"Atlas," I heard someone whisper from the small, grated window on the door to my cell. I couldn't see outside, and they only gave me one meal today, so I couldn't tell what time it was.

I threw the blanket off of me and swung my legs over the side of the cot to stand and walk over to greet whoever had visited me.

I had to stand on my toes to look out, but Alex had no issues reaching the window. He grabbed the bars with his hands and leaned forward, squinting at me in the dim light. After he hadn't showed up last night and this morning, I had worried he wouldn't be able to visit me at all. I felt like I had been just sitting here, decomposing in this cell, but seeing his face filled me with energy.

I tried to keep the thoughts at bay, but I couldn't help thinking that this would be the last time we would ever talk to each other like this. I wish I could hold him one more time.

"What time is it?" I asked, placing my hands on the bottom edge of the window to steady myself.

Alexandre gave me a sad smile. "I assumed you were used to meeting in the middle of the night by now," he joked lightly, ". . . It's around midnight."

It was already midnight of the second day? Time really did pass weirdly down here.

I had been given the white blouse and black pants I arrived at the castle in when I had woken up this (presumed) morning, but the only other interaction I had was when a guard opened up the door long enough to place a tray of food on the floor before locking me back up. I had slept most of the day, bored and trying to escape my thoughts, but it disoriented me.

"Um. . . how are you?" I asked, unsure of what else to say.

His eyebrows furrowed. "I'm fine, I'm just worried about you," he admitted, "Do you really not have any lights in there?"

"It's your castle," I pointed out sullenly. His forehead wrinkled with stress, so I quickly added, "I won't be in here much longer. It's alright."

The prince let out a long breath. "Everyone's pretty upset that I called off the Selection so quickly," he mentioned, "They're in a frenzy. This is probably the quietest place in the castle right now."

I was going to correct him by mentioning the roof, but then bit back my words. "Do you know what will happen tomorrow?" I asked simply.

His eyes drifted away from mine. "You'll be brought up to the throne room for the closing ceremony," Alex explained quietly, "To keep up appearances. Your maids will be down here in the morning and then you'll be escorted by guards. . . after that. . ." He ran a hand through his hair. As upset as I was, I found it incredibly charming.

"And. . . everyone else?" I asked cryptically, "Is everything. . . prepared?"

"I don't really have direct control over that," he answered, speaking on the external plans to storm all the state buildings, "Gavril says there are a lot of grumblings among the lower castes. The NSRF have been trying to distribute supplies and organize protests for tomorrow. So far, no one has gotten caught."

"That's a miracle," I muttered.

"Yeah. . ." he muttered, trailing off.

"How are you holding up?" I asked again, hoping for a more honest answer, "What are you feeling about tomorrow?"

Alexandre looked like he was going to quickly dismiss the question out of habit, but then he closed his mouth and sighed loudly through his nose. "I'm. . . scared," he admitted shakily, "I don't really know what I'm going to do – what I'm going to say to my father. I mean, Gavril's been running through scenarios with me, but he seems more confident than I am that everything will go according to plan."

"I'll be there," I promised, grabbing onto the bars under his hands, "If it all goes to hell, we'll figure it out together."

I saw the stress melt from his expression. "Right," the prince agreed, nodding, "Thanks, Atlas."

I reached through the bars, holding his cheek with my hand. He leaned his face into it, placing his hand on mine to hold it there. Closing his eyes, he muttered, "I can't believe it's almost over."

"It feels like it's been five years since this all started, not five months," I said lightly, giving him a small smile as he opened his eyes to look at me.

"What do you think you'll do?" he asked quietly, his eyes flitting around my face and struggling to meet mine, ". . . after the trial."

I was glad to hear he was agreeing with the idea to go to trial for my crimes as the first act of the new government. I wasn't confident they would just let me go free, but our last rooftop conversation had me thinking about what I would testify to. If I told the courts that Alex had nothing to do with the Northern Rebellion and that it was all my doing, he would be blameless. Because I would most likely be thrown in prison, he would get to start his reign cleanly.

I didn't want to tell him that. "Adelicia invited me to her join her court," I mentioned instead.

Alex seemed surprised. "She did?" he questioned, confusion crossing over his face, ". . . Are you going to. . . go?"

"Is there any reason for me to stay in the country?" I asked, accidently sounding too aggressive and wincing.

He ran his hand through his hair again. "I guess not. . ." the prince replied, "They're allied with us, I could come visit."

I thought of what Valeera had requested. "No," I snapped too quickly, making him startle.

"What do you mean?" he scrutinized, his eyebrows furrowing again.

"We. . . shouldn't have any contact," I told him stiltedly, unable to meet his eyes as I said it.

"Why. . ." he started, but then paused to sigh, "Not even international acquaintances?"

"You have to get over me," I breathed, lowering back onto my heels so I had the excuse not to look at him directly and hide in the dark.

His eyes flashed with indignation as he leaned forward, trying to see me better. "What, so are we just never going to talk again?!" he demanded, the hurt evident in the way his voice choked up.

"You have a kingdom to lead," I pointed out gently.

"To hell with the kingdom," he snapped, "I've given it enough."

"You'll have a wife."

It seemed like he had actually forgotten that fact. He opened his mouth a couple times, trying to find an argument and only getting frustrated when he couldn't find one. His jaw set tight and he pressed his lips together.

"I'm sorry," I told him, unsure of what else I could say. There wasn't any kind of comfort I could offer.

"It doesn't have to be this way," he breathed, his eyes growing misty.

I dug my nails into my palms, willing myself not to cry as well. "Alex, you can't back out now," I told the prince gravely.

"Yes, I can!" he insisted, pressing his face against the bars, "Until I say, 'I do,' I always have that option. . . We always have that option."

The hope he was suddenly giving me was like glass in my heart. "Stop."

"Atlas-"

"Alex! Don't do this to yourself!" I cried, taking a step back further into the dark.

"I'm not doing anything-"

"Don't do this to me!" I begged, wrapping my arms around myself.

He blinked rapidly as if I had shined a light in his eyes. The silence was deafening. "I didn't. . ." Alexandre started, lowering his gaze to the floor, "I'm sorry."

I felt tears pooling in my eyes as I looked at him. I loved him so much. I loved his foxy smile and the way his eyes lit up when he was excited about something. I loved the dates he gave me. I loved when we met in the dark, and I loved the butterflies I would feel seeing him in the sunlight.

Because of Prince Alexandre, I knew what real love felt like.

I rushed over and reached my hand through the bars, gripping his lapel in my fist. He met me at the gap as if he were planning the exact same thing in that moment. There wasn't room for anything fancy with the bars blocking our way, so the kiss was simple, but it held so much more than a single kiss within it.

I would miss the rush of all our memories flooding through me like they did when we kissed. They crowded out the grief I felt within me, and I was filled with a warmth I don't think I'd ever experience again. We didn't allow the heartache into that kiss; it was just Alex and I, one last time.

His sigh caressed my lips as we separated. "Goodbye, Atlas," he whispered.

"Goodbye, Alex."

A/N I did end up splitting the chapters, I didn't want this to be the start of the final.