He scuffed at the grass with one boot. "I didn't want to tell you. But you've been in danger ever since we left your home. People have been hunting you, and things got pretty hot in Kelsi, and before that there were the three at Dorcastle, and… Kira, I don't know a lot about being in love. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. But not telling you—letting you think you have to stay away from home and in constant danger and all, just so I could stay with you—would be really selfish. And I don't think that's what love is supposed to be about. Even if I am delusional."

Kira got to her feet. "You know what's important about love, Jason. My father always said that false love is an attempt to force another person to be subjugated to your own illusion, to make that person nothing but a part of you that you can direct and control. But real love means the other person's illusion is more important than yours. You put them first. Like you put me first."

She walked the short distance to him and kissed Jason, holding it a while before stepping back.

"You didn't have to do that," Jason said, smiling at her.

"I know. But I realized that if we try your idea, there might not be another chance. To kiss you, I mean." Kira shook her head at him, feeling miserable. "I guess if I was selfish I'd say we shouldn't try. But if we can destroy that data, we have to."

Jason tried to maintain his smile. "My dad would say we're both being idiots, giving up something for other people."

"Your father is an idiot. Is it okay if I say that?"

He stared at her. "You said okay."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you—"

"Stop trying to change the subject. Let's get some rest. It's probably going to be a very long day tomorrow."

She left him standing there, going off into the dark nearby to lie down with her pack for a pillow and stare miserably at the stars. I have a job to do. All right, Mother. I understand. Sometimes the jobs really, really suck. But we have to do them anyway. Because people are counting on us.

Mage Alera appeared out of the dark. "Mage Kira, this one must talk."

"What is it?" Kira asked, sitting up and wondering why Alera was calling her that.

"Your Mage presence is much stronger. It can now be felt by other Mages, even those who have not met you. This one can begin teaching you some of the ways to block your presence from other Mages. But we will only have a short time to work on it. When you enter Ihris it will be important that you focus on blocking your presence from other Mages."