Morning descended on me like a bird of prey, swooping in swiftly and silently, seizing me firmly in its talons, letting me know in no uncertain terms that there was no escaping the possibility of a crushing day ahead. Depending on how quickly Elizabeth had been able to get a message to the Andekas and obtain their response, there was every chance that this could be the last morning I woke up with Tobi in my arms, and the thought wrenched my gut.

After the sun had set the previous evening, hand in hand and both too emotionally drained for conversation, Tobi and I had walked in silence back to the fort. Although the hollow ache in my stomach had barely dissipated, we'd both resolved things enough to have managed some of the leftover stew before retiring. I hadn't slept well last night, and if his constant fidgeting was anything to go by, neither had Tobi.

Despite our bleak predicament, we endeavoured to treat the day as we would any other, rising and engaging in the routine chores we'd become accustomed to.

It was mid-afternoon when the unmistakable orange flame of Elizabeth's high ponytail appeared in the distance, and my stomach turned as dread saturated my bones. I knew she was unlikely to be bringing good news.

Stepping towards Tobi, I took his hand in mine, my vision becoming blurry as I tried to focus on his cerulean eyes.

"This could be it," I acknowledged reluctantly. "I hope we see each other again, but in case we don't, know that I'll never stop loving you and I'll never stop fighting for the Katki."

I blinked, releasing the saltwater that had been building.

"Matty..." Tobi started to protest, his voice shaking.

But I didn't let him finish his sentence, instead pulling him into a firm hug.

"Don't do anything to jeopardise yourself or the others," I implored from over his shoulder, feeling him nod in response.

Upon hearing the rattle of Elizabeth's bike, I tore myself away from the platinum blond and prepared to ascertain my destiny.

"Did the Andekas get my message?" I asked the red-head, consternation seeping through my body.

"They did," Elizabeth confirmed solemnly. "They've given their word that Seren will be allowed to go free if you turn yourself over to them."

I saw Tobi shake his head and roll his eyes in frustration in my peripheral vision.

"I still don't trust them," he reminded me emphatically.

I understood his apprehension, but what more could they possibly want with my pregnant friend?

"My contact inside the walls believes they will release her," Elizabeth stated. "It seems the Andekas have already made plans to escort her off the Kinnisvara at the same time as you walk through the gate. I believe there's a high chance it may be a genuine offer. I suspect she'll be monitored constantly once she's out, but at least she'll be out."

Seren living under perpetual surveillance was better than her staying at the Kinnisvara. I felt my head start to nod as my stomach tightened further.

"Let's do it," I declared, sounding infinitely more confident than I felt.

"Are you sure?" Elizabeth probed. "You know this is what the Andekas want."

"I know," I confirmed. "But we're out of options."

With a heavy heart, I jogged over to the walls of the fort to collect my bike, riding it back to where I'd left my two companions. There was nothing left to say to Tobi that hadn't already been said, and I didn't want to drag this out any longer than necessary, since it wouldn't help either of us.

"I love you," I assured him, pecking him on the lips farewell. "Stay safe."

"I love you, too," he replied as a stray tear meandered down his cheek.

I tried to bury the desolation I felt deep inside me as I saw it glisten and hold onto the edge of his chin before tumbling to the ground. This was no doubt dismal for both of us, but I couldn't lose sight of the fact that my best friend's life could be in danger.

"I have to go," I whispered, memorising his features one last time.

"I know," he nodded, forcing a small smile.

Turning away from Tobi when it was so final was agonising on a level I'd never experienced before. Twinges of sorrow accompanied my every movement as my feet moved onto the pedals and I began cycling towards Rannik with Elizabeth. I could feel Tobi's lingering gaze as I departed, but I didn't dare look back, for fear that the emotional shield I'd created might be penetrated with just a glimpse of the grief in those azure eyes. For Seren's sake, I couldn't let that happen, so I pushed through the compulsion to even take one small glance over my shoulder as I pressed onwards over the coastal path to Elizabeth's house.

Once there, we were greeted by her husband, Simon, who joined us for the cycle through the country roads towards the Kinnisvara. Since we didn't have enough in the way of resources to take on the Andekas, the plan was for the two of them to stay hidden and observe the proceedings, ensuring Seren's safety as much as they could from afar.

