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“Why?”

“There’s nothing left for me in Hevalla now my family are gone. Dezeeves plans to take the FIs to Rhavna, in The Emperor. There, in Rhavna, I will be a queen.”

He blinks. “A queen.”

“We don’t have time to go through it all now. But I believe I can end this war – and not just that. I can end the wealth and magic divide in Rhavna. Maybe even the Provision system in Hevalla. Improve life. For those of us left.”

He’s stuck on something. “Why in Cosmos would you be a queen?”

“My parents promised me to a prince before my birth. I didn’t know – or, I did, but my memories were repressed. Until now.”

He gapes at me. “But why?”

“We don’t have time,” I repeat.

Lines appear in his pale forehead. “If all of this is true, are you saying you’re really going to do that? Marry this random prince?”

I stroke my fingers over the muscle and bone of his back. This boy who almost ruined himself for me.

“All of this is true. And yes,” I say, unwavering. “I have to. Marry him. I wish things could be different.”

“Please,” he begs. “This is crazy. We can still leave. We don’t have to go to Hevalla. We can go anywhere.”

I touch my forehead to his.

“Cosmer,” I say, the tiniest fracture in my voice. “Just know it’s you I’m thinking about. I want you to have the life you deserve, in the world you deserve. Where you’re not either starving and washing pots, or starving and fighting in ridiculous wars.” I whisper my next words. “You made a sacrifice for me – an incredible sacrifice.” I kiss him on the freckles on his nose. “Let me make one for you.”

I hold him a second longer.

Then I’m releasing him, and rising to my feet.

“Don’t do this,” he says. “It’s not for you to worry about countries, or people⁠—”

“It’s for everyone to worry about,” I correct him. “And people like me most of all.”

Over by the hatch, I pull the lever to open it. It hisses as it lifts off the ground. Beyond the external walls of the pod, I hear an explosion, the loudest yet.

Cosmer is standing, too.

“Then I’ll go with you,” he says quietly. “To Rhavna.” He offers me what maybe he thinks is a smile, but it’s more a grimace. “If you’re a queen, you’ll need a guard⁠—”

I cut him off before we can even entertain the idea. “No. I need you to be safe, away from all of this.” I arch my body. “Maybe you could go back to our village, to bury our families – and help any survivors rebuild. And then, you’re free.”

I stare at him. The low light is making his hair flame, his freckles burst. Without his leather jacket, I can see every curve and angle of his body.

He’s so perfect.

The hatch is open. I should be walking through it.

But instead, I run back over to him. Collide my lips with his. Kiss him hard, like it’s the first time again – because it’s the last.

He responds, passionately, and for a powerful moment, we’re locked like that. Like nothing could break us.

Reaching up, I pull out the ribbon from my hair. His ribbon, now. It always was. I push it into his long fingers.

“There it is,” I whisper.

And then I’m tearing away from him.