“We don’t need an alliance with them,” Mina said. “Perhaps this is the beginning of their death rattle, and we shouldn’t interfere.”

“You say that as if their stockpile of sapphires means nothing to you.” The King gave her a knowing look, and Mina’s lips pressed into a bee-stung pout. “We are working toward a new era of peace, and they’ve asked for our help. We can spare one tracker.”

“Pardon, Your Highness,” my dad interrupted. “But given the state of things, wouldn’t it be prudent to send two trackers out on the mission? Just to be safe.”

“I’ve agreed to send this one tracker!” Mina pointed at me. “Not anyone else!”

“If I may offer a suggestion, My Queen, Ember Holmes is only on partial duty because of her injury, but she would still be a great asset to me,” I said, hoping to ease her anxiety.

“She’s suffered a fracture.” Dad dismissed the idea with a shake of his head. “It’s unfair to ask her to risk further injury by sending her out to work again.”

“The Chancellor is right, but so is Mina.” Evert still held her hand and offered her a sidelong glance. “I’d rather not spare another good set of hands when we’re not sure when Konstantin may strike again.”

“What about the Rektor?” Mina asked. “He adds little to our security, doesn’t he?”

“Ridley Dresden?” Dad considered this, and my heart dropped. “He’s a capable tracker.”

“Sire, I don’t think that Ridley is well suited for this,” I interjected, wanting to put an end to the idea before it got started. I didn’t really have any reason other than it sounded like an awkward hell traveling with him after our kiss last night.

Dad raised an eyebrow, surprised by my protest, and he continued on with his support for Ridley. “He’s actually more skilled in relations with other tribes than Bryn is, so he’d be a great addition to the mission.”

“I had asked him to stay back from the field for a while to focus on paperwork here…” Evert shrugged. “But we could spare him for a few days to go on this fact-finding mission with Bryn.”

“Your Highness, with all due respect, there are other trackers that may be better,” I tried again. “Simon Bohlin is—”

But Mina cut me off. “If they’re better, then we need them here, protecting us.”

“The Queen has spoken,” King Evert decreed. “Now I suggest you pack your things and get on your way as soon as you can. They are expecting you in Storvatten by tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” I bowed before him and the Queen. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

THIRTY

shamed

I’d offered to drive, but Ridley had insisted he could do it. That was the last time we’d spoken to each other, and that had been over ten hours ago. We’d stopped for gas, bathroom breaks, and cheap gas station food, and we had managed to do it all without exchanging a word.

Our conversation before we left had been quick and to the point. My dad had been there—either fortunately or unfortunately, I wasn’t sure which—and he’d relayed the parameters of the mission to Ridley, so there had been little need for us to speak.

Ridley occasionally hummed along to whatever song was playing on the stereo, but that was it. I stared out the passenger window, watching the barren landscape change from snow-covered plains and lakes to green tree-covered forests the farther south we went.

“It’s getting dark,” I said finally and turned to look at him.

Ridley’s hand tightened on the steering wheel, and he kept his eyes locked on the empty stretch of highway before us. “So it is.”

“We can switch. I can drive through the night,” I offered.

“No need.” He tilted his head, cracking his neck. “You haven’t slept this whole time, so it doesn’t matter if I drive or not. We’ll be in the same boat.”

“Do you want to stop for the night?” I asked, even though I thought I already knew the answer.

“We’re expected in the morning. We don’t have time to stop.”

I sighed, and then gave up on talking. I slumped lower in my seat and pulled my knees up, resting my bare feet against the dashboard. But now the silence somehow felt even more unbearable, so I looked over at him.

“I’m sorry.”

His jaw tensed, and he waited a beat before asking, “For what?”

“Whatever it is that has you so pissed off at me,” I said, because I really didn’t know why he was mad. Something to do with us kissing, obviously, but I didn’t know what, exactly.

“I’m not mad at you,” Ridley said, but he sounded exasperated. “I just…” His shoulders sagged, and his hand loosened on the steering wheel. “I don’t know what to say to you.”

“Things are … awkward,” I agreed. “But maybe if we talk, it’ll be less awkward.”

“All right.” He rubbed the back of his head and took a deep breath. “That kiss last night was a mistake.”

I knew it was. Deep down, I knew it was a mistake. But still, after hearing him say it, my heart felt like it had been torn in half. The pain in my chest was so great, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to speak. But I did, and I did it while keeping my voice and my expression blank.

“It was,” I said, sounding astonishingly normal, and I pushed the heartache down.