I stepped out of Ember's bathroom, confused by what I was wearing.

"Is this right?" I asked as I stepped into Ember's line of sight. There was nothing particularly shocking about the dress—it was a standard ball gown. However, the color threw me off. "It's Oxblood."

Ember bounced up and ran his eyes over me. He slipped his hand into mine and lifted it, gesturing for me to twirl for him. I slowly twirled around, careful that I didn't trip over my feet. He nodded. "Yes. After the incident with the southerners, I think it would be best that no one knew you were a Slate. A stunning Oxblood dress will distract everyone enough."

"Why do we care?" I asked. "No southerners will be there."

I saw a sliver of anxiety cross his face. "Politics are a strange game," he started.

"Are you saying southerners will be at Ukina's wedding?" I burst out, shocked. Ember nodded lowly. "Didn't they just kill a bunch of people and declare war on us?"

"Not technically. They will, shortly. However, as of now, we are still technically on good terms." I was shocked.

"Can't Ukina uninvite them?" my heart was pounding as I thought about the possibility that Vincent would be there.

"Ukina was the one to invite them," he noted shortly. "She is a politician through and through. Becker tried to dissuade her, but she was set."

"Your sister is insane," I realized.

"Ruthless," Ember corrected. "Far too sane for her own good, I think. The southerners' presence is part of what informed my parents' decision to remain in the field." I nodded, distractedly. What would Vincent do if he were there? He knew I was a Slate. Would he try to grab me? Surely, I would be safe with Ember and the northern kingdom behind me. Right?

My consolation didn't stop anxiety swirling in my stomach. I felt like I was going to vomit. Instead, I took a deep breath and reached up to touch my hair. It was in a simple braid. Would that be sufficient for the wedding?

Ember noticed my glanced and gave me a reassuring smile. "A servant is coming in. He'll attend to your hair soon. He normally does Romina's, so you will be in good hands."

I nodded. "What are you going to wear?"

"Dress uniform," he said shortly. "Soldiers don't have much in the way of fancy clothing," he mused, glancing at me. He grabbed a pile of clothes on his bed and exited to change.

I sat down on the bed and closed my eyes. What was going to happen after the wedding? Would we go back out to the field? I knew Ember wasn't keen on the idea, but I helped keep him alive—even with Jack and Sam returned, he would need another trusted healer.

"M'lady?" a voice called into the room.

"Uh. Come in," I called awkwardly. It wasn't my room, so it felt strange giving permission. A servant stepped in with an array of ribbons and combs on a platter.

He smiled and pulled the chair from Ember's desk. "Please," he gestured. I got up and sat down in the chair, feeling more than a little uncomfortable. He removed the ribbon holding my braid and began combing through my hair. I winced as he hit a knot. "Apologies," he noted politely.

"You're okay," I said softly. "Sorry—I would have combed it better if I knew someone else was going to have to tame it today."

"Well," he noted from behind me. "Normally I am taming Romina's hair, so this is a welcomed change," he mused. "I see Ember has laid his claim on you."

"What?" I spluttered. Ember? I glanced to look behind me, but a sharp tug on my hair made me look forward again. "What do you mean?"

"Apologies. I did not realize it was such a sensitive topic," he said softly. "The Oxblood dress is fitting for you."

Oh. He thought the dress was Ember telling all the guys to keep their hands off. He didn't know it was to take them off my scent as a Slate. I sat silently as the servant pulled my hair and used several ribbons and pins to hold it in some elaborate braid. When he finished, he set his hands gently on my shoulders and asked me to stand.

I did so and he smiled. "Beautiful," he noted. "I will take my leave." He whirled off and left me standing there. "M'lord," he nodded.

Then, I saw Ember standing in the corner of the room, leaning against the wall.

"Wait," Ember said to the servant. He lifted the pink ribbon and handed it to the servant. He took it and returned to me, gesturing for me to sit again. I complied.

"How long were you standing there?" I asked as Romina's hairdresser began weaving our ribbon into my hair.

"Few minutes," he said, smiling. He got up from the wall and walked up to me. I reached out for his hand and healed his chest. His eyes went to the ground and then danced to look at mine. My stomach twisted, but it wasn't quite anxiety. We stayed in that position until the hairdresser had woven the pink ribbon into my hair and left, satisfied.

"You look stunning," he noted softly.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "You look—pretty."

He chuckled. "Pretty?"

I nodded. "You will be the prettiest one there," I continued. "Everyone will be jealous."

He locked eyes with me again and traced the pink ribbon in my hair "They will be jealous of me," he agreed. "But not because I am pretty."

My face flushed. I looked down at the dress. "Why did you choose Oxblood? And not Sage?" I asked.

He bit his lip, shifting on his feet. Finally, he sighed. "Because I want you to be mine as long as I can."

I took a step back in shock, an unexpectedly warm feeling washing over my body. "Your...healer?"

Ember reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling it into his own. "Naomi. If I didn't have this magestone in my chest, I would have asked you to be mine from the moment I saw you." He tilted his head and revised. "The moment I saw you awake and coherent."

"I was pretty messed up the first time you saw me," I agreed.

He chuckled. "Yes. You were. But you were messed up because you were willing to give up your life for your friends. It's so easy for me to look at you and just see a beautiful Slate. A powerful one, too." He gently took my other hand. "And then I remember how frail we are. How—as much as I know you want to fight for those you love—you will always be a protector. And I, as much as I want to protect what I love—I will always be a fighter. With a very short expiration date," he noted.

I opened my mouth to give him some solace, but I couldn't. Ember lifted my hands so they were set on his shoulders.

"Naomi—I swore an oath to keep you safe. The more we are together, the more I realize that I can't do that. I can't be the one to stand by your side and swear to keep you from danger. I just want you to know that... if I had the choice, if I didn't have this horrible condition, I would have chosen you."

Tears began filling my eyes as Ember released my hands. He slid his own onto my hips and gently pulled me closer, as if waiting for me to tell him to stop. I didn't.

Instead, I let him pull me closer until our lips were touching. Then, we were kissing.

He held me tightly against him as if he were afraid that he would never touch me again. I reached up to cup the back of his head, drinking deeply. We broke off briefly before he dove back in, spinning slightly and moving me until my back was against the wall. His lips landed on my cheek before trailing down my neck, making my body tingle.

I moved to grip his hair and felt his beard tickle the top of my chest. Elation filled my body and Ember's head moved back up. He was breathing hard. His grip on my hips tightened possessively as if he were scared to let go. My stomach was fluttering. His lips trailed back up my neck and he paused. After a few seconds, he nudged my head to rest on his shoulder.

My body was yearning for more, but eventually Ember stepped back.

His face was flushed. "Naomi," he finally said. "If we were in a different position, I would have chosen you. But I can't. You deserve better. Which is why after I go back to the field, you will be staying back."

"What?" I asked. My brain was swimming from what we just did and with trying to understand what he was saying. "Ember...I-I want to be with you."

He lifted a hand. "I know. Naomi, I want you there with me so badly. But I swore an oath to Romina to keep you safe. Even if you don't see it, I can. Being with me is the opposite of what you need. What Romina needs," he said heavily. He took a deep breath. "When Jack and Sam arrive, you will be officially released from your service."

My jaw dropped. "Ember?" A heavy weight felt like it had been dumped on my chest. It was hard to breathe.

He lifted a hand again. "Naomi. When I saw you in that field...when I could do nothing about it." He shook his head. "I can't do that again. I won't," he said decisively. "One last assignment. Then you can keep the ribbon."