At six-months pregnant with twins, Alex was still able to tie her own boots, and the boost of confidence in her ability to care for herself was exactly what she needed before she set out on her inevitable quest. She put on black leggings, a loose-fitting black shirt, and tied her hair back into a ponytail. Looking at herself in the mirror in the foyer of the palace's main entryway, she was as ready as she'd ever be.

"I think you're forgetting something."

Treyan startled her as she watched his reflection while stood silently behind her. He had left earlier to ready the horses for the trip north. They agreed that he would bring her as far as the tree line, to ensure she at least made it that far before she would be out of his protection. She would have been lying if she said she didn't agree, so she would allow him to accompany her that far so long as his presence didn't bring too much attention to the task at hand. This mission was kept a secret from the rest of the Empire, so they would need to avoid the barracks as much as possible and enter unseen from either side.

She returned to admiring herself. "And what would that be, my prince?" He had been adding to the list of his personal rules and restrictions since the Councillor gave them his approval: that she was to rest when she felt tired, that she was to drink water constantly. She was to get in and get out as soon as possible and remember the outlying goal was to retrieve Reylor for his crimes and to not exact her vengeance without Treyan.

A part of her wondered if the last restriction was for his own benefit.

She expected the list to grow until they parted at the tree line.

He stood behind her, a whole head taller, and wrapped one arm around her shoulders while the other presented her with a black silk-wrapped item

She blinked at him through the mirror, and he held the parcel out for her to take it.

She unwrapped the gift carefully, and in her hands, she held a knife—not the useless kitchen knife she stuck in her garter on her wedding day, but a real, master-crafted weapon.

Its hilt was wrapped in heavy black leather, and its silver blade was smooth and sharp. Inlaid into the pommel was a dark blue gem, similar to a sapphire, and its balance was perfect within her grip.

"Where did this come from?"

"Well, I saw the knife they took off you after the wedding ceremony. I'm almost afraid to ask why you had it in the first place."

She rolled her eyes in his general direction. "It wasn't for you. It was for protection."

"From what, a steak?"

She glared at his reflection.

"Anyway, I figured if you're going to carry a knife, it might as well be a sharp one."

She sheathed the blade. Holding the weight in her hands was a comfort.

"Thank you," she said sincerely as she tried to attach the knife to her belt. Tried, and failed miserably, for as she balanced the belt and the dagger between her hands, she unceremoniously dropped both to the floor at her feet.

"Shit."

She glanced up to see Treyan already watching her, amusement dancing across his features. Before she could either ask for help or admonish him for laughing, he moved toward her, picked up both the fallen knife and the belt, and reached around to help her with the buckle. When he had finished with the final loop, he pulled her shirt back down over her and she again assessed herself in the mirror. Between the loose garment and her large belly, the knife was completely concealed from view.

"Just make sure you don't stab yourself when you need to use it, alright?" he teased as he straightened.

Alex could tell he was trying to make light of the situation, but by the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, she knew Treyan was scared. A lump caught in her throat as she tried to ignore her own doubts.

She turned around to face him, a reassuring smile on her face. "I'll be okay."

He pulled her close and wrapped her in a tight hug before she could finish her sentence.

"You better be," he whispered into her hair.

The Councillor waited for them in the stables prior to their departure. There was one more item of business to address before Alex could go anywhere.

"The Key." The Councillor presented them with a box that contained a delicate-looking hair comb of silver filigree and diamonds.

The exact same hair comb Treyan had given Alex on her coronation day.

Which had returned to her embedded within the skull of her murdered Mistress.

Alex shied away from the morbid sight, clutching Treyan's arm as the bile in her stomach began to rise.

The Councillor only sighed. "Please calm down, Empress, it is only a replica. Nothing more."

"Or is it?" chided Treyan into her ear.

Alex jabbed him in the ribs.

"Empress, we needed to use something that Reylor knew already belonged to you," the Councillor confirmed. "It is not unheard of for the Empress to maintain a sense of decoration, even in riding clothes."

Alex remained unconvinced, but Treyan picked up the comb and approached her. "I don't want to see this coming back on your corpse, you understand me?"

Biting her lip, she nodded and bent her head down so Treyan could insert the accessory next to her ponytail.

"All I need to do is find somewhere to leave this so it can't be found, and then I just wait?"

"Something like that," Treyan confirmed. "Look for some place against a wall. Fireplaces are ideal. They make porting easier to gauge."

"Once it's planted?"

"You have to wait for the next full moon. As soon as it reaches its apex, both ends will activate."

"The full moon should be on the rise tomorrow night," the Councillor explained. "We've calculated it so that there is just enough time for you to enter Reylor's castle, find the appropriate destination, and remain hidden until the moon is at its peak."

Alex nodded. "Okay, well, it looks like we don't have any time to waste."

"Best of luck, Empress." The Councillor bowed. "We await your quick return."

They rode out in silence, each left to their own thoughts not only about the journey ahead, but about what would happen after.

While Treyan concerned himself with the possibility of never seeing his wife again, Alex focused on logistics. This was not the first time she needed to get into a place she didn't belong, she reminded herself, though sneaking into a bar while being underage was much different than sneaking her way over enemy territory. She would try to stay within the tree line for as long as she could, at least until she came upon the pathway through the Borderlands that she trekked before...

She quickly stopped that train of thought.

This was not like before, she assured herself as her hands clenched tighter around the reins.

This time she would not be a victim, and for Reylor's sake, she hoped he remained well out of sight until it was time to send him through the Key.

They hadn't discussed her plan to get him through the Key, and Treyan hadn't exactly asked for specifics, either. He only instructed her to bring him back while she was safe. He trusted her to handle the rest.

Now, if she could only trust herself.

The suns drifted through the sky as they rode on. It was dusk by the time she could see the tall overgrowth of the tree line in the distance, and almost another hour before they reached the edge.

They both waited upon their horses as they stared at the mile-long stretch that lay before them, trying not to think about what was beyond.

Eventually it was Treyan who jumped from his animal, and taking Alex's reins from her, he assisted her as she climbed down from her saddle. Nothing was easy about pregnant horseback riding, she decided as she stretched her already sore back.

And here she was, about to hike through the woods at night to infiltrate the castle of the Empire's most dangerous enemy.

What the hell was she doing?

Treyan was helping her with her pack before she could have second thoughts. Sufficient food, water, and supplies were inside to last her three days. It would be enough.

It had to be.

Once he finished fastening it above her belly and across her chest, he let out a sigh and placed his hands on her shoulders, leaning his forehead to hers.

"That Mark really is warm, isn't it?" he commented softly.

She smiled as she closed her eyes. "I told you."

He returned her smile and kissed the Mark gently before meeting her lips.

She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss deeply until they both knew it was time for Alex to depart.

Giving her one last kiss, he looked deep into her eyes. "I love you."

She knew what he was doing, and her resolve began to waver as tears welled in her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck one more time.

"I love you."

"You better keep my babies safe," he ordered as he rubbed her back through the embrace. "Or else."

"Or else," she promised.

Treyan brought his hands to her belly in a silent farewell before he kissed her again, knowing that he could remain there with her all night, but there was a more important task at hand.

He turned back to the horses, tying the reins of her horse to his saddle, and vaulted up into his own. With one final glance over his shoulder, he quickly galloped away before his emotions further betrayed him.

Alex watched him ride until he was out of sight before she turned around and embarked on her own journey through the overgrowth toward the Borderlands.