about the rumors surrounding him and that it's killing them not to be able to ask.

Some tiny part of me wants to ask if they're true.

I try calling Jonas to let him know that the troops from Amoria have arrived but end up going to voicemail. I immediately call my twin.

"Colton."

"Gwen." His voice wavers over my name.

"Where's Jonas?"

"I think he's showering."
"Tell him that I'll be video calling in half an hour and that I want you both present."

He's silent for too long. "Amoria's landed?"

"Yes."

"I'll let him know." And with that, he ends the call.

I lower my phone, frowning.

"What's wrong?" August asks.

"It's probably nothing."

Eli during my call angled himself toward me. "Is Jonas okay?"

"Colton said he was busy, so I'm sure he's fine." I turn toward Alastair. "I'll be calling them when we reach the Estate."

"May I join?"

"If you'd like. I'd appreciate it."

The limo lets us out at the front of the Estate, and as my cousins go off to make sure the soldiers are situated, I take Alastair to my office.

"Your home is beautiful," he says as I withdraw a key from a pocket in my dress that's styled in a toga-esque way. "I wish that I was here under different circumstances though."

"I know the Society will appreciate you having made the long journey. With my cousin and my brother's fiancée taken, it's a difficult time for all of us."

I insert the key into the lock and open the door to my office. I've had the room longer than I've been Tresais. Even if I wasn't going to hold a title, it didn't mean I wasn't going to serve my country.

As Alastair looks around my office, I make my way around my desk and to my computer to begin setting up the call.

"Elleany is lucky to have you."

My fingers hesitate over the keys. "Thank you."

"You don't have to be nervous around me."

I peer over the screen to where he stands in front of my desk, hands in his pockets. "I don't know what you mean," I say.

He tilts his head. "I didn't come here to judge you. I hoped you would have realized that from our calls."

Unsure what to say, I look back down and power up the screen on my wall.

"Tresais?"

"Yes?"

"I don't lie."

The call ready, I come around to his side of the desk. "Then I hope I can trust you." As my computer rings my brothers, I direct him to stand in front of my picture of Pisces and across from the screen. When the call is answered, only Colton stands before us. The dark circles under his eyes are more pronounced than usual and his hair sticks up in parts as if he's been constantly running his hand through it.

"Beta," I try to keep my tone calm. "Where is the Preeminence?"

"In a meeting with King Alix. My sincerest apologies."

I purse my lips. "I'd like you to meet Alastairi Moretti. The future Preeminence of Amoria." I know Colton is aware of exactly who Alastair is. I only add the last part because I'm frustrated Jonas isn't here and I'm almost a hundred percent certain that Colton didn't tell him about it. I don't know why he wouldn't have though.

Alastair bows his head. "Please call me Alastair. It was my father's decision to give me a name that rhymed, not mine."

Colton dips his head, the movement a bit stiff. "I must admit this is a surprise."

"The Tresais has been in contact with me regarding the circumstances in France," Alastair says. "As I've always been fascinated by your world, I thought this might be my opportunity to see it." Alastair looks at me. "Please don't be cross with her for not informing you I was coming. She did not know until I arrived with my soldiers. I asked to be on this call rather last minute." He reaches up, adjusting his laurel wreath. "I suppose it's clear I'm not yet ready to be Amoria's Preeminence." He lets out a harsh laugh.

My brother shakes his head. "Think nothing of it, Alastair." Colton's mind is very evidently turning over every little thing he's learned about Alastair over the years and judging is worthiness to stand next to me. I know my brothers well.

"We'll arrive in France tomorrow," I say.

"We?" Oh he's being absolutely ridiculous. Iris and Bently are captured and this is what he's focusing on?

"Alastair and I will be escorting the army. Most of the soldiers do not speak English, and none speak French."

"I'm looking forward to meeting you, Beta, and your brother. If you're both anywhere nearly as capable and accomplished as your Tresais, I'm sure it will be a pleasure."

