362 We Need To Talk 2

Inside the room, a comfortable silence developed between the two. Both were preoccupied with a slew of problemd running through their mind.

"Mika…" Ailwin looked at the young girl lean against the glass plane.

When Ailwin called her name, Mika turned around to see him staring back at her.

"Things are going to get difficult from now on."

"En…" She knew this more than he did.

"Right now, the King probably thinks we died in that city. However, once he finds out that this isn't true, I don't know what he might do…"

"I know." She nodded her head.

"...your identity... I have wronged you. My soldiers are already making guesses towards your relationship with me, and it won't be long for the King does the same…" Ailwin put down his ustensils hold out his hand to her.

"Ailwin, I figured as much already-" She said coming to his side and placing her hand in his.

"Let me finish,"He interrupted, "...once the King has his sights on you, he'll have his sights on the Amara clan too." Ailwin wanted to stress the severity of the situation not only they are in but also everyone around them too.

"That's why I want to tell you that we can call off the engagement right here, right now..."

"You want to end the engagement to me?" Mika asked, feeling pain at the thought of ending their relationship.

"No one knows about us yet, except for our close friends...I don't want to drag you into my mess with my family. You have a lot more to lose than I do, if..."

*Sigh* "...Okay, I've made up my mind." Mika stopped Ailwin from saying anything further.

"All right, then I pick a location to let you and your friends off-" Ailwin let go of her hand and left his seat, surprised that he was disappointed in her decision.

"No, I have decided to trust you."Mika spoke over him, grabbing his hand again.

She knew Ailwin wouldn't understand what she was saying, but this was a big leap that she was taking. In all honestly, she wanted to talk with her mother first before explaining what her words meant.

"Ailwin, pushing me away from the conflict with your family, won't keep me from the King's eyes." Mika sat back down in her empty seat, " I haven't been completely honest with you… but not without good reason. However, seeing the situation that we are currently in…"

"What haven't you told me?" Ailwin started to know what secrets Mika was keeping from him. After the amount of horriable hidden information he found on this mission to southwest, he didn't very much care for Mika hiding so,ething from him.

"I need to get in contact with someone first."

"Who?"

"My mother."

Hycis and Celaena sat in the cafe amongst the Shadow Wolves soldiers eating when Nylian came in rushing towards their table.

"What happened to you?" Hycis asked, noticing Nylian was on edge.

"I-...nothing, forget it." Celaena and Hycis looked at each other, then decided to drop it.

Seeing the vast array of food on the table in front of them, Nylian could help but to each out for a piece.

*Pah!*

Celaena quick reflexes slapped his hand away from her plates.

"Ow! Wha- I can't have one!?"

Celaena didn't bother to respond to him, she just pointed to the serving station then continued to eat.

"Yea...you should just get your own, she'll never let you have any. No matter how many times you ask…" Hycis told him.

Why did it sound like he is giving me forewarning...? Nylian looked at Hycis face then to the two empty plates to the side of him and finally to Hycis' hand, where he could see a distinct red mark on the back of it.

Nylian felt his role as their senior was constantly being belittle. Getting up, he walked to the serving station.

Standing in line, Nylian could overhear to soldiers in front of him talking.

"Did you hear?...Commander carried a young girl aboard!"

"What!? I didn't hear about this... When did this happen?"

"Right before takeoff…"

"Maybe she was hurt…"

"Then why did he carry her straight to his room!"

"For real!"

"Uh-huh...most of the ship already knows this. I think our Commander has finally grown up!"

"Shhh! Quiet, what if the Commander or one of the other commanding officers hear you talking about the Prince like this."

"Oh, come on...everyone is talking about it-"

The soldier leading the conversation had turned around to see Ailwin walking through the cafeteria doors, adruptly stopping the words out of his mouth.

Everyone in the cafeteria stood up straight and saluted towards their Commander.

"Go on about what you were doing…" Ailwin dismissed the men when he spotted the people he was looking for.

Arriving at the table where Hycis and Celaena was sitting, Ailwin said three words.

"Come with me." The solemness in his voice left no room for disagreement.

Without staying even two minutes at their table, he turned back around and headed towards the exit.

Celaena gobbled up as much as she could from off her plates before leaving the table with Hycis.

Nylian saw that he was the only one left out, he jumping off the line and ran to catch up with the two.

"What is going on?" Nylian asked Hycis.

"I don't know, he just came in and said to follow him."

Were they under attack...but then why aren't the alarms going off? Choosing to add himself to the group, Nylian followed along.

Upon entering into Ailwin's office, they saw Braeden, Kaze and Mika were already inside.

Braeden was moved visa hover chair from the sick bay to the office. While Mika and Kaze sat at a table waiting for them.

"Hmm...looks like everyone is here. Now, what did you gather everyone here for, Ailwin?" Braeden asked.

Several eyes zoom towards Ailwin, who was moving to sit behind his desk.

"We need to talk…"