Today, Annamarie and I didn't completely drain our magical resources. After all, we wanted to ensure that we would be powerful enough come tomorrow.

It was still too early for dinner after all the training, so Anna and I relaxed in the common room, reading side by side. It was the most relaxed I had been in days. For once, I didn't have to think about Jack, my missing sister, or the upcoming battle. I could just lose myself in a good book - like the old days.

I was so engrossed in my novel that I didn't even notice Melody until she had seated herself next to me. I jumped slightly, closing my book as my former handmaiden chuckled.

"Well, now that's a familiar sight. It's dinnertime," she told us dryly.

"I'm on it," Anna offered, leaping to her feet.

Melody turned her focus to me as the child hurried off. "Do you have a weapon and armor for tomorrow?" she asked.

"I have a sword and a few armor pieces, yes," I replied. I thought for a moment before taking a deep breath and asking a question that I had been struggling with for quite a while. "Melody...how do you kill someone?"

Melody shot me a surprised look. "Well," she said slowly, "you typically drive something sharp into their ribcage." She grinned wolfishly at me.

"You know what I mean," I retorted, rolling my eyes at the morbid joke. "How do you bring yourself to do it? How do you live with yourself afterward?"

Melody sighed, reaching over and grabbing my book. "It's not something you can learn about from one of these, I'll tell you that." Her joking expression traded places with a far more serious one. "When I first killed a man," she murmured, staring into memories I could not see, "I didn't sleep for days after."

"That's comforting," I muttered, rubbing my temples. If killing a stranger had done that to someone as tough as Melody, what would killing my own brother do to me?

"You don't understand," Melody said softly. "I was robbing a store when...it happened. This was before the Phoenix People - I was only a child. And I never intended to kill him. I shoved him out of my way as I was escaping. He fell...hit his head...didn't get back up again." Melody shook her head slightly as if shaking something off. She looked at me gravely. "There is a huge difference between accidentally killing an innocent man and willfully killing a dangerous person, Alexia. Hopefully, you will never have to experience both."

I nodded, processing her words. I tried to imagine the guilt of a child, thief or no, who had seen blood spilled by her hands.

Anna placed a plate carefully in front of me, breaking me out of my sobering thoughts. "Dinner!" she announced cheerily, oblivious to the dark mood that both Melody and I were in.

Theo and Griffin entered the room then, and Theo joined us while his beau grabbed them food. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned, as he glanced between Melody and me.

"Fine," Melody replied tightly. I nodded quickly.

Theo shrugged. I began to eat, every bite lifting my spirits.

We ate in silence except for the occasional comment about the food or tomorrow's preparations.

Finally, we had all finished our meals. Melody was the first to stand, stretching her arms above her head.

"Goodnight," she told us, pausing and taking a long look at each of us in turn. It took me a moment to realize what she was doing - memorizing our faces. After all, this could be the last time we were all together.

"Goodnight," we all muttered in return.

Theo and Griffin were the next to leave. As they departed, Griffin slung an arm around Theo's shoulders, pressing a kiss to his temple. I smiled at the sweet scene, glad that they could take solace in one another.

"Ready to sleep?" Anna asked me gently.

I wasn't - not really. After all, once I fell asleep, morning would arrive quickly, and with it, the final mission.

Tomorrow would be the day I either died or became a hero.

Tomorrow would be the day that came down to my life or Audric's.

And I was in no way prepared.

"Sure," I replied, and we left the common room.

*

That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind was plagued with worry. It all felt too real, especially with a sword and armor tucked beneath my bed.

For a crazy moment, I wished that I had never joined the Phoenix People, had continued to live my gentle, spoiled life. Then I realized that had I chosen that path, I would be dead right alongside my brother tomorrow. After all, what reason would they have to keep the Highborn princess alive?

I had faced death several times during my short stay with the rebels, but as it had turned out, this path had ultimately been the safer one.

What a world I lived in.

I shifted in bed for the thousandth time and Anna's voice drifted over to me, drowsy and irritable. "I'm casting a sleeping spell on you. Please, I'm begging you - don't fight it."

A heavy feeling settled over my limbs, and suddenly, I was so tired that it was physically painful to hold my eyes open. Gratefully, I succumbed to the magic and finally found slumber.

*

I awoke to Anna shaking my shoulder. She peered worriedly into my face. "Alexia," she whispered. "It's time."

I flew to my feet, starting for the door. "Wait!" Anna called after me. When I turned, I found her kneeling at my bed, reaching underneath for my armor and sword.

I thanked her as she helped me strap on the armor. Finally, I sheathed the sword at my waist.

"What of your armor?" I asked her.

"My father won't let me go into battle without it," she replied confidently. When I chuckled, she asked defensively, "What?"

"Most fathers wouldn't allow their daughters to go into battle at all," I pointed out.

Anna shrugged, also grinning. "Fair enough."

We hurried to Public Area One. A large crowd of people was already gathered there, chattering nervously. The woman who usually procured breakfast was nowhere to be seen, and my stomach growled in protest.

Anna and I pushed our way through the crowd until we found Griffin and Theo. They were pressed even closer together than necessary, gripping each other's hands tightly.

"What, no breakfast?" Griffin asked jokingly, but even his usually lighthearted tone was subdued.

Anna shrugged. "Surely they won't send us into battle on empty stomachs."

A sudden hush fell over the room. I glanced at the doorway expectantly. Sure enough, there stood the council.

A stepped forward. "Comrades," she called, her voice ringing powerful and certain. "Today, we embark upon the most vital quest that the Phoenix People have ever undertaken. Today, we overthrow the king. Today, the kingdom shall become ours!"

Cheers and whoops arose from the crowd. I clapped, stomach churning with nerves. Perhaps breakfast isn't the best idea, after all.

"Take the next few minutes to say farewell to those not in your group," A commanded, stepping back to rejoin the council.

Melody leaned forward and hugged Theo and Griffin tightly. "I have to find August," she said worriedly.

"See you on the other side," Griffin told her quietly. Theo nodded.

Melody disappeared into the crowd. I tried to imagine the terror of leaving a beau and remembered that Theo and Griffin would also be separating.

It reminded me too much of Moonhopper and my sister. I blinked back sudden tears, surprised at my sudden sympathy for the Outlander.

Anna threw herself into the arms of both men, squeezing her eyes shut. "Please be safe," she implored them.

"Of course," Theo replied comfortingly. Griffin just stroked the little girl's hair, a dark expression stealing across his features.

Finally, Anna released them and stepped back. I smiled awkwardly at them. "Well - "

"Oh, come here," Griffin ordered exasperatedly, pulling me into a hug. I smiled, closing my eyes and melting into the embrace as Theo embraced the both of us.

When we finally separated, all of our eyes were a bit misty. Griffin sniffed, wiping furiously at his eyes.

"Look how much you've changed," Theo said fondly.

I glanced down at myself. I was dressed in rumpled boy's clothing, complete with heavy boots laced tightly over my ankles. My hair was a tangled mess that I hadn't even thought about battling with yet, and my soft curves had hardened into lean muscle. It was a far cry from the posh princess I had once been.

"I suppose I have changed," I replied, grinning up at him.