The execution is scheduled for six am. I sit up on the edge of my bed. hugging my knees to my chest. Right now, it's somewhere around two in the morning. A two inch ray of blue LEDs are my only source of light. In four hours Nate will be dead, and this time, I'm not sure there's anything I can do about it. My father's spoken. He's out for blood. For revenge. He wants to show everyone who doesn't listen him what happens.

He wants to show me.

I rub my hands up and down my legs. Even if my mind hasn't been in torment the past hours, I couldn't have fallen asleep with the wounds on my back hurting with only the slightest pressure against them.

Someone knocks at my door, causing me to tense and hurt my back.

"Raksana?" Gale's voice comes through the wall.

"Come in."

He unlocks my door with the code I gave him. The swoosh from the door seems so foreign and alien in the silence I've been growing accustomed to this morning and the light that floods in is even stranger. But he shuts the door and the light vanishes. My bed squeaks as he takes a seat next to me.

"You're awake," he says.

"You are too."

"I couldn't sleep knowing you were probably going through Hell."

I raise my hand to rub my face, hoping it will help me wake up some more, because I am tired— I just can't fall asleep. My hand freezes right before my hand presses against the stitches. I probably look like a patched up monster right now. "Not as a much as Nate is."

"Do you want to see him?"

My head snaps to look at my brother, his face blue and black. My last chance to talk to him. To say goodbye to the rebel.

"Yes."

"Okay, then." He stands up and walks to the dresser. Pulling out a cloak, he stares at it for a while. He's not so much staring at the fabric as he is staring at a thought. He doesn't think I should do this, while at the same time, I know he thinks I should.

He helps me into the cloak, pulling the hood over my head and tying the strings. "Remain silent. It'd be best if Father wasn't made aware of this rendezvous."

"My lips are sealed."

As we walk to the holding cells, he keeps an arm wrapped around my waist. I'm thankful for the support; my punishment earlier took more of a toll on me than they usually do. The guard at the door to the cells nods at Gale, allowing us through. My brother retains a tight grip on me as we walk past the guard and into the elevator. Once the doors close, he releases me and I slouch forward against the wall.

What kind of state will Nate be in? Will he even be conscious?

The elevator doors part, revealing blackness. Gale again supports me.

A beam of blue light appears in our eyes. "Prince Gale, what bring you here at this time of night?"

I can barely make out the silhouette of the soldier behind the light.

"Business."

"Who is that with you?"

"Someone who would like to pray with Griffith."

"Don't know who would spare a thought for that—"

"Sir, there is a lady present."

It's not like it's anything I haven't heard before, but I'd rather not hear it about Nate right now though he didn't seem to mind calling me what he did early. However, right now isn't about me. I'm not the one who's dying.

"Come with me then."

We follow the guard down the hallway past silent cells. I can make out a few forms through the bars in a few of them. Only a few lanterns cast any light down here, and it's all blue. Gale holds me closer to him. Where we stop I can only see the bars and nothing farther.

"Open the cell," Gale orders.

"But—"

"Do not question me."

"Right away, Your Highness." He swipes his hand over a screen that lights up and taps in a code.

Gale leans toward my ear. "I'll be a few cells down. Yell if you need it."

There's a click followed by a pop, and the soldier opens the cell door. Gale releases me, and I support myself. Taking a deep breath, I step over barrier and into the cell. The door is locked behind me, and their footsteps fade away.

"Who's there?" I hear Nate ask.

The sounds of my breaths and his fill the small space. I can't see anything so I feel for the wall. It feels cool against my hand, and I use it to help me to the ground.

"What kind of demon are you?" he asks.

I lower my hood, not that it makes a difference. "Nate, it's me."

"Raksana?" His voice cracks. "I don't want you here."

"I know you didn't mean any of what you said earlier."

"Of course I did. You were only to get to the King."

"Then why risk your life so many times to save me? Was it really all to see my father?"

"You're a stupid, ignorant, foolish girl that I only view as a weak, pathetic, runt."

I shut my eyes, collecting my thoughts.

A slow stream of air hits the side of my neck, blowing my hair and creating goose bumps. Him.

