A/N: Here I am, finally back again. I didn't get as much writing done as I had hoped but still I wrote a decent amount. This chapter here is accompanied by the long promised SuFin story (named Letter), and let me just say this: Be glad I didn't leave you with this chapter for three weeks :O

I'm going to upload the side story now, yay.

The next week passed in a blur. Time had always seemed to be so slow for me but now suddenly time flew. I had a deadline now and the more days passed the more I got the feeling that I wouldn't make it in time. Eduard had gotten me all the information he could offer, after a nerve wracking conversation in which neither trusted the other and we just kept staring at each other until Mathias finally snapped and forced us to get some talking done.

But that was only one thing.

I still needed a plan, that went further than, 'going there and just see what happens'. Not to mention that Matthew had sent an agent to keep tabs on me because naturally they had learned of my little date with Yao and now they wanted to make sure that I didn't get any ideas. I even had to play host for Arthur and his dragon Francis once, even though the original plan had been for us not to communicate. I had to make up a plan that I could present to him so that he wouldn't get suspicious.

And the worst part was maybe that neither Arthur nor the other agent were intimidating or unfriendly. I could have lived with that because it would have made it so much easier. It was easy to betray people I didn't like, because if they were acting the bad part it wouldn't feel like betrayal. But Arthur was polite and amiable and Francis was flirting with me, playfully winking much to Mathias' chagrin.

It just felt so nice, and that made things so much harder because I started doubting that maybe Yao was the bad guy. But then I went to a secret meeting with the Empire to update him on the plan, and then I was faced again with the look of weariness on his face that was so hard to ignore and there really no reason to disbelief him, because no one could fake that look.

There were nights when I was close to ripping my pillow into shreds because I just wanted it to stop.

I probably would have just left if it hadn't been for Tino, but I didn't want to leave him in the lion's den and so I stayed. Mathias helped me as best as he could but he couldn't sniff out lies and so he was as lost as me.

I had talked to Tino but the conversation hadn't gone at planned. My original plan had been to convince Tino to go home to his family's lands and sit the whole thing out there, but he insisted on helping me since he had sworn to protect me. I didn't know what I would have done hadn't Berwald been there, I could at least trust him to keep Tino safe; else I would have simply abducted him.

So Tino stayed and not only that he also insisted on playing his part in unraveling the truth. He believed me when I told him what I had learned from Yao but he mistrusted the whole thing as much as I did. It was a bit ambivalent for me because for one I was glad that someone was operating mostly independent for me but on the other side I didn't want Tino to get in danger.

At this point I didn't have much choice anymore. We were running out of time.

I was aware of course that I needed to make a decision soon because if I failed to make one then we really would have a problem. When that ambassador Sadik showed up and the rebellion group would make their move, expecting me to do my job and I still didn't know whom I should trust it could get really complicated.

Ha, that was the understatement of the century.

And to make matters worse, Ivan would arrive today, reinforcing the men stationed in the capital and I still hadn't a clue about what to do. Maybe I should just kill everyone. The culprit would certainly be among the casualties. Okay that would be Plan Z or something.

This was getting me nowhere, I needed some fresh air and where better to get that than on the back of a dragon.

I decided to not care about the trouble it might get me in to leave the palace at times like these because I sure as hell would get a visit from one of Matthew's men because I apparently would only leave for something fishy. But to hell with that.

It didn't need much to convince Mathias of this idea; he was as annoyed as I with the situation. I briefly thought about asking Tino to join us but I wanted to have some time to think on my own and as much as I liked Tino he could be a bit much at times. Mathias transformed quickly and I climbed on his back. It had only been a week since the last time I rode him but it felt like an eternity.

Ember spiraled upwards and I could see the city underneath us, from up here it all seemed so small and insignificant. The wind whipped the flaps of my coat and I sighed as I let my worries flow away with the beating of Ember's wings. We dived through the cloud layer and suddenly the humans below us were gone, there was only endless blue above and a world of fluffy white below us.

It was cold up here but I didn't mind, Ember's body was warm enough to protect me from the worst of the temperature anyway. I leaned back against one of the poles in Ember's back. It was really time that I pulled them out, I was on good terms with the Emperor (at least I thought so, it was hard to tell these days), so there was really no use in pretending anymore. Besides they were are source of pain for Mathias and in what was about t come I didn't want anything to hinder his movements.

