The royal council room was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that seemed to echo, amplifying the tension crackling in the air. It felt wrong to be in here without the council present, the heavy wooden chairs surrounding the long table standing as solemn reminders of the authority this space usually commanded. Sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, painting fractured patterns of light and shadow across the polished surface of the table. 

Sebastian paced at the head of the room, his movements sharp and purposeful. His hands were clasped behind his back, his lips pressed into a thin line as though every thought running through his mind needed to stay locked away for the moment. 

Kian stood near one of the tall windows, his posture tense. His sharp green eyes flickered between each of us, his expression unreadable but his attention razor-focused. 

Aaron stood casually against the wall near the doorway, arms crossed and his expression thoughtful but alert. It was a stark contrast to the restless energy radiating from Sebastian and me, yet his quiet presence only emphasized the growing tension in the room. 

I stood at the far end of the table, my hands gripping its edge so tightly I could feel the cool wood against my skin. My thoughts swirled with everything that had happened - the dying faerie, the revelation of the autumn soldier, Emmaline's accusations. Every piece of information collided, forming a chaotic storm of worry and frustration. 

"They'll come again," Sebastian said, breaking the silence. His voice carried a steady determination, but there was a dark edge to it. "The autumn court won't stop at one faerie. They'll escalate. That soldier was only the beginning." 

"They'll keep pushing," Kian added, stepping away from the window. His voice was calm but firm. "This was a warning. They want to see how you'll react - how strong - or weak the spring court is." 

"Then we'll have to be ready," I said, my voice cutting through the room. I released the edge of the table, standing straighter as I met each of their gazes in turn. "If we hesitate, if we stay soft they'll exploit that. We need to act now, and we need to be prepared for whatever they throw at us." 

Aaron's brow furrowed as he uncrossed his arms. "Our court's strength has always been in its peace," he said quietly. "War...it's not who we are. And killing? That's something many here won't even consider." 

I nodded, my chest tightening at the truth of his words. "I understand that. But the autumn court doesn't care about our values. They'll take advantage of them. If we're not ready to defend ourselves - if we can't learn to fight without fear of taking a life - then we'll fail." 

Kian's gaze sharpened, his tone firm. "She's right. The autumn court fights without hesitation. They'll use every weakness, every ounce of mercy to their advantage." 

Sebastian stopped pacing, turning to me. "Then we prepare the court," he said. "We teach them. If we're going to stand a chance, the entire Spring Court needs to be ready."

"No," I said, stepping away from the table and meeting Sebastian's gaze head-on. "We can't risk the entire court. If we ask everyone to fight, we'll be sending them to their deaths. You know they're not ready for this. It's not who they are."

Sebastian's brow furrowed, his jaw tightening. "You're suggesting we face this alone?" he asked, his tone incredulous. 

"Yes," I said firmly, my voice unwavering. "It won't be easy. In fact, it'll be impossible for some of us to accept. But the truth is, the autumn court won't stop until they've destroyed us - or until we show them we won't back down. We'll have to be the ones to face them. The four of us." 

Kian shifted beside me, his expression unreadable, though his jaw tensed slightly. "You're asking a lot, Verena," he said quietly, but there was no argument in his tone., only acknowledgment of the weight of my words. 

Aaron pushed off the wall, his brows drawing together. "I agree with Verena," he said, his voice steady. "The court shouldn't be dragged into this. We need to protect them, not put them at risk. But we also need a plan."

Sebastian's gaze swept across us, his expression torn between frustration and resolve. "You're asking for a monumental risk," he said, his voice low. "But if this is the best way to protect the court, I'm with you. We'll face this together." 

The room fell silent again, the gravity of our decision settling over us like a heavy shroud. We were stepping into the unknown, but the resolve in our eyes was clear. We would face the Autumn Court alone, no matter the cost. 

The room remained heavy with unspoken fears and simmering resolve. As the others deliberated the next steps, my mind churned with a storm of thoughts I couldn't voice aloud. I was already forming a plan - a plan that, if executed correctly, would protect the Spring Court and spare them from the looming danger. A plan that involved me leaving them behind and returning to the Autumn Court. 

I'd seen firsthand how ruthless the autumn soldiers could be, how easily they could infiltrate and destroy. And while I'd do everything in my power to prepare the others for what might come, I knew deep down that their peaceful nature was their greatest strength and their greatest vulnerability. They weren't built for the kind of war the Autumn Court would bring to their doorstep. 

But I was. 

I could almost hear the voice of my old commander in my head, barking orders, shaping me into the weapon I'd become in the Autumn Court. My hands, my powers - they'd been honed for combat, for destruction. And now, they were the key to saving these faeries, even if it meant returning to the very place I'd sworn never to go back to. 