A muscle in Colton's jaw ticks. "Likewise. I look forward to having a long conversation with you, and I'm sure the Preeminence will too."

I narrow my eyes even as I see Alastair grin out of the corner of my eye.

"I already know I'll love it here."

I take hold of the black folds of my dress. "We will let you go. We both have much to prepare before our flight."

Colton nods. "Alastair. Tresais."

"Beta," Alastair says before I wave my hand to end the call.

"So that was Colton," I say once the screen's shut off.

"He seems pleasant."

I arch a brow. "I thought you said you don't lie."

"He seems like he could be pleasant."

I walk around behind my desk to close out of the call software. "He tends to take the big brother roll too seriously when he's only a few minutes older than me."

"Still it must be nice to have him care so much."

I lift one shoulder in a shrug and sink down onto my chair as gracefully as I can. "I wish Jonas had been on the call. He usually mellows out Colton.

Alastair sits down in the seat across from mine.

"We'll leave at four tomorrow morning. I'll have someone make sure a room is ready for you."

He places his hand on his chest. "Thank you. And I'm sorry for any inconvenience my sudden appearance has caused you."

I shake my head. "There's no inconvenience at all. The Estate is equipped to handle visitors—even the last-minute ones."

He smiles. "Then I am relieved. Now"—he places his palms flat on his thighs—"what can I do to help?"

*****

Alastair sits at the head table at dinner that night. August, Eli, Seong-ho, Riley, Percy, and Enzo ask the heir dozens of questions while I've been silent, unable to even eat a bite. Seong-ho's mother and father, my aunt and uncle, are farther down the table with his children. They've been doting on them endlessly since Seong-ho finally revealed their existence to them. This means we no longer must miss a meal to babysit.

I stare down at my fork. Maybe I should have taken an earlier flight out. One that was today instead of tomorrow. I just . . . I want to get there and help.

My mother and father sit with my aunts and uncles at the end of the table where Seong-ho's parents are. They're all completely enamored by Cassi and Ana, ready to move on from children to grandchildren.

A headache has been building behind my eyes and now it even hurts to move them. Eyestrain probably, and I should most likely get my eyes looked at, but when have I had one moment to do that? Jonas and Colton have never mentioned feeling like they should go to the eye doctor. Why should I be any different?

Tonight, I sit in Jonas's seat, and Alastair is where Colton would usually be. He's been trying so hard all day to make himself as useful as possible, trying to get me to trust him.

And I want to. Despite the situation that prompted us to begin speaking with each other, I never disliked speaking to him. As the first female member of an Order, I would do well to have the future Head Preeminence as an ally. I know my cousins are wondering about the exploits printed about him, but I can't imagine we would have anything of that sort to worry about from Alastair until the situation in France has been resolved. He seems like a man who knows when it's time to be serious.

"Gwen." Percy's voice snaps my focus back to the dinner table. My cousin's seated a few seats away from me and looks at me with concern in his dark brown eyes. The rest of my cousins are looking at me as well, including Alastair.

"Are you all right?" Percy asks.

I tighten my fingers into the cloth napkin on my lap. "What?"

"Seong-ho's been trying to ask you something."

My cousin in question looks a bit sheepish.

"What is it?"

"I was going to ask if you wanted the kitchen to make you something else."

I look down at my uneaten food that I've cut and pushed around but of which I've not taken one bite. The ceramic gold rimmed plate is almost completely covered in food and just the sight makes me feel sick. "Oh." Would I even be able to eat something else? "No, I'm all right. Thank you though. I think I might just need some air." Standing, I set my napkin on my chair. My mother and father glance up from the babies to look at me as I walk past them. My father looks like he's about to say something, but I keep walking, exiting the dining room before heading down stairs that take me to a set of French doors. Pushing them open, I step out onto the pool deck.

With a heavy sigh, I make my way to the maze, relishing the fresh air on my face. I'm certain something is wrong with Jonas. I've tried to call him all day with no luck, and whenever I could get a hold of Colton, he gave me the excuse that Jonas was in yet another meeting. But why would Colton hide from me if something was wrong with our brother? He'd have no reason to.

