"Here, take this."

Alex reached into the back pocket of her jeans as she stood from where she had strapped Sara into her baby swing—yet another generous gift delivered from Crystal. She handed Treyan her phone and he looked at it curiously.

"It's a cell phone," she informed him.

He looked at her with a sardonic smile. "I know what a cell phone is, Alex."

"Yeah well, it's not like you can talk via orb here, so use it if you need it."

"Why?" Treyan asked as he held the mobile device in his hand.

"I know you don't have one, and I want you to be able to contact me should anything arise—for better or worse." Alex couldn't help but glance over at Bria readying her satchel.

Treyan raised his eyebrows at that. "You made it seem as though you didn't think this was a good idea."

"Anything right now is a better idea than just sitting here."

"I told you I'll be fine, but thank you."

"Good." She tried to bring their attention to the device instead of the emotions she was attempting to hide. "The house phone is under 'Home' in case you're looking for it."

Treyan was already flipping through the contact list on the phone when he came upon the entry labeled 'Home' and there, for an ID picture, was Alex holding Sarayna, both smiling into the camera, taken just that morning. He smiled, which in turn made Alex grin.

"Please be careful, alright?" She reached her hand out for his free one.

He took it and gave it a squeeze. "I always am."

He pulled her to him and wrapped her into a loving embrace. Her body suddenly longed for him and she pressed herself closer. They hadn't done anything since their return, between Treyan's injury and Bria's arrival, plus with Sarayna...

Apparently, by the feel of him, he was missing her, too. She smiled as she kissed him and wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting to let him go.

Bria cleared her throat, blatantly making her presence known behind them. It wasn't that Alex forgot she was there. She simply just didn't care.

Treyan took the interruption as a signal to stop, and he squeezed her bottom as a last goodbye. The action had her realizing she left the knife Treyan gave her in her other pocket. He reached his hand in and extracted the blade, taking a step back to carefully examine it.

"I didn't know you had it with you," he remarked while admiring the keepsake.

Alex bit her lip and made sure Bria was otherwise occupied before answering. "It arrived with you. I've had it on me every day since we've been here, and I don't plan on taking it off."

"Good," he confirmed. "Good." He handed it back to her.

"Treyan," Bria interrupted again from her spot near the door. "The sun is rising, just as you said. It should be time to leave."

Alex glowered at the former mistress for interrupting, but her attention returned to Treyan as he hoisted his backpack over his shoulder. "I hate to admit it, but she's right. We need to go."

She watched him as he leaned down to say goodbye to their daughter where she lay swaddled in the baby swing, and then walked him to the front door. He pressed one more kiss against her lips before she sent him on his way.

Bria was right behind him, and before she could step out to follow, Alex grabbed her arm, not caring about the yelp of pain she heard while her grip tightened to exemplify the sincerity of what she was about to say.

"Now you listen to me, you little bitch," the Empress threatened through clenched teeth, keeping her voice low and out of ear shot of her husband. "If you even think of doing anything to betray us and harm comes to Treyan, I will walk down to New York if I have to and repay you tenfold."

"Empress, I—"

Alex tightened her grip and pulled her closer. "If I find out that this is all just a ploy to get us back to the Empire so Reylor can finish whatever demented plan he thinks he's started, I will personally murder him in front of you so that you have to watch."

"If something happens to the Crown Prince, Empress, and we don't make it back to the Empire, we're all going to wish we were already dead."

The seriousness of Bria's tone was enough for Alex to release her. As the mistress hurried away from her reach, Alex glanced up to Treyan one more time.

He watched her with a questioning look, concern evident in his gaze, but she nodded back in confirmation. Everything was fine, or it would be.

It would have to be.

She watched as the two Empireborn started their trek as the morning sun began to rise over the city.

"He just left with her? And you let him?"

Crystal's questions were incredulous as they walked side-by-side through the Public Gardens. Even in October, the Gardens were bustling with visitors and tourists alike, picnicking around the swan pond or strolling along the paved pathways admiring the colorful foliage. Willows and sycamores and cherry trees all stood against the elements, holding onto their leaves against the autumn winds like a mother protecting her child.

Alex knew the feeling well.

She remained quiet as she pushed the baby stroller along. The day had grown slightly warmer, so she decided some fresh air would do them well. Crystal just happened to call at the right time and agreed to meet them for their walk. Alex convinced herself she needed the conversation, but now she wasn't so sure.

"Isn't this the same person who slashed your husband through the back? I saw the wound—I know the damage that was done."

Alex still felt odd hearing someone other than those within the Empire referring to Treyan as her husband. Within the Empire, between its Annals and the Prophecy, everything happened as it was meant to. In Boston, however, it was as though no time had passed whatsoever.

A year and a day.

To anyone other than Crystal, introducing Treyan as her husband would be an incomprehensible feat, let alone having a child. Even Crystal maintained her reservations, and it took Alex showing her the scar from where the twins were taken from her that her friend finally believed she had, in fact, given birth.

"You're not wrong," Alex admitted.

"And if I am wrong? Wasn't it you who told me that she stabbed him trying to save his brother? Wasn't it that same brother that tried to kill you both, thus sending you back here?"

Alex flinched at the reminder. What she still hadn't told her was their full, complicated history with Reylor.

