*Quin*

My grip tightens around my queen as I move her under me, pushing myself in the way of the gun.

What should've been a single man was an army surrounding us, caging me and her in with guns and silencers. In all the chaos and fighting, we'd drawn a crowd to us. We might as well have been a lighthouse with all the shining that had happened over here. All they had to do was follow it and wait for it to stop.

Her hand came to my shoulder as she pulled herself into a sitting position. I had to steady her, help her sit, even though she thought she could shake me off. She could barely move without my help.

"Hecate," the Black Hand said, not wavering in his voice. "You are under arrest for countless crimes against the people of our great country."

Hecate scoffed before sending her usual smile, only a bit dimmer than normal, up to the man.

"I'll make you a deal, Blackie."

"Silence, magician."

Her little smile grew into a glower as she looked at him. And he flinched, actually flinched away from us.

I couldn't help but smile myself. Of course she had a plan, she always had a plan. We'd get out of this okay, just like always. Well, more or less okay.

"It's not wise to argue the queen," I added.

The Black Hand, even with an army, was no match for her. "What kind of deal."

And here's to our free-

"Me for him."

"What?"

"What?" The man echoed, a smile rising to his face. "You for him? Why the hell would I-"

"Because, if you don't, I'll make sure my death is a signal for all the magicians that you're so afraid of. You think I'm strong now? You'll find that I'm even stronger in death. My execution will, of course be released to the public. I'm sure conspiracies are already starting to rise about how I'm really alive, I haven't exactly been quiet lately. And one way or another, I will make sure they know to fight and fight and fight."

The man and I both wore similar expressions. His eyes were wide because he knew he was on the verge of starting a war, or could be anyways. Mine were wide because I knew she was being completely honest. Because I knew that she wouldn't lie. She'd avoid questions and dance around real answers but if there was one thing she didn't do, it was lie.

I could see his gun tensing around the trigger of the gun. My body moved on it's own, pulling her into me.

"He won't do it," she said, her voice as still as thought she were animatronic. "If he shoots me here, no one will even see the real death of the queen. There will always be doubts and doubts become the beacon of fear. And fear creates chaos. If he shoots me here, even your 'humans' won't put there faith on the Black Hands for much longer."

"Dammit," the man curses. "Fine. Make way for the traitor. No one shoots or I'll make sure they die right alongside with this bitch."

"Hecate," I whispered, "Alex, you dumbass. You really think I'd just leave you. Are you fu-"

Her lips, smooth and soft, pressed against my own. For a second, I felt her tongue stick out to lick my own. She backed away quickly, giving me that sly smile that only she could.

"Hey, my Grumpy Pants. Sorry. I'm really really sorry. I know I promised I would live but... in the end it's a queens decision to die for her people." Her eyes were glassy with tears. "Quin? I need you to do something for me and-" I opened my mouth to argue. "Don't. We both know there's really no way for us both to survive, so listen to me. When I'm gone, the people will need a leader, a king."

"No. They need their queen."

"Hey," the Black Hand said, glaring down at us, "make this fast."

A glare from Alex shut him up.

"They can't have their queen, okay? So they're going to have to stick with the next best thing." The corner of her lips quirked in a smile. "Stop that, mon amour."

Her fingers wiped my cheeks. I hadn't even realised I was crying. I wrapped her tighter in myself.

"You know I love you, right?" I asked, my voice cracking at the end. "You know I love you more than I could ever possibly love anyone else, right?"

"I know. I know. Tu es i'amour de ma vie. You are the love of my life. In life and in death I will always love you. You undertand why I'm doing this, don't you? I know you do."

"Of course I do. I just wish you didnt have to."

"Maybe, in another life, we'll get to live a peaceful life together. Just me and you and our army of pets. Reincarnated Heather can be our grumpy cat. Michael and Jacin can be our gay dogs."

"Stop that." I half cried half laughed. "How do you say, I love you in French?"

"Je t'aime."

I burried my head in her shoulder. "Je t'aime, Alexandria Chevalier."

"Maintenant et a jamais, Quintin Zeeli," she whispered. "Now and forever."