I enter the maze and make my way to the fountain, a favorite of most Society members when they need space to think. But with everyone at dinner, I won't have to worry about stumbling upon anyone else.

The soft trickle of water would let me know that I'm close if I didn't already have the way memorized. I could probably find it blindfolded.

As I round the next corner, I hear a set of footsteps, and I stop, pressing myself against the hedge. Veil guard the Estate, and it's most likely just a member of the Society, but I've gone through too many rebel attacks to not be cautious, and I regret not having any weapon on me.

But it's Alastair who appears at the end of the pathway. "Gwen?"

I step away from the hedge. "How did you find me?" The fountain isn't close to the beginning of the maze. He would have had to navigate quite a few twists and turns to reach even this point of the maze.

"I tried following you," he says, "but then I thought I lost you."

"You followed me?"

He holds up his hands. "I only wanted to make sure you were all right. I didn't realize you were going to charge into a labyrinth."

"I'm fine. I'm only concerned about my family in France."

"You do know though that you're allowed to worry even as the Tresais?"

"Maybe my cousin was able to worry freely, but not me."

He walks toward me. "And why not you?"

"Aren't all the Order members on Amoria waiting for me to fail?"

He frowns, lowering his gaze to the sandy path. "I suppose that's true."

I take a leaf between one of my fingers, feeling its sharp pointed edges.

"It's all right though to worry in front of your family."

I let go of the leaf. "I know. I do. It's . . ."

"Complicated?"

"I know when Erik was removed from the Order"—or left—"that my cousins expected for their ranks to move up. Not for me to come in and fill his position."

"Forgive me if this is too intrusive, but do you believe your cousins resent you for that?"

"They love me as I love them, but power is power."

"Gwen, I know they have to see what I have these past weeks: someone capable of bringing an army across space itself to stop a war between her country and another. Do you realize you did that? That it was you who brought us here?"

Feeling tears threatening to surface, I turn away and inhale the night air, listening to the fountain in the distance. Once I trust that I'm under control enough that my voice won't give me away, I say, "You shouldn't have to comfort me, Alastair."

"I don't mind. Isn't this what friends do?"

Friends? Are we friends? Has he been under that impression this entire time while I've been aloof to that?

I face him. "I guess so."

He offers me a smile and comes closer. "Are you ready to go back inside?"

I shake my head. "No, I'd like to stay out a little longer, but you can return if you'd like. There's no need to wait for me."

He looks back at the path behind him. "If it's all right with you, I'd like to stay."

I take Alastair the rest of the way to the courtyard. The sound of the water flowing in the fountain fills the space, and I watch as he takes it all in, the serenity that envelopes this small portion of the maze.

"Do you come here often?"

"No. I'm usually far too busy. But when I can get away, it helps." I sit down on the edge of the fountain and dip my fingers into the cool water. "Do you have a place back home where you can go to get away?"

Alastair sits down beside me. "Every time I think I've found that place, the media or someone will attach some scandal between me and it, and it ruins the place for me."

"Even if what they wrote isn't true?"

He looks at me, his pupils wide but the skin around his eyes soft, as if maybe—possibly relieved that someone finally sees him. "Even then."

"Why do you let them write those things?"

"And take away free speech? If I did that, I'd deserve every single article they ever wrote about me."

"But your reputation?"

"I'm going to be the Head Preeminence, and no one can change that. What need do I have for my reputation?"

I wish I could think like that. To dismiss any care for what people thought of me. But I can't. My position feels tenuous. Like Amoria could snatch it away from me.

"Gwen." Alastair lays his hand over mine for only a second before quickly withdrawing it, but in that brief moment, he felt solid. Warm.

"Yes?"

"We're allies, right?"

"I'd like to be."

"Then you should know that once I'm Preeminence, you will never have to worry about someone taking away your title. It is yours now and will always be yours."