I reach my hand out on a whim and find his on the rough floor. I cover it with my own. "Say it again. Say it like it's the last thing I'll remember you by."

I turn my head to the side where I can sense his face only inches from mine.

"I'm a stupid, stupid boy who you knew better than to listen to. How could I think I could fool the Princess: one of the smartest girls I've met? The strongest. Most courageous. Most skilled. Most beautiful."

My heart stops as I turn my whole body to face his, not caring about the pain.

"Most lovely." If you could see me now, you wouldn't say that.

"Nate, stop it—"

"I only have a few hours left, don't tell me what I can and can't do."

Tears slip down my cheeks, stinging my cuts.

"I wish I was able to see you," he whispers.

"Trust me, you don't want to."

He lifts our connected hands and threads his fingers through mine. "Why wouldn't I?"

"That's not important. I'm not important. No one depends on me. You have an army of people depending on your leadership. Now, is there anything I can do for you?"

"Don't put yourself down. Never again. Please. Do that for me."

"Stop thinking about me. Be selfish."

"The thing is, those two are the same for me."

I try to process what that even means. Selfish and me. . . oh. "Nate?"

His hand squeezes mine almost painfully. "And since I'm selfish, I'm going to ask for one more thing. Kiss me?"

" You already kissed me and that was to distract me so you could kill my men."

"For someone so smart, you don't know a lot when it comes to emotions."

"I haven't had much experience with them besides fear and disappointment."

His hand travels up my arm until it finds my shoulder. "Remember me." He pulls me forward, and I ignore the shooting pain in my back, only focusing on Nate. His lips touch mine—the kiss gentle and slow. My heart speeds up like it does when I'm about to be punished. But this is something else entirely. Even though I'm scared and nervous, I'm excited. Nate's making me feel an emotion completely new to me.

His hand touches the side of my face, the kiss becoming more urgent as he pours his final hours into it. I ignore the pain coming from where his hand is. All that matters right now is him.

He breaks the kiss, resting his forehead on mine. "Do you understand now?"

I try to search his face, but I end up exploring darkness. "I'm sorry, I couldn't repay you, that I couldn't save you."

"Raksana, listen to me. This isn't your fault. I knew what I was getting into when I turned my back on your father and detached my loyalty from your family."

"But if I had never run away, I wouldn't have been on that mission to kill you. You would be free." I also wouldn't feel responsible those deaths. Though maybe I would have already killed dozens on the battle field.

"Everything in life comes with a payment. I got to meet you and now that payment's due."

Squeezing my eyes shut, I grip his shoulders. Nate. . . he does care about me. He doesn't view me as weak, even when I feel it. "I don't want to lose you. You're the only friend I have." I don't feel like a victim when we're together.

"Aww, I'm flattered. The Princess thinks of me as a friend."

"Shut up, you idiot." I laugh, but it comes out cracking.

He shakes his head, his forehead rubbing against mine. "I think of you as more than a friend."

I don't speak. Neither does he.

Blue light appears on Nate's face, coming from behind me.

"Raksana, it's time to go," Gale orders gently. I use the wall to help me up, my back aching from the crouched position. I raise my fingers to my lips. "Nate. . . thank you for everything. Know that my words can't express how grateful I am." I step back, my hands feeling for the cold iron bars behind me. When they connect I grip onto them like my life depends on it; like they're my source of life. There's a pop from the door unlocking. Gale's hand touches my arm and draws me out. I turn, my eyes connecting with the ray of light. I blink.

"Your face," Nate says, sounding horrified.

I pull up my hood.

"What happened to her? What did you do to her?" Nate yells. My brother slams the bars shut.

"I didn't do anything to her." Gale pulls me against him, trying to hide me, his arm stinging my back. "Enjoy your last few hours."

"Don't worry about me," I tell Nate and shut my eyes. "I'll remember. Just. . . remember."

Gale pulls me down the hallway.

"Wait, I. . ." Nate trails off.

I struggle against Gale. He stops.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing. It's not important. Take care of yourself."

"Goodbye then, Nate."

"Goodbye, Princess."

So what do you think of our princess and rebel?