If it hadn’t been for me, we’d have had no trouble at all sneaking out of the palace.

The plan had been simple enough, to leave under the cover of darkness, while the night would conceal us. But what everyone seemed to have forgotten—or at least underestimated—was that where I was concerned, darkness was relative.

Sneaking out, I draped myself in the thickest, blackest fabric I could find, letting Max and Zafir lead me to where the horses had already been saddled and were waiting for us. I rode with Max so I wouldn’t have to uncover my face, which would have given us away in an instant. All we could do was hope that no one had seen us leave.

Inside the cloak, I was suffocated. But I was with Max, and soon I’d be with my family, too.

I had little to complain about.

Avonlea had been given strict instructions to trust only my chambermaid, whom I would have trusted with even Angelina’s life.

By dawn, there was enough light in the sky that I was able to come out from beneath the cloak I wore. For much of the ride, we saw no one. We stayed in rural areas or near tree lines whenever possible, following rutted roads overgrown with weeds. We gave a wide berth to villages and more densely populated areas, stopping only at streams and ponds to let the horses drink.

I told Max all about the Scablands, and about the people I’d met there. I explained Avonlea’s situation, which I’d already talked about, but which I felt compelled to probe and examine, trying to figure out how things had gotten so out of hand in Ludania. How people had become a commodity.

Max agreed with me, that changes needed to be made. We all did. When talk of reorder and revolutions and homecomings wore thin, I stretched and yawned, and stretched some more as I leaned back against him, closing my eyes.

“Charlie.” I heard him whisper against my ear. “Charlie, wake up. We’re here.”

I was alert in an instant, anxious to see—and hold—my family at long last.

The estate where they’d been living was so much more than I’d expected, almost like a second palace. It was wooded here, surrounded by tall forests with old-growth trees draped with moss and vines. There were ferns and wildflowers and ponds. It was more remote and less manicured than the palace, but no less striking in its splendor.

I guessed that this fell into the category of things I still didn’t know, of which there were more than I could count now.

Xander was waiting for us, and behind him I saw my parents. Behind them, Angelina.

Without thinking, I drew my heels against the horse beneath us, spurring Max’s horse myself. “Yah,” I cried out.

The horse responded, startling Max, who tightened his grip on both me and on the reins. “Dammit, Charlie, a little warning.”

I was grinning though, at the same time tears slipped down my cheeks. “She’s so beautiful,” I breathed in response, unable to tear my gaze away from my little sister. Warmth sprang from my gut, spreading to my weary limbs. I was grateful Angelina was safe. Grateful we’d hidden her from Jonas Maier and his followers.

But I wasn’t the only one who was anxious, and my father jumped in front of us, forcing Max to make an abrupt stop. When he grabbed me, I was no longer the queen. I was four again—his little girl. He swung me in a wide circle and then he hugged me to his chest, pressing fat kisses to my wet cheeks.

He was talking, too, but I couldn’t hear him over my sobs. Then my mom was there, and we were a tangle of arms and hands and faces and jumbled words. I never wanted to let go. I never wanted to be away from them again.

It wasn’t until I realized Angelina was still standing apart from us, that I peeled myself from my parents’ grasp. Angelina, who looked so alone there, worry filling her clear blue eyes.

I held my arms open for her, smiling so brightly I was sure I’d blind her.

She took a step away from me.

I looked to my parents, and then back to Angelina. “What is it?” I asked. And when she didn’t answer, I turned to Max and Aron and Brooklynn. But all I could see was bewilderment in their faces.

“Angelina . . . ?” I tried again, coming closer but feeling crestfallen. “It’s me.”

She frowned, and then blinked, then turned and raced away from me, leaving Eden to run after her.

brooklynn

Brook sat on the steps and stared up at the moon. It was a different moon here than the one she’d been watching during their travels through the Scablands, different from the one she’d spied through the icy windows of Vannova.

This was their moon—a Ludanian moon.

She knew she was being fanciful, but she couldn’t help herself. It had been a hard journey and it felt good to be home, even if they were still sleeping in strange beds. Something about the warmer climate and the sound of Englaise on every tongue put her at ease once more.

Of course, Charlie’s father’s cooking hadn’t hurt either.

She thought about the old days, and wondered if she was missing out on a normal life because she was the commander of the armed forces.

She smiled to herself at the notion of working in the restaurant once more, of doing homework and chores. Of doing all the things that others had forced on her.

She leaned back, letting the tips of her loose hair brush the concrete step behind her.

“What are you grinning about?” Aron’s voice cut through her reverie, bringing her back to reality.

Brook sat up, leaning her elbows on her knees while Aron took a seat beside her. “Just thinking how nice it is to be here.” It felt strange opening up to him—just being herself—but she was too tired to banter.