Kiana didn't sleep. After her conversation with the king she had too much to do. She scouted out the path, made sure the wagon was in place, and found out everything she could about The Adalia.

Finally she stood in the garden, waiting for her princess.

Fiona seemed surprised to see her. "Kiana! I thought I'd be the first one...I have to get the plant for, well, for the poison."

She was so pained by the idea of drugging someone like her mother would and Kiana's tired heart flipped. This would be the only and last time, after this Fiona would be free.

"It's alright, I wanted to tell you that everything is going to be fine. This is going to work."

Fiona walked over and took Kiana's hands. "You're sure? It'll be dangerous and you won't be able to come back."

Kiana laughed. "What would I come back for?"

"You won't miss Zeke, or any family you have back in Duskar?"

Those blue eyes were filled with concern and Kiana reached, brushing a strand of her golden hair behind her ear. "Fiona, I don't have a family back in Duskar. You're all I need."

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It was more than she meant to say and she started to pull away, afraid her tired and bruised heart would make a fool of her.

Fiona pulled her forward, cupped her face, and kissed her.

Kiana gasped. For a moment, Fiona shifted like she'd pull away and Kiana rose her trembling hand, lacing them in Fiona's thick hair to keep them together. Her heart was ready to burst and her knees threatened to give under her.

When Fiona did finally pull back, Kiana was dazed, her brain almost not hearing when Fiona took her shoulders firmly and said, "We're getting out together, Kiana. We'll make it and I'll bring you home to where you'll have more family then you'll know what to do with. Alright?"

This was wrong, so very wrong, but Kiana heard her voice hum, "Mhm."

Fiona grinned at her. "I'm going to get going, I don't have a lot of time. But I'll meet you at the wagon, I promise."

She dashed off, leaving Kiana swaying on the grass.

As she disappeared between the dark leaves, Kiana snapped to like she'd been slapped. Hands still trembling, she touched her lips. She desperately squelched the butterflies and sparks that flew about her brain.

This was bad. This was a disaster.

This was going to hurt her, that fact had been cutting into Kiana for days and now it was so much worse. Kiana had been ready for the pain, the rejection...

She hadn't been ready for this.

What had she done?