"Why are we leaving now? It's not yet nightfall," Fosse asked as soon as Emery dragged him out of the library. He squinted under the sunlight, while his skin resumed its inhuman glimmer under its rays. It reminded Emery to pick up her pace. 

"I'm getting this over with now. Forget Theo's stupid rule. A few hours won't make that big of a difference to the gate. I'll return you, get my gate, and then I'm telling the House everything. Better to say I'm sorry than to ask for permission, right?"

Emery noticed an oncoming pickup truck, so she dragged Fosse behind the cover of two thick trees. 

They were still a few minutes away from the woods. If they hurried, and if they didn't have to continue hiding every ten seconds, they'd get there in five, tops. 

"Does that mean you've made a decision about Theo joining the House?" 

Emery clicked her tongue in annoyance. The truck moved out of sight and she dragged him by the hand once more. "No," she answered. "I've decided it's not my decision to make. Now, run."

For once, Fosse listened to her. He caught up to her quick pace easily. It was still early enough for the streets to be mostly empty. She was able to feel somewhat relieved when an expanse of forest came into view. She could go left from there and reach the path in lickety split. 

"But he wants you to make the decision, doesn't he?" Fosse asked, his tone so smooth she wondered if he was making an effort to keep up with her. 

On the other hand, she could barely speak without gasping for air. "I'm not"—she paused to take a few sharp breaths—"the right person"—another pause—"for that decision."

"I'm pretty sure he thinks you are."

"Shut the . . . Can't. Even. Curse. Just. Run."

And so they did. Only when they'd reach the thicket did Emery slow down her pace, but she kept jogging softly until they reached the familiar path and made their way to the clearing. She collapsed over the grass like a heap of living exhaustion. 

She didn't know if it was the stress of having to run and hide Fosse or if last night's power-sucking spell still made her feel weak, but that run had been the most uncomfortable of her life. Her breaths were dreadfully uneven, and her body felt so hot; she wished she could strip as unbashedly as Fosse. Wearing jeans certainly didn't make matters easier. The inner parts of her upper thigh stung from the chaffing. 

"You don't look so well, maybe some more rest is in order," Fosse suggested as he peered down at her, blocking the sunlight. Although she was thankful for the shade, she didn't wish to be under his scrutiny anymore. With a sound of discomfort, she lifted her hip and brought out the Song of Water. 

Ignoring the siren, she sat up and called, "Theo!"

"I'd at least like to say goodbye to the small fireborn," Fosse added. It made Emery feel a smidge guilty, but she was too determined to listen to him. She just wanted one less problem to deal with. 

"Theo!" she yelled again, feeling her breaths steady enough to stand up and walk around the clearing. 

"You did agree to meet at midnight. Maybe he's not here. We should head ba—" 

Emery scoffed. "He's always around. Even when I don't want him to be." She paced around the clearing once more before stopping in front of his usual entrance/exit. "It has to be super-freaking unlucky that the moment I do want him around, he just ups and disappears. But, then again, I'm a Wright. Super-freaking unlucky doesn't sound so . . . " her words faltered when she turned around to face Fosse, and instead saw the prince. " . . . crazy."

Always a stickler for making an entrance, he stood in the middle of the clearing as if he'd been standing there all along. His hands, which she'd come to conclude were magnetized to his pockets, were lazily tucked into the sides of his black trousers. His lips stretched into a simper before he said, "So, just to clarify . . . When you say you do want me around, do you mean full-time or. . . ."

Emery hastily tucked her strands behind her ears, feeling out of breath from her ranting and stomping around. "You're missing context," she cleared up, but then waved the thought away. "But, nevermind that. There's been a change of plans. We're taking Fosse back now."

"I told you, we shouldn't—"

"Forget that! We open it now," she growled, taking the key out of her pocket. 

Theo's green eyes stared at the key and then at her. "You don't have your satchel or the clothes. We said we'd wait until tonight. By then, I could get you some clothes to blend in and some money. How are you going to get to Sago's without a griffin?"

"I'll walk."

Theo scowled at her. "This is a stupid idea."