The thought of leaving Sebastian twisted like a dagger in my chest. The mating bond between us thrummed softly, a constant reminder of the connection we shared. I didn't know if I was strong enough to leave that bond, even temporarily, to go through with this. But I didn't see another way. If I could buy the Spring Court enough time to prepare - if my absence would redirect the Autumn Court's attention - they might stand a chance. 

Sebastian's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "We'll start tomorrow," he said, his tone firm with the authority of a prince. "Training begins at dawn. We need to be ready for anything." His gaze swept across the room, lingering on each of us as though willing us to share his determination. 

I nodded, my resolve hardening further. I'll train them, I thought, my fists clenching at my sides. I'll teach them everything I know about the autumn combat. And when they're ready to defend themselves, I'll go. My stomach churned at the thought, but I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. 

Sebastian's eyes found mine, and something in his gaze softened. "Verena," he said quietly, his voice dropping just enough that only I could hear. "Are you with me?"

The question was simple, but the weight behind it was immense. I met his gaze, searching for the right words. I'm with you now, but not forever, I wanted to say. Instead, I nodded, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "Always," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.

Aaron cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We'll need to assess everyone's strengths and weaknesses," he said pragmatically. "Not everyone here will be suited for combat, but we can work with what we've got."

Sebastian nodded approvingly, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Good. We'll build from there." 

"And I'll focus on teaching defensive strategies," I added, forcing myself to sound confident. "Autumn faeries are aggressive and precise. They aim to exploit weaknesses. If we can counter that, we'll have a better chance of holding our ground."

Kian spoke next, his voice calm but laced with determination. "I'll help with physical conditioning and endurance. If we can outlast the autumn soldiers, that's half the battle won." 

Sebastian's eyes flicked to Kian, a flicker of respect passing between them. "Good. We'll need every advantage we can get." 

Aaron shifted beside the table, his usually stoic expression softening slightly. "And what about Emmaline?" he asked, his voice low. "She may not want to be involved, but she's one of our strongest. We can't afford to leave her out." 

Sebastian's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "I'll speak to her. If anyone can convince her to join us, it's me." 

Silence settled over the room once more, the weight of the impending battle pressing down on all of us. 

"Let's get some rest," Sebastian said finally, his voice breaking the silence. "Tomorrow, we begin preparing for whatever comes next." 

We filed out of the council room one by one, each of us carrying the burden of what was to come As we walked down the long, dimly lit corridor, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Sebastian, his profile illuminated by the flickering torches. My heart ached at the thought of leaving him behind, but I pushed the pain down, locking it away with the rest of my doubts. 

It's the right thing to do, I told myself, the mantra repeating in my mind as we made our way through the palace. It's the only way to protect them. 

Tomorrow, I would begin preparing the group for the fight of their lives. But deep down, I knew I  was also preparing to say goodbye. 

The palace halls stretched long and quiet as we walked back toward our room. My mind raced, already forming the pieces of my plan, adjusting and solidifying every step. I barely noticed Sebastian walking beside me until his voice cut through my thoughts. 

"You're not going anywhere." 

I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart leaping into my throat. Slowly, I turned to face him, trying to keep my expression neutral. "What are you talking about?"

Sebastian crossed his arms, his piercing blue eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't," he said, his voice low and firm. "You think I don't know what you're planning? That I wouldn't hear your thoughts?"

Heat rose to my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and frustration bubbling up. "Sebastian, stay out of my head," I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. "This is my decision."

"It's not just your decision," he shot back, stepping closer. "You're not just anyone anymore, Verena. You're my mate. Do you think I'm going to stand by and let you walk into the Autumn Court alone, offering yourself up like some kind of sacrificial lamb?"

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "It's my fault," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of my words. "They're doing this because of me. Because I left. If I go back, they'll stop. They'll leave the Spring Court alone." 

Sebastian's expression softened for a moment, but his frustration quickly returned. "You don't know that," he said. "You're gambling with your life, Verena. You think they'll just welcome you back and leave the rest of us in peace? You know the Autumn Court better than that."

"They want me," I argued, my voice rising. "They want to punish me for leaving, for rejecting the Autumn Court. If I go back willingly, I can put an end to this. I can protect all of you."

Sebastian shook his head, his jaw tightening. "And what about me?" he demanded, his voice cracking slightly. "What about us? Do you think I can just let you go and live with that? Do you think I'll ever stop looking for you, stop trying to bring you back?"

My resolve wavered for a moment under the intensity of his gaze, but I quickly pushed the doubt away. "This isn't about us, Sebastian," I said softly. "It's about protecting the Spring Court, protecting the faeries who've welcomed me despite everything. I can't just stand by and let them suffer because of me."

