*Saoirse* My eyes darted around as I wandered the palace. I had just returned for the day and was getting ready for bed, but Rhys still hadn't come back to the room. He had been up late working on negotiations between the two realms, but it couldn't be sustainable for him to do multiple nights in a row like he had been. I decided to go and find him, hoping to make sure he ate dinner. I also went because I was certain we hadn't had more than a five-word conversation in days. I went to the throne room and was unsurprised to hear Rhys' voice mingling with Axureon's. From the sound of the conversation, they were just about through wrapping up their meeting. I wandered away from the door, not wanting to look like I was eavesdropping, and stood against a nearby pillar to wait for Rhys. It