Later, at the safe house where everything has fallen apart...
Petra awoke with a start. The room was eerily silent. She couldn't hear him breathing. She'd grown used to the sound of his breathing. It had been with her every night for the last few days. She hadn't even known how much she needed to hear it.
Now it was gone.
"Grey?" There was no sign of him in the room. "Grey!" She shot to her feet. His things were gone. He hadn't had much, but he had taken it all with him. He wasn't coming back.
She threw on her clothes and rushed down the stairs. Everyone was already up from their bed and moving around, tossing the few belongings they'd brought with them into bags. Petra looked around for Beth. Her friend noticed her almost at the same time. They strode quickly toward each other to meet in middle of the room. It was peculiarly quiet despite the activity.
"We're ready. We're moving the kids," Beth told her.
"Where's Grey?"
Beth blinked. "What? He's not with you?"
"No! He's gone."
"What do you mean 'gone'?"
"He left."
"How do you know?"
"He was here, and I fell asleep--now he's gone." Petra gripped her best friend's arm. "He said he was going to go home. He was going to try to take out Scarlet by himself and seize the palace."
"Petra, we're moving everyone, and we have to go. How long has he been gone?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. I've only been asleep a couple hours."
Beth's expression was grim. "It might have been enough time. There might already be an army coming." She spun toward the main room. "Everybody out! Now! There's no time to spare! Take what you need and follow Lux!" She clapped her hands together. "Now!"
"He isn't bringing anyone here!" Petra argued.
Beth looked serious. "You don't know that, Petra. He is still the prince, and if he knew we were planning to move--"
"He didn't. He didn't know. I didn't tell him anything. He didn't want to know."
"That doesn't mean he didn't overhear! At least he doesn't know where the base is. We're secure right now. No one is watching. Yet. But we have to leave now. Come on, Petra."
Petra yanked her arm away. "No! I have to find him. He can't just go in there on his own. He'll be killed!"
"He knows what he's doing or he wouldn't have gone. Or...or he's been with his father all along, in which case he is perfectly safe."
"He isn't with his father! He isn't, Beth. And he is walking right into his death!"
"We can't worry about that right now. We have to worry about our own people. Petra, are you with us or not?"
Petra sighed. "No..."
"Petra, you can't go to the palace to look for him. He's gone. Even if he isn't still on his father's side, the best you can do is wait and hope he'll make it out all right. There's nothing you can do right now. We have to go to the rebels."
Petra scowled, but she didn't refuse. Beth grabbed her arm to drag her with the others toward the door. She swiped a tear from her cheek. There wasn't time to cry over him now.
"You will see him again, Petra," Beth promised.
"I hope so. I really do, Beth, but I'm afraid I never will."