"Chris?" Cassie spoke softly as she kneeled beside him. When she rubbed his hair from his forehead, his gaze began its search for her.

He gave her a dazed smile. It withered once he noticed a stranger with wings beside her. His body stiffened. He lifted his head and tried to get a hand and arm beneath his body weight.

"It's all right." With a touch to the side of his head, Cassie guided him back to a state of rest on the blanket. "He's my uncle . . . on my father's side," she added to offset the confusion and panic in his eyes. "And, fortunately, he's a medical doctor. He's here to help you."

Chris inclined his head for a better look. He concentrated on Leo's face for a few tense moments. When he closed his eyes, he nodded his assent and set his head back on the blanket.

His hand fumbled to find hers. Cassie ended his search, her hand squeezing his, while Leo gave him an injection. She would not let go, even once he drifted away from the consciousness it would take to notice.

Once Chris was deeply asleep, Leo disinfected the wound and began removing Chris's stitches with his expert hands and precise surgical instruments. After further snipping, cleaning, and draining, he threaded his needle and began reclosing the wound with the shiny white unicorn hair. Shimmering and rippling through the air as he worked, it looked both magical and weightless.

Cassie's eyes remained fixed on Chris's features—in sleep, so peaceful, innocent, and beautiful—but she was also aware that Leo was occasionally glancing up from his work to smile upon her attachment.

"He looks like his father. Does the resemblance transcend his appearance?"

Cassie's bandaged hand stroked his jaw line. "I never saw it that way. . . ."

She tilted her head, studying every curve and shadow of his face, and raked her fingers through his golden hair, tucking some of it behind his ear. It was longer than he used to keep it, and lighter too, and it had a slight wave to it. It suited him better that way, she believed.

"For the most part, Chris recognizes my strengths and has never dwelled upon my weaknesses. Scott and I, on the other hand . . . maybe it was because I failed to see Chris in him or he couldn't see past my outward resemblance to my mother. Or did he merely perceive me to be a source of conflict between two brothers? I don't know. The exact reason for our disinclination no longer matters. And if Scott MacRae is dead, then I shall not speak ill of him. He was a remarkable leader during a very difficult time and transition. For that, I am grateful."

"Many of us have a high regard for our princess's contributions as well. And for anyone who did not recognize your potential, perhaps it is because you have yet to reach it. You now have an opportunity to see more of the world, and discover for yourself what works and what doesn't. If you decide to return to Pyxis, I have no doubt you'll have strong allies at your side and a clever campaign to take back what is rightfully yours from your tyrant of a mother."

Cassie laughed and raised her eyes to the heavens she could not see. "It would take nothing short of a miracle to reclaim my birthright."

"You are among the most intelligent and gifted of all fantastical creatures. Anything is possible, my dear."

Leo spread a thick yellow ointment on Chris's newly stitched wound. His work was clean, professional, finished within minutes, and Chris didn't feel a thing. He covered the area with gauze and secured it with adhesive tape.

"When do you think he'll be on his feet again?" Cassie asked.

"That's really up to him. He's stronger than most. My guess is that on the morrow he'll be well enough for some light traveling."

Leo wrapped up his surgical instruments and added them back to his medical case. Before closing it up, he pulled out two vials.

They both stood.

He handed Cassie a dark brown vial of liquid. The blue label said "Poppy Tear Elixir" in neat handwriting. With it, he gave her a pipette and a suction bulb.

"This is for the pain," he explained. "Fill the pipette to the first line. Have him take it up to three times a day at fairy size for as long as the pain persists."

He handed her a second bottle—smaller but stouter than the first. The label was red this time.

"Pyreticus Potion is a fever reducer. Fill to the second line twice a day and give it to him until the fever subsides."

Next he pulled out a moderately sized jar labeled, "Microoganocide Liniment." It was more of a solid than a liquid. He opened it for her to see. "Change the dressings on his back twice a day and spread this on the wound liberally. Use it until the jar is empty." He handed her an accompanying bag of rolled bandages and a white spatula.

Cassie placed the medicine on the blanket next to Chris. She checked on him with a brief stroke of his forehead. He still felt feverish and did not stir at her touch.