With an exasperated sigh, she buried her head in her hands. "Okay, then we open it, and I get Fosse through. How about that? As soon as I make sure he's well on his way to home-sweet-home, I'll come back and wait for you to get everything I need to get to Sago's. I just need him out of Bellenau, where he won't be discovered."

"Here I was thinking we'd made some real progress in our friendship, while you're itching to have me gone," Fosse interjected, throwing his shirt over his shoulders and making a messy attempt at folding it. 

"It's not personal. I just—" Another groan escaped her throat.

"This could all be resolved if you just let Theo join the House," Fosse blurted out. She wanted to strangle him. "No more need to run or hide."

"You told Fosse?" Theo asked, his dark eyebrows flying up curiously. "Well, he's clearly a wise siren. If he says that's the right decision, how could you say otherwise, Wright?"

"It's not the right decision! You could get hurt!" she snapped, her voice breaking in the process. No. No, no, no. She was not going to cry in front of Theo. Her teeth gnawed at the inside of her cheek to distract herself from the tears of frustration threatening to spill out. "But if I don't let join, then the House could get hurt, and ugh! This should not be my decision!"

The cheek-gnawing was proving ineffective. She decided to bite down on her knuckle instead. After sending a pointed glare at the siren for letting the cat out of the bag, she turned away from both of them. Hopefully, neither of them noticed how watery her eyes had gotten. 

"What do you mean I could get hurt?" Theo asked. 

She turned around once more, her voice pleading as she asked, "Please, Theo. Let's open the gate." Her eyes still stung somewhat, and she was sure they were still watery and sparkly. She hoped he'd appeal to that instead. 

His gaze moved around her features, softening a bit more every time his eyes passed hers. But, just when she thought her act of desperation worked, he asked once more, "How could I get hurt?"

"Once we open the gate, I'll tell you," she insisted, holding up the key in between them. 

Theo stared down at her for seconds upon seconds. They stood there long enough for her to notice the slightest wrinkles between his brows—a sign she took as him being in deep thought. 

"Listen to her, boy," Fosse spoke up again, though this time, she was thankful for it. "I think it's best if I leave. For now. . . ."

Emery moved her gaze to the siren and gave him a small smile as thank you. 

When she looked back, Theo had already summoned the gate. He held it outstretched toward her, but his gaze was directed to the thicket. "Just take it before I change my mind."

Her hands snatched up the gate in one smooth, quick motion before running to the middle of the clearing and kneeling. Although she felt the need to rush, she was careful to precisely insert the Song of Water inside and turn it slowly. In an effort to not break it, when the top clicked open, she took her time to set it down with pillow-soft gentleness. The Song of Water started to play, a sound that brought a smile to Fosse's mouth and a sense of longing to her heart. 

When it began to glow, she pushed herself to her feet and stepped away. Mumbled prayers to all known gods flew out of her lips to try and prevent the gate from breaking. Apart from the obvious nerves, she guiltily admitted the excitement at seeing Izoven again. 

The Song ended. 

Both her eyes were pinched shut, afraid to look at the result. 

"Well, it's open, Wright," Theo spoke up. "You can answer my question now."

Emery opened one eye first, her mouth turning into a nervous grimace as she did. The first thing she saw was Theo blocking her view, his sharp features stuck in a stoic expression. But behind him, the portal stood in its tall, magnificent arc. Its glowing rivers of light as comforting as ever. 

"Okay . . . I—" she whispered, returning her gaze to his. Her throat felt dry. How did you explain to someone that what they thought was their sole salvation was possibly a path toward their execution? Or imprisonment . . . Point being: freedom was unlikely. 

"Spit it out," he rushed her, his brow furrowing in annoyance. 

"Even if I vouched for you . . . you couldn't join the House. They'd turn you in to Izoven's royals, and the Wind Kingdom apparently holds a lot of power . . ." again her mouth felt too dry to continue speaking. "Because they want Vareus' land, they could vote to execute you. The outcome of the current conflict over the land looks good for Chases' Kingdom, or so I hear, and an heir apparent would really complicate their plans."

Theo took a deep breath in before lowering his head and scratching the nape of his neck. "Damn it," he yelled, whipping around to summon a fireball and send it flying toward a nearby shrub. The leaves erupted in flames instantly. Theo raised his hand and clenched it into a tight fist, extinguishing the flames before they spread. "There's nothing the House could do?"