Sebastian's hands gripped my shoulders, his touch firm but not harsh. "You don't have to do this alone," he said, his voice quieter now, but no less intense. "We can face this together. We'll find another way. I'm not letting you throw your life away." 

I reached up and gently removed his hands from my shoulders, holding them for a brief moment before stepping back. "This is my fight," I said, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill. "And I need you to respect that." 

Sebastian looked at me for a long moment, his eyes filled with a mixture of desperation and defiance. "You're not going to change your mind, are you?' he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. 

I shook my head, the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders. "No," I said quietly. "I can't."

The silence between us was thick and suffocating. Finally, Sebastian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "You're not going to do this alone," he said firmly. "I don't care what it takes, Verena. I'm not losing you." 

Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking toward our room. I watched him go, my heart aching with every step he took away from me. I knew this wasn't the end of the argument, but for now, I let him go, unsure of what else to say. 

As I stood there alone in the hallway, I felt the first crack in my resolve. But I quickly steeled myself, reminding myself of why I was doing this. I had to protect them, even if it meant breaking both of our hearts. 

I followed Sebastian back to our room, my steps slow and deliberate as if each one carried the weight of the world. The grand hallway, normally a comforting space, now felt cold and unwelcoming. The tension between us was almost tangible, thickening with every step. 

When we reached the room, Sebastian opened the door without a word, stepping inside. I hesitated for a moment before following him, the soft click of the door closing behind me echoing like a finality I wasn't ready to face. 

The room was dim, the only light coming from the soft glow of lanterns outside filtering through the curtains. Sebastian stood by the window, his back to me, his shoulders tense. The silence between us stretched, growing more uncomfortable by the second. I wanted to say something - anything - but the words caught in my throat, stuck behind the lump that had been forming there since the hallway. 

Finally, Sebastian broke the silence, his voice low but filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "Why are you so determined to leave me behind?" he asked, his tone raw. He didn't turn to look at me, his gaze fixed on the garden beyond the glass. 

I swallowed hard, stepping further into the room. "This isn't about leaving you," I said softly, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound strong. "It's about keeping you safe. Keeping all of you safe." 

Sebastian turned then, his eyes blazing with frustration and something deeper - something vulnerable. "Do you think I care about my safety?" he demanded, his voice rising slightly. "Do you think I could ever be safe, knowing you're out there alone, sacrificing yourself for us?"

I flinched at the intensity in his voice, but I held my ground. "You don't understand," I whispered, my own emotions bubbling to the surface. "I can't let them keep hurting people because of me. I won't." 

Sebastian crossed the room in a few quick strides, his hands gripping my arms gently but firmly. "You think this is only about you?" he said, his voice quieter now but no less urgent. "You're my mate, Verena. I'm bound to you. Do you know what it would do to me if you -" He broke off, his voice catching, and I saw the flicker of pain in his eyes. 

My resolve wavered for a moment, but I forced myself to push through it. "I can't let you be hurt because of me," I said, my voice cracking. "I won't. If sacrificing myself means keeping you safe, then I'll do it. I'll risk everything to protect you." 

Sebastian's expression shifted, his frustration giving way to something softer, something that broke my heart even more. "Why?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you do that?" 

I opened my mouth to answer, but the words caught in my throat. I hadn't said them out loud before, not to anyone, and the weight of them threatened to crush me. My chest tightened, my heart pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it. 

"Because..." I started, my voice faltering. I closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath as I tried to gather my courage. When I opened them again, I met his gaze, my own eyes brimming with tears. "Because I love you, Sebastian." 

The words hung in the air between us, raw and vulnerable and terrifying. For a moment, neither of us moved, the gravity of what I'd just said settling over us like a storm. 

Sebastian's eyes softened, his hands sliding down to cup my face. "Say it again," he murmured, his voice trembling slightly. 

I swallowed hard, my tears spilling over as I repeated the words. "I love you," I whispered, the admission both freeing and overwhelming. "I love you, and I can't lose you. That's why I have to do this." 

Sebastian shook his head, his forehead resting against mine as his thumbs brushed away my tears. "You're not losing me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "And I'm not losing you. We'll figure this out together, Verena. I won't let you do this alone."

The raw intensity in his voice, the way he held me as if I might disappear at any moment, made my chest ache. For the first time, I let myself lean into him completely, my hands clutching his jacket as I buried my face in his chest. The warmth of his embrace, the steady beat of his heart against mine, was enough to soothe the storm inside me - if only for a moment. 

Sebastian pulled back just enough to look at me, his hands still cradling my face. His blue eyes searched mine, his anguish as clear as the stars in the night sky. "You don't have to do this. There has to be another way - something we haven't thought of yet."

