Valentina showed up to our rooms wearing her nightgown and a robe embroidered with silver thread.

“Your Majesty,” Uncle Reid greeted her, bowing his head. “We apologize for giving you no warning, but if you’re truly ready to flee, this is your only way.”

She looked to me. “Hollis?”

I walked over to her, gripping her hands. “Valentina, you have delivered your country. You’ve saved so many people today. And we cannot thank you enough.”

Her eyes welled. “I wasn’t sure . . . but it’s enough?”

I nodded.

She closed her eyes, letting the tears run down quietly. “Who’s to take his place?”

I cast my eyes to Etan.

She turned to him, exchanging a long look. She was about to throw away a crown; he was about to take one. Their circumstances were about to reverse forever, and they had this strange and almost beautiful moment of connection.

“You shall have my endless support, sir.”

He nodded to her, his head still going respectfully low.

“Trade robes with me,” I insisted, grabbing mine and shoving it into her hands. “In a few minutes, you will leave with Etan on horseback, under the guise of him escorting his cousin home. He will take you to Pearfield, and from there, he’ll make arrangements to get you to Coroa. These papers,” I said, holding up a handful of parchment, “are to get you across the border, and instructions for my household staff. Hester will guard you. And we have gold.” I set it all on the desk beside her.

She stared at the papers, taking it all in. “If he figures this out, you’ll be dead, Hollis. I just . . . you have to know that before I leave.” Despite her warning, Valentina pulled off her robe and shrugged into mine, her face painted with fear.

“I already know. And I’m choosing to do it all the same. I have very few people left in this world who I care about. You’re one of them. I’ll take care of you.”

Her eyes welled. She looked around to the warm faces in the room. I wondered how long it had been since she’d been treated with kindness. “How can I ever thank you all?”

“It is we who are indebted,” Uncle Reid insisted. “In fact, we’re hoping you’ll be able to forgive us. We should have seen you needed help, and we didn’t. We’d have still considered you aligned with Quinten had it not been for Hollis.”

Her teary eyes turned to mine. Perhaps there were things we should have said then, words of gratitude or of love, but in the end I couldn’t say any of it. I wouldn’t tell her goodbye in any form; it felt too final. And if I had to will Valentina into being beside me at the end of this, then that was what I’d do.

“Please send word once you’re at Varinger Hall. I just need to know when you’re safe.”

She squinted at me. “Won’t you be coming there soon?”