She had yet to tell Crystal about the vengeance Reylor sought against his brother for banishing him. Or now, as new information unfolded, about his manipulation of Bria that led to her full betrayal. That he had kidnapped her, assaulted her, left her for dead with only his personal agenda on his mind. Reylor didn't know love, regardless of what Bria believed. He knew how to use people, how to abuse them, and how to destroy their lives to achieve his goals. Alex had merely been a pawn, and now, so too was her son Lexan. Alex did not tell Crystal about the lost twin, either. Some things were better left unsaid while wounds remained so fresh.

She startled when Crystal's hand rested on her arm, a concerned look on her friend's face. They had stopped walking, but Alex hadn't noticed, plainly distracted. "Maybe we should sit down for a minute?" Crystal suggested.

Alex must have looked worse than she realized. Alex dipped her chin in silent agreement, and they walked over to a nearby wooden bench along the edge of the swan pond.

Alex watched the wildlife as it swam upon the pond's surface. The Swan Boats would have stopped weeks ago, which was unfortunate. The day was unseasonably warm, and one would think the city would want to capitalize on any revenue it could get. She remembered coming as a child with her parents and the small joy she received while being out on the water.

It was moments like these when she wondered if she would ever have the chance to share some of these treasured pastimes with her own children. It was bittersweet; as much as she loved living in the city, her own family remained incomplete, and their journey was far from over. Even once they were able to retrieve Lexan, would they ever be able to return to this place? Would they even want to?

"Alexandra," Crystal began, a concerned tone in her voice. She only used her full name— was that even her name anymore?—when she was going into her serious, mother-like nurse mode. "I know you've had a lot going on, and shock and stress can take its toll. If Treyan didn't appear out of thin air, I probably would have taken you in for a psychiatric evaluation. But by some miracle he did, and because I'm your friend, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. However, something tells me there's more to it, and I just want you to know that I am here, and I will listen to whatever you want to tell me."

Alex smiled, "I showed up with an infant in my arms, yet it was Treyan who convinced you I was telling the truth?"

"I've watched movies and read books—hell, I've even watched the news. The baby could have come from anywhere. But when a grown man arrives with a wound like nothing I've ever seen before, where no medicine known could possibly heal it? Yeah, it took him to make me a believer."

"We will need to go back," Alex informed her. "Treyan went to find his mother's old apartment because he thinks there might be something there that can help. Bria just happened to come along at the right time."

"I don't believe in coincidences, Alex. Something tells me that her arrival didn't just happen 'at the right time.'"

"You're probably right, but even though I want to murder her every minute I see her face, I know that she's the best chance we have to get back, regardless of what Treyan might find in New York."

"Why do you have to go back? You've just returned, Treyan is here, and you know Sara will be safer in Boston than anywhere else. Why even bother trying to make the journey?"

"Because..." Alex bit her lip. No, she hadn't told her about Lexan, but there would be no other reason she could possibly give Crystal if not for the retrieval of their lost son.

So, Alex told her about the stolen twin. That their children were born together, healthy, and subsequently separated thanks to Bria's "assistance." Crystal's emotions were evident on her face as the tale was told, from sadness, to mourning, and then to utter fury on Alex's behalf.

"Let that bitch show her face back around here again, and I'll rip it off." Crystal had clenched her fists so tight in her lap that her knuckles were beginning to show white through her skin. Alex laid a hand on hers to try to calm her, especially since her outburst was starting to attract attention from other park patrons.

"I told you—that's why I had to let Treyan go. He'll figure out the best way to deal with her, and what better way than to have her with him, where he can keep an eye on her?"

"Better than here where we would kill her."

"Most likely so—"

Crystal's cell phone went off before she could continue. Alex sighed, knowing that the time she had with her friend would come to an end once work called her in.

Crystal scowled at her as she took the call, turning her back to her slightly as she lowered her voice. Trying her best not to listen in, Alex peered into the stroller where Sara still slept. She truly had been a very good baby through everything that had happened, and for that she thanked whatever gods were watching over them. Alex hoped they were making the right choice, but she truly didn't have any other.

"I have to go," Crystal announced as she put away her phone. "That was the hospital and they need me to come in to cover a shift."

"Of course they do." Alex forced another smile.

"Not all of us have the luxury of being predestined to rule an Empire," she muttered as she stood.

"What did you say?"

Crystal didn't respond. Instead, she walked over and said her goodbyes to Sarayna, and then leaned down to wrap Alex in a warm hug. "I'll touch base with you tomorrow, okay?"

Alex returned the embrace carefully. "Can we at least walk you to work?."

Crystal shook her head. "I'll be fine, I need to pick something up at my apartment anyway. Enjoy the rest of the day. Plus, it looks like the little princess is about to wake up as it is."

Sure enough, Sara was squirming away in her stroller, moments away from an ear-piercing outburst. Luckily, they weren't too far from home, so Alex would be able to get home in time to feed her.

"Alright, you be careful."

"Always am." Crystal gave a smile alongside a quick wave and a wink, and turned towards the exit at the opposite side of the Gardens.

Alex watched her bestfriend walk away, through the reds and oranges and yellows of the foliage, andwondered why it was that everyone in her life seemed to believe they had theamazing capability to never get into trouble.