It was the third day spent waiting for Killian to get everything laid out properly and Mad was restless. In light of his new decision, Mad just wanted to get it over with.

He wasn't the only one feeling this way though. The delay drove Killian absolutely nuts and he, in turn, drove Alice crazy which could be entertaining depending on how Mad was feeling at any given hour.

The two had been spending increasing amounts of time together and Mad half expected an engagement announcement at any time. Though, Mad had noticed this from a gradual distance as he slowly drew away from the others.

Curiously, the only one he couldn't seem to shake was Adira. The girl had developed a peculiar fascination with Mad and a subsequent attachment. Twice in the last week Mad had woken up to find Adira curled up next to him, sleeping soundly in the crook of his arm.

Not that Mad minded. He was oddly enchanted with this girl, often finding her entertaining and whip smart. Since she was a Jack, she had a natural mind for strategy and Mad found it hilarious to talk tactics with her, if only because she was rather brilliant for being only ten.

Mostly though, Mad spent his waking time wandering either the camp or the nearby desert, thinking.

He generally thought of Tamsus. Mad tried to think through every possible encounter between the two of them and then tried to think of a scenario that ended with Mad being the one to walk away.

What it really boiled down to was luck.

Mad hated that, but he knew that life and death were separated by the thinnest possible line of chance.

His own mortality didn't disturb him. It never had. If anything, Mad was surprised he'd managed to make it this far.

Mad sometimes, though it was rare, thought of the people he'd lost and every now and then would think of those he'd gained. Cheshire. Alice. Killian.

Mad was willing to die for them if that's what it took.

That's how it had always been though. Mad had always been willing to throw himself on the sword for a worthy cause.

That willingness had been the driving force behind Mad lying about his age at the recruitment office and why he had always volunteered for dangerous missions. Mad didn't think it was anything as grand as heroism. It was just how it was. If something needed doing, then he would be the one to see it done.

Now Mad was there again and that reckless, wild thing inside of him was telling Mad that this was right. That his path had always been leading to this and it was his fate.

Mad smiled, the expression self-mocking. Fate. Was there even such a thing?

 With that thought he wandered back to their tent and was a little surprised to find Killian waiting for him, his face drawn and angry.

Mad sighed and asked, "Who is it now? Diamonds or Clubs?"

"Were you going to tell us, or just slip away at a convenient moment?" Killian hissed and Mad paused, taken aback and momentarily bewildered.

His confusion was abated when Dinah stepped out from behind Killian, ears lowered flat against her silky hair and her cheeks slightly flushed.

Mad snorted making Dinah's white ears twitch and she growled, "You said I couldn't tell Alice."

Mad couldn't help but laugh. "Clever cat. Nice little loophole you found there. But it doesn't change anything if that was what you were hoping to accomplish."

"You don't have to go after him by yourself Mad," Killian started, but there was something in his voice that said he already knew that was wrong.

Mad shook his head. "No. I do. I've let Tamsus get away with doing the wrong thing for too long. It's time I saw this thing to the end."

Dinah surprised him then by letting out a soft sob before throwing herself into him, pressing her face into his chest. Still crying she said, "You are the most infuriating man I've ever met!"

Shoving away from him and sniffling, Dinah said, "Go! Go be a stupid hero. But Alice is going to be very angry with you when you come back!"

Then before Mad could say anything, Dinah ran away from them, leaving Mad alone with Killian.

"I'm not leaving just yet," Mad muttered, staring after her into the dark, tracking the shine of starlight off her white hair until she disappeared among the tents.

"She's right you know." Killian said, obviously not hearing Mad. "Alice will be furious."

"Do you love her?" Mad asked abruptly, making Killian's eyes go wide, a slight flush burning on his cheeks.

But he didn't hesitate when he said, "Yes."

"Good." Mad nodded, then hardening his heart, said, "I'm going after Tamsus, Killian. There is a very slim chance that I'm coming back. She's your responsibility now."

Killian opened his mouth to argue, dark eyes snapping, his previous flush paling in fury, but Mad pressed on ruthlessly. "I know she's going to be angry, but that's not going to be my problem. What I will tell you is that in no uncertain terms are you going to let her do anything reckless or stupid when I do leave."

Mad grimaced. "Same goes for you. If I'm not back, I'm dead. And maybe Tamsus isn't. If I don't get him, he will come after her. Whether or not the Queen is dead, he will come for Alice. It'll be up to you then. Can I count on you Killian?"

"To protect Alice?" Killian asked stiffly. "Always."

Mad nodded and started to thank him, but Killian shook his head violently. "Don't. Do not thank me Mad."