I shook my head, my tears still falling. "Sebastian, I love you," I said again, my voice steadier this time, but no less filled with emotion. "I love you more than anything in this world. But this is the only way to keep everyone safe. You have to trust me."

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to block out the pain my words were causing him. When he opened them again, there was a mix of defiance and desperation in his gaze. "How can I trust you when every instinct I have is screaming at me to protect you? You're asking me to let you go, to risk your life, knowing I may never see you again. Do you know what you're asking of me?"

My heart broke at the raw vulnerability in his voice, but I forced myself to stay strong. "I know what I'm asking," I said softly, reaching up to brush my fingers against his cheek. "And I know how much it's hurting you. But as a prince - as someone who will one day lead this court - you have to understand that sometimes sacrifices need to be made for the greater good. This is my choice, Sebastian. It has to be."

He shook his head again, his jaw tightening as he fought against the storm of emotions threatening to consume him. "I don't care about being a prince right now," he said, his voice breaking. "All I care about is you. How am I supposed to stand here and watch you walk into danger alone?"

I cupped his face in my hands, forcing him to meet my gaze. "Because you're strong," I said,  my voice trembling but resolute. "Because you love me. And because you know this is the only way to stop them from hurting anyone else." 

Sebastian's hands gripped my wrists, his touch both desperate and gentle. "Promise me," he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "Promise me that if you make it through this alive, you'll come back to me." 

Tears streamed down my face as I nodded, my resolve softening just enough to let my vulnerability show. "I promise," I said softly. "If I survive this, I will come back to you. I swear it."

For a long moment, we just stood there, holding onto each other as if the world around us had fallen away. The weight of our unspoken fears and the depth of our love for each other hung heavy in the air, binding us together in a way that was both beautiful and devastating. 

Finally, Sebastian leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine. "I'll hold you to that promise," he murmured, his voice low and thick with emotion. "Don't you dare break it." 

"I won't," I whispered, my hands trembling as I clung to him. "No matter what happens, I'll find a way back to you."

Sebastian kissed me then, his lips soft and urgent against mine, as if trying to pour every ounce of his love and fear into that single moment. I kissed him back, my hands tangling in his hair, the promise I had made to him anchoring me even as my heart threatened to shatter. 

When we finally broke apart, I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. For now, we had this moment, and I clung to it with everything I had, knowing that the path I had chosen would test us both in ways we couldn't yet imagine. 

I pulled back slightly, my hands still resting on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart beneath my palms. His gaze was locked on mine, searching for something - anything - that might convince me to change my mind. But I wouldn't. I couldn't.

"Sebastian," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "We can't waste the time we have together by arguing about this. Please, just...embrace these moments while they're ours. Let's make them count."

His expression twisted with anguish, his lips parting as though to protest again, but I pressed a finger gently to his lips, silencing him. "I've made my decision, and nothing you say will change it," I continued, my voice steadier now. "But for the days we have left, I'll be here. I'll train you, Aaron, Kian...everyone who needs to be ready to defend themselves. I'll teach you everything I know until I'm certain that you'll be safe when I'm gone."

Sebastian's brow furrowed,  his hand catching mine as it fell from his lips. "You're asking me to prepare for the day you leave, knowing it might be the last time I see you," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "How can you expect me to focus on anything else when every moment with you will feel like a countdown?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my fingers curling around his. "Because if you don't, you'll be unprepared," I said, my voice firm. "And that is something I won't allow. I need to know you'll be strong enough to protect yourself - and the Spring Court - when I'm not here to do it for you."

His jaw clenched, his grip on my hand tightening as he struggled to process my words. "You're asking too much of me," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I don't know if I'm strong enough to do this."

I stepped closer, resting my forehead against his, my voice softening. "You are strong enough, Sebastian," I murmured, my breath mingling with his. "Stronger than you realize. You've faced so much already, and you've come through it with your heart intact. That's the kind of strength the Spring Court needs. And it's the kind of strength I believe in."

"And what about me, Verena?" he asked, his voice breaking. "Who's going to protect me from the pain of losing you?"

The raw vulnerability in his words hit me like a dagger to the heart, and I felt tears prick at my eyes once more. "You'll have to trust that I'll find my way back to you," I said, my voice trembling but resolute. "And in the meantime, you'll have to hold onto the love we have right now. Let that be your strength."

For a long moment, neither of us spoke, the weight of my words settling between us. Then, slowly, Sebastian nodded, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me close. "I don't know how I'm going to do this," he admitted, his voice muffled against my hair. "But I'll try. For you, I'll try." 

I closed my eyes, letting myself melt into his embrace, the steady rise and fall of his chest grounding me. "That's all I need," I whispered. "Just try. And let me make sure you're ready for whatever comes next."