Free Warrior Prince by Emma Raveling Page B

choice would always be hers.
    But whatever she decided, we were partners, both in governance and in life.
    I needed to tell her that.
    Pink and orange dawn stretched across the pristine sky. Stillness permeated the campus this early in the morning.
    I entered the ondine dorm lobby.
    "Your Highness." Ewan hurried down the hall to greet me. "You just missed her."
    It took a few seconds to process what he said. "What?"
    "Did you come to see Kendra?"
    I nodded slowly.
    Relief flashed across his face. "That's what I thought. She left about half an hour ago with Julian."
    "Where?"
    "New York," Ewan said cheerfully. "Governor made arrangements for LeVeq to accompany her. Christophe has taken over as Head Chevalier…"
    He continued but I stopped listening.
    She'd made the difficult choice, the one we both knew was right.
    But it didn't stop the world from spinning. Or the pain from spreading.
    It didn't stop the overwhelming physical urge to find them and tear Julian away from her.
    "Your Highness?"
    Reality slammed back into place. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
    "Is she really going to be the next Governor?"
    The irony was the natural symmetry of it.
    The selkie warrior who became prince. The ondine warrior who would become Governor.
    Because we'd both chosen duty above all else.
    Including ourselves.
    "Yes."

SEVENTEEN

    He wasn't in his office.
    I walked deeper into the Justice Department, checking every room. Chevaliers greeted me, their tired expressions indicating how chaotic things had become.
    Christophe, temporary Head Chevalier, wasn't an effective leader. Used to following orders rather than giving them, he struggled to manage Haverleau's several hundred chevaliers.
    Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do. Gabe was still at the hospital, spending every day by Marcella's side.
    And the person who knew the chevaliers best after him was in New York.
    I scowled.
    "Everything okay?" Augustin turned the corner.
    "Fine." I shoved the image of them together out of my head. "I was looking for you. Any news?"
    He gestured to a small, empty office on my left. Two desktop computers and four laptops covered three dingy looking desks. The trash can overflowed with chip bags and soda cans.
    As soon as I shut the door behind us, he explained.
    "They came across another group in the Village. It got a little messy."
    According to Julian's reports, he and Kendra were investigating a large cell in Manhattan with possible direct ties to the Shadow.
    "What do you mean? Is she safe?"
    "Details are a bit sketchy," he said wryly. "But my son insists everything is fine. Not a scratch on her."
    I tried not to think of why Julian would know anything about scratches on her body.
    "Any changes in their return?"
    He looked a bit surprised by the question. "No. They're still set to fly back next week."
    The door opened. Aubrey and Ian walked in and I suddenly realized where we were.
    "This is the Tech Department?"
    I rarely visited this part of the Justice building. Most of my time was spent between the Governing House, Council Chamber, and the Academy's Training Center.
    Ian grinned. "Less glamorous than you thought it'd be?"
    I decided it was more polite not to answer.
    He didn't take offense. "Jeeves, you were looking for me?"
    "Yes." Augustin grabbed Ian's arm and pulled him out the door. "I need you to take a look at my laptop. It's been driving me crazy…"
    "Aubrey, I needed to talk to you, too."
    "Oh." Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Sure."
    She sat at her desk, the empty sleeve of her right arm resting on the wood surface. The fitting for her new prosthetic was in a few days.
    Bright eyes, tinged with curiosity, met mine. Her experience over the past few months had strengthened her confidence.
    "How can I help, Your Highness?"
    I explained.
    I'd worked on the idea for several months, but it was the first time I discussed it aloud.
    "Can you and Ian take on the project?"
    "Sounds doable." Her expression turned thoughtful. "It's a