She wished he was showing some sign of improvement. Her uncle was about to leave and would be taking his extra supplies and expertise with him. Trying to hide her concern, she stood back up to receive the rest of the instructions.

Leo handed her a jar with white pills inside. "These lozenges accompany the liniment. Both will fight his infection. Make sure he takes them all."

She nodded. "I will."

Leo gave her a slight but comforting smile. "Do you have any questions before I go?"

She shook her head. "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Since my wellbeing is bound to his, I owe you my life."

"I'm glad I had the opportunity to help. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness."

Together, they walked to the exit tunnel.

"Same to you," Cassie replied. "This is only the second time we've met, but I feel like I've known you my whole life. Do you think we'll ever meet again?"

"Hopefully within a few weeks, my wife will feel well enough to return to France. If you ever have the inclination to leave your island paradise, the Fairy Guardians of the Pont Des Fees will know me by the name of Dr. Leonel Leveque. They'll be able to help you find me. Do you know where that is?"

"The Bridge of Fairies. Yes. It's in the northeast of France, the forest near the human village of Remiremont."

"Very good. See? This is not a good-bye but rather a 'see you soon.'"

She gave him an embrace and waved solemnly as he turned into the passageway leading out.

"Cassiopeia."

She whirled toward Vela's call.

"How is Christopher faring? Do you think he'll be fit to leave soon?"

"My uncle said that by tomorrow—"

"Tomorrow? Today has just begun! We need to. . ."

"I know," Cassie blurted unintentionally. She collapsed into a seated position against the wall and covered her face with her hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice."

"I understand. If those are the doctor's orders, we'll have to wait."

Vela turned toward Orion and Carina and shook her head. They set their belongings back on the ground.

Angelica's appearance then changed everything. She came into the clearing with a travel sack over her shoulder and led her son, Victor, in by the hand.

"They're approaching," she muttered breathlessly. Everyone other than Chris, even Vela's children, gathered round. "I don't want to scare anyone needlessly. They might be conducting their preliminary sweeps. But if they suspect any of us are hiding here, they'll start the fires. Within minutes, our escape route may be exposed."

Carina was bobbing baby Lorna up and down in one arm. She paused when she glanced at Chris's motionless body. "We could try carrying him."

"They'd catch up with us too fast!" Vela shrieked.

Carina shrugged and resumed bouncing the baby.

Orion shouldered his sack again. "There's more than one way out of here, right Angelica?"

She nodded.

"We could leave a fake trail," he suggested. "That would give us more time to move Chris."

They all looked to Cassie. It was her decision to make.

Her eyes darted around as she weighed their options. They didn't have time to build something to carry him with. They would practically have to drag him! With a back injury and fresh stitches, this was a horrible idea. But they couldn't stay where they were either. It was never wise to assume their ignorance.

She buried her head in her hands once again.

"Cassiopeia!" Carina called out, her tone much brighter.

She looked up and this time saw Chris. He had wide, glossy eyes, like that of a sick child, but he was awake and standing. More importantly, he was walking toward them.

"Well? What are we waiting for?" Chris said when he joined their circle.

Cassie nudged her way past the others. She wanted to give Chris the embrace of a lifetime, but she didn't want to hurt him.

It was Chris who pulled her close with surprising strength. "You risked your life for me, again."

Cassie pressed her face against his chest and took a much-needed breath of him. "I'd do whatever it takes."

And then they united, everywhere and with almost every extremity, as if no one was watching.

Meanwhile, the others had packed away their things and were moving deeper into the caves with Angelica in the lead.

Vela was the only one hanging back. "I would recommend you save it for the wedding night. We have an army of thousands to elude."

Chris and Cassie accomplished some forward motion, but they couldn't deny themselves a few extra nips and touches. But, soon thereafter, they were linked by their hands only, and even that didn't last.

While Vela and Chris were having a good-natured staring standoff—in terms of strong will, perhaps they were evenly matched—Cassie quickly tidied up the area where Chris was resting and added the medicine to a safe compartment in Chris's pack.

Cassie slung his almost-heavier-than-her pack over her shoulder. Then, all at once, they turned to cast Pyxis a final glance. It was hollow, brisk, and bare. There appeared to be no evidence remaining.

Vela lit an extra lantern for Chris to carry and they moved on. They left the darkness behind them. 

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