Splitting up as we approached civilisation, the couple stayed a reasonable distance behind me as we traversed the busier streets.

It was evident that at least some of the civilians recognised me from my appearance on their screens, as several turned and whispered to those close by as I cycled past. But nobody tried to stop me, presumably as a combined result of my proximity to the home of the Andekas and the direction I was travelling in.

Arriving at the ostentatious oak gates of the Kinnisvara took less time than I imagined it would, and all too soon I was dismounting, abandoning my bike against the high outer wall, and walking the last few steps to face the sentries. Saul wasn't among them, but those safeguarding the estate appeared to recognise me immediately, assigning me an escort while the familiar rumble of the gate opening disturbed several sparrows that had been perched on the immaculate brickwork.

It seemed the Andekas had been anticipating my arrival. Seren's distinctive mass of black curls caught my eye on the path ahead, clearly identifiable even from a distance as she was chaperoned towards the exit, holding her bump.

Scanning my eyes over her as she passed, I was relieved to find that she appeared to be composed and unscathed. As our gazes briefly locked, she gave me a weak smile as we swapped places and she disappeared through the open gate into the streets.

Only then did I notice my surroundings. Despite having never been inside these walls before, I recognised some of the buildings and statues from Tobi's drawings. To my right, a stone fountain in the shape of a large fish sprayed water high into the air, the droplets creating miniature rainbows in the sunlight. On the opposite side, a path lined with shrubs led to a small cabin covered with ivy and clematis, which, in different circumstances I may have found pleasant to look at.

However, despite the picturesque gardens, it was difficult to contemplate my attractive environment too much when my heart had been left in a covert fort on top of a cliff near Rannik.

After traversing a lavish courtyard, I was ushered into a sandstone building embellished with tall columns. Our footsteps echoed as we crossed a magnificent hall adorned with vibrant paintings and lush drapes, to a door on the opposite side that led to a downward spiralling staircase. While I wasn't clumsy, I wasn't exactly petite or graceful either, so navigating the narrow steps took considerable concentration, especially with the additional challenge presented by the curved walls.

I was met at the bottom by the sight of a wide corridor with several sturdy doors on either side. As I was ushered along the walkway, I surmised that we were now likely to be directly underneath the main hall.

The fourth door on the left-hand side was unlocked and opened by one of my captors, who indicated I should step inside. The dimly lit room was small and basic, containing a toilet and sink but no other furniture. The chemical smell that hung in the air as I entered told me it was likely to have been cleaned recently, and it certainly didn't look neglected. As I scanned the cell, a sentry shackled one of my ankles into a leg iron, the opposite end of which was secured to the wall with a chain long enough to allow me to reach the basic amenities but not the door. The guard then departed with the others, locking the door behind them.

Deserted and alone, I stood in my prison and hoped I'd done the right thing.

Then, with nothing to take my mind off them anymore, all the emotions I'd been pushing down started to surface, and I slumped to the floor.

My life was over.

There was no reason for the Andekas to let me go anywhere after the aggravation I'd caused them, and while I had no regrets about uncovering the truth and exposing them as much as I was able to, part of me also needed to mourn the life I'd lost. I was unlikely to ever see my friends or family again, or the Katki that I'd fallen in love with.

My heart broke silently, but to me it was the loudest sound in the whole world. I could sense it in every cell in my body as it crushed me from the inside. The memories that were etched into my bones were surfacing, taunting me already with the knowledge that that's all they were now. I wanted to touch them – to make them corporeal again – but that reality was out of reach forever.

Logically, I knew it was counterproductive to feel this way, but I didn't know how to make it stop.

Grief was leaking uncontrollably from every pore, and despite my best efforts to keep it contained, I felt like I might drown in it. It wasn't long before all my energy was taken up in fighting the urge to curl into a ball and let the pain and hurt consume me. But it seemed all my energy wasn't enough, and I wept regardless, sobbing until the scorching sting of tears in my eyes was beginning to compete with the burning in my abdomen.

Eventually, I cried myself out.

Breathing deeply, I tried to give myself something more positive to focus on, but being isolated in such a confined space made optimism a challenging concept.

My vain attempts to muster up some hope for myself resulted in only one encouraging thought – that there was unlikely to be anything the Andekas could do to me that would be worse than the weight of the grief I felt over my separation from everyone I loved, especially Tobi.