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chocolate shavings to put on top. Tears glisten in my eyes when I think of all the ways he looks after me. “Thank you, Haydn. And not only for this,” I say, accepting the mug. “Thank you for everything you do for me.”
    A faint blush blooms in his cheeks. “It’s my job.” He fidgets with the collar of his shirt, clearly embarrassed.
    “Nuh-uh.” I shake my head as we both plop down on the couch. “You go above and beyond: You are freaking amazing at looking after others. I’m sorry if I snap at you sometimes. It’s still a lot for me to deal with. I’ve never had anyone take care of me before.”
    “You deserve to be treated like a princess.” He says this so sincerely that I very nearly believe him. Instead, I roll my eyes, and he laughs.
    “Let’s not go there. Not after the day I’ve had,” I plead. “Besides, I have something to ask you.” The mood turns solemn. “I need to go and see my sister tomorrow. Please . I need to ensure she’s okay. I haven’t been able to contact her these last couple of weeks, and now I’m terrified that I know why.” A messy ball of emotion travels up my throat, threatening to choke me. Tears prick the edges of my eyes.
    Haydn takes my hand. “Okay. We can go tomorrow. But I think we should keep this between us.”
    “Sure. Thank you.” I fling myself at him, hugging him tight. “I miss my sister so much. It feels like I’ve haven’t seen her in years.”
    “I know the feeling.” Silence engulfs him.
    “How long has it been since you’ve seen your family?” I ease out of our embrace.
    “Eleven years, three months, and four days.”
    I’d been expecting him to say nine or ten months or whatever amount of time he’s been away on Earth. Not eleven years. “Oh my God. That’s awful. How come?”
    “I told you I made my choice. To serve my crown prince.” A muscle pops in his jaw.
    “I don’t understand.” I frown. “What does that have to do with your family?”
    “Once the decision is made, the crown prince is my entire life. My only family. Nothing or no one is allowed to interfere with my duty to protect him.”
    I recall a previous conversation. “Is that the only reason why you were exempt from choosing a preferred earthen?”
    “Yes.” He looks pensive. “The administration like the fact that the bodyguard corps have no conscience. It’s act first and think later. No bodyguard stops to question any required action. The only goal is to protect the mark at all costs. We all have blood on our hands.” He flips his hands over, staring at invisible horrors. “Imagine if we had a conscience? How many bodyguards would be loath to kill? How many would stop and consider all the options, and how risky would that be?” A look of supreme sadness washes over his face. “When I made that decision, I thought I fully understood all the implications. That I’d come to terms with my family situation …” He trails off, unable or unwilling to add anything further.
    I cover my mouth and nose with my hands in a feeble attempt to mask my horror. “So you won’t ever see your family again?”
    He closes his eyes and shakes his head. I reach out and hug him again, and this time his arms go around my waist as he holds me sternly against his chest. While there’s little love between my family and me, it doesn’t mean I can’t empathize. If I had to face the prospect of never seeing my sister Ella again, I don’t know how I’d cope. She has been my only center of gravity these last seventeen years.
    I look up at him. “I can’t believe they let you make a decision like that when you were seven .”
    “Remember we develop differently than humans. It was the equivalent of being fourteen or fifteen in human terms. It was old enough to know.”
    He looks so sad and my heart bleeds for him. “Do you regret it?”
    Mournful eyes penetrate mine. “I didn’t used to.”
    His proclamation hangs ominously in the air. “But you do now?”
    Slouching