Mad smiled and placed a hand on Killian's shoulder. He looked up at Mad, angry at and saddened by the fact that he couldn't do anything to stop this. Mad could see this in the thin line of Killian's mouth and tightening of his eyes.

"You're going to be a good king, Killian. You are." Mad paused, sighing. "But I need to do this and the hardest lesson of leadership is knowing when to step back."

Mad squeezed Killian's shoulder lightly. "This is my fight Killian. Mine and no one else's. I'm not asking your permission. I'm going one way or the other, but I'd prefer if you were on board here. This will be easier if I know that you'll be there for Alice."

Killian stood silently for a moment before nodding and Mad sighed in relief. He hadn't realized how worried he'd been until now. Knowing that Killian would be with Alice seemed to take a weight away from him.

Killian shook his head and said, "I don't like this Mad. Not one bit."

Mad smiled grimly and, clapping Killian on the shoulder, said, "I wasn't asking if you did."

Killian managed a wry smile though it was weak and said, "You know something? Dinah was right. You are the most infuriating man I've ever met."

Mad smirked and said, "Oh, what? And you're so easy to get along with?"

Mad turned slightly to go inside and said, "I'll go with you across the desert. When we get to the Dark Forest, I'm leaving. I had no intentions of sneaking off. I just didn't want you or Alice or anyone else worrying unnecessarily over my decision."

Killian nodded, his eyes trained on the ground.

Mad stifled a yawn. "I know that Alice wants to go after Maris, but don't. Not just yet. The Queen is your first priority and he's a distraction at the best or a trap at the worst. What he is not, is in the Dark Forest. If he really is a prisoner, he'll be at Heart Castle."

"And what if he's a traitor?" Killian asked quietly, finally looking up at Mad.

"Then he won't be in need of a rescue now will he?" Mad said, knowing perfectly well how cold that sounded. Especially considering the fact that Maris had been a good friend to Mad for over five years now.

Killian didn't react to Mad's callousness though. All he said was, "How are you going to beat an Ace Mad? More specifically, how are you going to beat this Ace? Tamsus has dropped more bodies than his last three predecessors combined."

Mad snorted. "By using his fundamentally selfish, suspicious nature against him. He'll expect me to go after Maris. So I'll do the unexpected and do just that."

Killian frowned. "You've lost me."

"Like I said, Tamsus is extremely selfish by nature. Just because he'll expect me to go after Maris in the Dark Forest, doesn't mean he'll understand it. Tam would think it was risky to walk into what is so obviously a trap. And not the fun kind of risky." Mad chuckled. "It is risky. But it'll catch him by surprise and throw him off balance. Then I can turn the tables on him."

Killian rubbed at his temple, squeezing his eyes shut. "I thought you said Maris was at Heart Castle?"

Mad shrugged. "Yes. But Tamsus doesn't know that I know this. I know exactly where in the Dark Forest Tamsus is going to be. It's an old playground of ours."

"You know it's a little terrifying how easily you read him. You know that don't you?" Killian shook his head when Mad nodded, then asked, "But you're certain of all this?"

Mad laughed outright. "The only thing I've ever been certain of is that nothing is ever certain. And especially not when it comes to Tamsus. But that's about all I've got to go on. Like I said, the Dark Forest will be his preferred playground, but I know that forest just as well, if not better than Tamsus does. So that's where I'll leave you. You and Alice will circle the forest with Chesh and Dinah."

"You're not taking Cheshire with you?" Killian's mouth twisted when he answered his own question, voice bitter. "Of course you're not. This is your fight."

"Now you're catching on kid," Mad turned back to the tent. Before going in though, he said, "Now it's my turn to ask you to keep something to yourself."

Killian nodded, then asked, "What about Rakta?"

Mad stopped one last time and shrugged. "What about him?"

Killian gave an irritated huff and growled, "You have barely half a plan to take care of Tamsus. But what about Rakta. How are you going to handle him?"

Mad shook his head, a smile tugging at his mouth again. "If Rakta decides to throw his hat into the ring, there's nothing I can really do to stop that. But I very much doubt he'll be a problem."

"Why do you think that?" Killian asked, incredulous.

Mad laughed and said, "Haven't you been listening. This is Tamsus' game. His and mine. Why would he let Rakta interfere with his fun?"

Killian ran a hand through his hair and said, "And you're sure of this?"

There was something in his voice that questioned Mad's certainty. Or perhaps it questioned his sanity. Mad supposed those two things could be one in the same.

Mad shrugged again. "As sure as I can be. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that I have to do something about Tamsus."

Mad looked up just in time to see a shooting star carve a fiery path across the night sky. He waited until it disappeared beyond the skyline, falling to the earth. "Goodnight Killian."

What Mad really meant was goodbye.