Ember was floating above the clouds, wings flapping from time to time to keep us up and I let the steady pulsing of the dragon's heartbeat that was faintly perceptible through the pillar behind me lull me into a relaxed state.

I didn't know how long I was out but I was pulled from my meditative state by a particular sharp image from Ember. It was nothing special just the image of a jagged rock that protruded out of the countryside but it sufficed to wake me. Good thing though, the last time he sent a particular disturbing image of two penis fencing snails. I really didn't want to know where the hell he had seen that. Or why.

I was surprised that the sun was dipping close to the surrounding already; I had been out longer than expected. "You're right." I sighed, "It's time to go home." But at least my head felt as clear as it hadn't in a long while. Ember circled and then flew again in a straight line to what I assumed was home. He could get me so lost if he wanted.

It was the middle of the night when we finally returned to the dragon towers. A million stars blinked in the sky above us as Ember soared above the sleeping city. There were a few lights down there too but they couldn't match up with the light speckled sky. It was even colder than it had been when we departed and I was glad to return to the warmth of our rooms.

There was a note on the side table in the reception room, waiting innocently for me to read it. I rarely got messages so this was a bit unusual, but considering the turbulent times we were in this was to be expected.

I picked the sheet of paper up and unfolded it, surprised to find Tino's neat handwriting on it. I had half expected it to be from Ivan demanding a meeting or something. Or from Yao who wanted an update. It was a small note and seemed to be written in haste.

L.

We need to talk, asap.

T.

I raised my eyebrow at the shortening of our names but I figured that Tino wanted some fancy espionage feeling. It didn't relay come to me that maybe time had been an issue and still was and so I failed to consider that this message might have been urgent.

There had been more hints, not just the shortness of the message, the writing, albeit neat still was rushed and a few ink droplets dotted the paper. The note had laid a bit off close to the edge of the table as if thrown there in haste and had I just paid a bit more attention I would have noticed that the door to my private rooms was open, even though I had closed it before I left. Tino had looked for me before he left the note.

I tossed the note back on the table and wondered if I should go to Tino's room now or wait for tomorrow. He had written 'as soon as possible' but it was in the middle of the night and he was most likely sleeping. Besides I was tired and couldn't really think at the moment so I decided that it could wait until tomorrow.

Only it couldn't and I would learn that the hard way.

But I was still oblivious to that fact yet and so I ignored the white piece of paper that lied accusingly on my table and went into the bedroom where Mathias was already lounging on the sheets, already undressed and half asleep. The flight had tired him out and he needed his rest. I quickly changed and climbed into bed, snuggling close to Mathias warm body. One perk of having a dragon in your bed was that you didn't need to heat the room, albeit it could get a bit uncomfortable in the summer.

My sleep was restless and I woke a few times in the dead of the night, woken by nightmares I couldn't remember the moment I opened my eyes. When finally the morning dawned I was glad to have an excuse to get out of bed, the sheets were drenched with sweat and I was more tired than I had been when I went to sleep. But I didn't feel like sleeping anymore, so I forced myself out of bed, Mathias was still deep asleep and I knew it would stay a while like that.

I decided to let him sleep for a while longer while I would go and visit Tino. I hadn't really appetite so I would wait for breakfast until afterwards or maybe, since it was still early I would eat together with Tino. I changed into day clothes and then left a short for Mathias so that he knew where I was when he woke up which could be up until to a few hours from now. Sometimes I envied him for his heavy sleep.

Since it was early the corridors of the palace were comparably empty, just as they had been last night when we returned. I hadn't slept nearly enough that night and I knew that I needed to do something about that, I couldn't afford to make mistakes because of a tired mind. If nothing helped I would have to resort to sleeping pills, although I wasn't too fond of that idea.

I reached Tino's rooms and hesitated a moment before I knocked. He was probably still asleep and I knew I would be grumpy if someone woke me so early. But there was still this message and it was as early in the day as it could get for an impromptu visit t be acceptable. I had put this off for too long already so I braced myself and knocked.

Not really surprising that I didn't get a reaction at first. I knocked again and then the door flung open almost in my face, only a quick step back saved me from a meeting between my nose and the door. Tino was standing in the door, eyes wide and he looked even worse than I felt. "Where have you been?" He ground out between gritted teeth and grabbed me to pull me inside before I could even utter my surprise at the door attack.

