Things are heating up! HOPE you like the latest installment. Another post in about seven days, so stay tuned. Hugs all!

I tore Nebula's fingers from my arm, and the Fire Circle's throne room evaporated from view. My hands covered my mouth, and I stared at my plate trying to breathe.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Kellan asked, putting his fork down. He rubbed my back with his hand and glanced over at Nebula.

When I angled my head in her direction, I could see the news was hitting her equally as hard. She had her hand on chest and was blinking back tears in an attempt to maintain a shred of composure in front of everyone.

"All right, I give. What did Jaxon do now?" Kellan asked.

Nebula dabbed a napkin to her eyes, then put her arm around me. "Not Jaxon—Otis. He just declared..."

Her words cut short as they caught in her throat. I took a deep breath and just blurted it out for her.

"My mother's to be executed in the morning."

The words sounded surreal like they couldn't be possible. God, if only that were true.

A man with impeccably terrible timing stopped in front of our table. Even though I stared at my plate, I could still see his tan trousers beyond the table linens. I cast my eyes up just as he stooped into a deep bow, and when he lifted his head his eyes met mine.

"Robin..." My mind was still trying to process what Otis had just announced.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes," Robin paused a moment furrowing his brow, "or should I ask what making your eyes sore? You look like someone died. Wait—" His eyes ran the length of the table. "Where's Sage?"

"Great, it's the beau wannabe." Rygar held out his fork in Robin's direction. "We weren't sure which side you were on, so we thought we'd toss you Kellan's direction and let him sort it out."

Robin's brow wrinkled as he glared at Rygar. Then he forced his hand into his pockets, not lifting his stare. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what you think," Rygar said separating each word for emphasis.

When I turned to tell Rygar to knock it off, I noticed the water lilies in the pool behind us were all floating behind his seat. Their vines had already silently crept beyond the water's border and extended toward him. Their leaves dripped water onto the floor as the guys antagonized each other further.

All I wanted was to figure out how to rescue my mom and here I was playing referee. I placed my hand on the table to steady myself. "Would you two knock it off?"

"What? He started it." Robin pointed at Rygar.

"That doesn't mean you need to finish it," I said gesturing to the lilies.

Rygar whipped around to see the backside of his chair completely covered in vines. Then he clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes focusing in on Robin.

"And you?" I faced Rygar. "What's with antagonizing Robin? You don't even know him. You're acting like..."

I paused to think of the right word. I wanted to say idiot, but that wasn't quite right.

"Like what?" Rygar smirked.

I don't know if it was the news of my mom, these two acting like three-year-olds or my lack of sleep, but I just blurted out my next thought.

"Like a jealous boyfriend." My words hung in the air choking the silence.

The smirk faded from his face, along with the color. Rygar folded his napkin, got up from the table and strode out.

Holy crap, he likes Sage. I didn't see that one coming. Maybe idiot was the right word for him.

Nebula leaned over and whispered, "I have to say, there's never a dull moment when you're around."

Then she gave my shoulder a squeeze as I stared a moment longer at the door Rygar left through.

Robin looked pissed. For a moment he looked like he might follow Rygar out and continue this thing outside.

Kellan cleared his throat, drawing Robin's attention back to the table. Then he pushed his plate aside.

"Robin, I'm sure you remember Nebula."

Robin adjusted his shirt, before nodding in response. "Welcome back to Acklemar. I guess Jaxon wasn't able to sway you to take him with you."

"Not from lack of trying on his side, I'm afraid. But he did manage to find someone that would," she answered.

"I know it's on everyone's mind—well mostly mine." He leaned back on his heels. "So I'm just going to say it. What's up with that guy and Sage?"

He crossed his arms and looked directly at me. The flicker in his eyes gave away how important this answer was to him.

"Rygar?" I couldn't help look at the door, praying he didn't come back while was Robin still at our table. "He's one of the Traveler's that assisted us back to the guild."

"Kidnapped more like." Robin pursed his lips then said, "But that doesn't exactly answer the question about him and Sage, does it?"

Boys. Part of me couldn't even believe he thought he needed to ask after the way she melted when he kissed her.

The other half of me understood why he might be a touch jealous. Rygar was good looking, muscular, and obviously had some interest in her, as deluded as it may be. I tried to withhold a laugh and pressed my lips together.

"You're not going to laugh, are you?" Robin said peering through his dark lashes. He looked like a little boy who'd just lost his puppy.

"Robin..." I got up and walked around the table. "What's funny is that you think Sage likes Rygar. So far, she's made up a horrible nickname for him, told him off and broke his finger."

He let out a long sigh and gave me a slight smile. "She broke his finger?"

"You don't need to look so happy about it." I gave him a shove. "Now if you don't mind, I need to figure out a plan to rescue my mom before tomorrow morning."

"What? Don't tell me—Otis is still using her in his sick twisted game."

"Not for much longer."

The words scorched my throat, making it hard to breathe. I grabbed the glass of water off the table and downed half of it before continuing.

"Otis has amended her sentence. The execution is tomorrow." I swallowed and crumpled a handful of my dress in my palm.

"Shit."

Robin led me away from the table by my elbow, and I wobbled in my shoes to keep up.

"I'm in," he said.

"No way. Not even if I had a plan. I already have enough guilt over my mom to last me a lifetime."

"I owe you a debt. If I help you get Celeste out, I think we'd finally be square. I'm in."

"Hey, what's all the whispering about?" Kellan asked from behind me.

The clatter of servants clearing dishes filled the room, and a few curious onlookers cast their eyes in our direction.

"A rescue mission." Robin grinned like he was excited about the possibility of going.

Kellan's eyes went storm-grey, and he inhaled a sharp breath. "No—no way. You're not going."

Something tugged at my arm, but when I turned around, no one was there. What the—?

"Hey, did you hear me? Going to the Keep is a bad idea."

"Yeah, got it. But that's not going to save my mom now is it?"

I wiped the tears from my eyes before they brimmed over streaking my cheeks.

Great, people are going to think I'm your hysterical girlfriend.

Partner, Kellan brushed a lock of hair from my face. Hysterical—no. Irrational is a definite possibility. We can try a diplomatic solution to get your mom back, just don't go, his voice cracked.

I heard Astra holler my name in the back of my mind, and a heavy tug pulled at my core calling me back. My hands started to tingle and itch, letting me know I only had a moment longer here.

"I have to do something. She can't pay for this..."

Robin latched onto my arm, and the scene of the room faded from view. His fingers dug into my arm like he wasn't going to let go for anything.

The next thing I knew a tangle of legs and arms surrounded me. Someone sat on my head pushing my face into my sleeping bag. I pulled free to see Nebula sweep her dark hair over her shoulders. That's when I heard Robin at the other end of the tent.

"Broken finger?" he laughed. "Now, how exactly did that happen?"

I whipped around to see Rygar and Robin facing each other with their legs pinned underneath Nebula and I. Rygar pressed his bandaged hand into Robin's face and gave him a hard shove backward.

"Stop it!" I swatted them with my hand. "I need you both to rescue my mother."

"Him?" Rygar said in disbelief. "How is he going to help."

"Yeah—me." A grin spread across Robin's face. "I'm the only one here who can get us into the Keep."

Another update soon. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments. As always if you find edits, just let me know. Thanks, all.