She brought her hand to her necklace, feeling wary of how he may continue to react. "It's out of their jurisdiction. They could get hurt if they keep you a secret and someone finds out."

Theo crouched down in front of the portal, rubbing his hand against his jawline. "You got any suggestions, fishman?"

The siren shrugged and shook his head. "None that could prove successful."

"So, that's it?" Theo growled, pushing his hair away from his forehead. 

"I'm sorry," Emery said in earnest, hoping he wouldn't implode once more. 

He didn't reply and instead sat down on the grass. With a scowl, he massaged his temple and exclaimed, "Well go! Do whatever it is you were going to do. It's not like I can stop you now. I need you to close the portal. Go, and roam all you want. I don't care." 

"Theo," she said his name carefully as if speaking any louder than a whisper would detonate an explosion. "I really am sorry."

He stared up at her. All of the anger and resentment Fosse once mentioned was clear in his gaze now. "I'll never be seen as anything more than the son of a monster."

"That's not true." 

He laughed humorlessly. "Really? Then answer me. If your decision didn't have all these consequences . . . What would you have picked? If it all boiled down to trusting me or not, what would your answer be?"

Emery shook her head. "That's not fair, Theo. That has nothing to do with your father."

"Doesn't it? Not one little bit?"

Another silent showdown passed between them. Their gazes clashed like fire and ice, both of them refusing to back down. It wasn't until Fosse grabbed Emery's arm and dragged her away that Theo lowered his gaze to his hands. 

"Let's go, Emery," Fosse whispered. Her steps followed along without resistance until she stepped over the foot of the gate without another look back at Izovenian prince. 

⤝◈◈◈◈◈⤞

Emery had admired each and every moment in Izoven so much, she'd committed the views to memory. This is why, upon arriving at the temple, Emery knew she'd find the dark room with the platform surrounded by water. 

But, when she and Fosse came up on the other side and saw only white, her mind began to race. She couldn't see anything ahead of her or around her. Her entire vision was blocked by a blindingly bright light. It made her skin break out in goosebumps. Did the portal take us somewhere else?

The only sense of comfort was the feeling of Fosse's hand over her shoulder, but that too disappeared when Fosse told her, "Stay completely still, Emery."

"Why?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she noticed the sounds of clunking armor and hushed voices. Still, her eyes could not get accustomed to the light. She decided to shut them instead. 

"There are about fourteen different weapons pointed at your head right now," he muttered, making Emery as stiff as a board. Her breathing grew quick and she began to shiver. Without her eyes, she was eerily conscious of the way her heart beat astoundingly fast and how the surrounding sounds were inching closer. 

"Send message to the King and Queen! We've got the tresspaser and . . . Fosse Grim is with her."

"I've got immunity," Fosse told them. 

"So do I," Emery felt brazen enough to say, though her words were received with a fit of boisterous laughs. "Master Sago. . . ."

"We don't serve Master Sago, fireborn!" a man yelled into her face, making her flinch at the spittle that landed against her cheek. "We serve the royals, and they want your head on a stick!"

"No!" Emery screeched taking a quick step back through the portal. She heard an ocean of protests and yells for her to be seized, but she could only focus on the way the portal wrapped around her body. 

Bellenau's forest appeared before her, Theo seated in front of the portal and staring in calmly. She pushed through, but as soon as she got her torso through the other side, she felt fingers wrap against her ankle and tug her back. She begged the Song to help her, but it wasn't able to do anything but anchor her to the spot. The power pooling at the sole of her free foot. 

"Theo," she shrieked, making the boy's head snap up. 

"Emery, what's—"

"Pull me back!" she yelled, tugging her ankle away with every ounce of strength she had left. 

Theo took hasty steps forward and raised his hand to hers, but a shock of electricity pushed him back. "Crap," he cursed, raising his other hand and trying to reach her again. The bolts of lightning enveloped his hand like a New Year's sparkler, his face twisting in pain as he did. 

She realized it was futile for him to keep trying. 

"Find Mave!" was the last thing she yelled before letting herself get dragged back to Izoven.