"Has anyone seen you?" He snapped and immediately started pacing. Berwald was nowhere to be seen and that more than anything worried me. "No, I don't think so." I hadn't met anyone really on my way here and I doubted I had been followed but without Mathias it was hard to tell. Without another word Tino grabbed my arm and pulled me unceremoniously through the door, causing me almost to fall flat on my face.

"Tino what-" But I didn't even get to finish the sentence before Tino was talking again. "Dammit Lukas, what took you so long?" He hissed and I couldn't fail to miss how Tino's eyes darted from corner to corner and lingered on the door only to dart around again. A feeling of dread was creeping in on me, making the hair rise on my arms and back.

"Never mind, we ha have to go." Tino continued before I had a chance to say anything and he took my hand again to pull me in the main room where Berwald was waiting next to a pile of hastily prepared luggage. "Tino what the hell is going on?" I yanked my hand out of Tino's graps and eyed the pile warily.

"Our cover has been blown." Tino took a bag and Berwald started picking up the rest, but I still didn't quite understand what was going on. "What do you mean?" I asked, taking a step backwards as Tino attempted to grab my arm. I wanted an explanation and I wanted it now.

And all the while the sense of foreboding and dread in my stomach grew as I noticed the deranged state both Tino and Berwald were in. They seemed to have packed the night before shortly after they left the message and had waited for us since then. There were heavy bags under Tino's eyes and Berwald looked even more intimidating than usually.

"We don't have time." Tino snapped and brushed past me into the small reception room and to the door but before he went to open it he stopped and turned around. "I'm sorry I screwed up, they know. You were right, they are the true traitors." I didn't need to ask to know who 'they' were; it suddenly was far too obvious. Tino had been investigating undercover and something had very obviously gone wrong. I could have slapped myself for not getting the hints when I first discovered the note on my table, seriously they had been everywhere. The only good thing was that now I had my answer.

I only hoped that it was not too late yet.

My hope however was in vain.

"I couldn't risk to get back to you again." Tino said with a sigh, "they haven't made the connection to you yet but it will only be a question of time until they get you. You should go and get Mathias and then leave. It's not safe here anymore." This time I didn't question his words, instead I nodded. I had fucked up enough as it seemed.

"Let's go." Berwald rumbled, worry was evident in both his voice and features and he kept sniffing the air, searching for a smell that would give away any danger. Tino opened the door as I was fixing Berwald who suddenly tensed and a look of pure horror crossed over his face.

"Berwald." Tino's voice was unnaturally high and I noticed with concern that he stood frozen in the doorway, outside view blocked by his frame. Berwald's expression smoothed over again and became blanker than I had ever seen it before, blank and almost… resigned.

And then a voice sounded, a voice that I had last heard in the mountains in a hidden village, only this time the voice sent shivers down my spine with the sweet malice that was hidden in it. "You lied to me dear Tino. I don't like people lying to me." Ivan said and I could actually see the violent shudder that surged through Tino's body. "I don't know what you're talking about." Tino replied but his voice sounded hollow and it couldn't quite hide the fear.

Ivan however ignored Tino's words and I could hear the sounds of boots on floor as he took a step forward. "I told you what happens to liars." This time there was no sweetness to coat the malice. Berwald suddenly shoved past me, I hadn't even noticed that he put down the luggage and then he was outside, standing in front of Tino and growling lowly in his throat.

Tino spun around, his eyes wide and unmasked horror had dilated his pupils, but before I could do anything he shoved an envelope in my hands that I hadn't noticed was in his hands all the time. "Go." He hissed and pointed to the main room where I knew I could reach the ground from one of his windows. I opened my mouth to argue but a painful grunt from Berwald who had suddenly slumped in the doorway and was very obviously in pain cut my protest short.

There was something in Tino's eyes that didn't allow any objections and so I took a step backwards, still unwilling to just leave and run. "I'm sorry Lukas. The rebels are allied with the traitors in court; you have to get that information out of here." Tino smiled, it was a sad smile, a smile that accepted things that should never be accepted and his eyes glistened wet with tears. "This is my fault, I have to fix this." And with that he turned around and stepped past Berwald and then there was the door between us and I heard only muffled noises and then a scream that made the hair on my back rise and the next thing I knew I was running, through the main room, door slammed behind me and on to the window.

Another wordless scream rang in my ear as I forced the window open and the cool air blasted in around me, rain pouring down in heavy streams as the world cried over unknown pain.

Then the scream abruptly ended.