Alessandro slowly opened his eyes, squinting as the daylight stabbed through his vision. His head throbbed, and it took a moment for him to adjust. As his senses slowly returned, he realized he was tied to a chair. He looked around, his eyes settling on Thomas, who stood nearby.

  It took Alessandro a moment to gather his thoughts, but when he finally spoke, his voice was rough, laced with restrained fury. "What do you think you're doing, Thomas?" he demanded, his gaze sharpening. "Why are we on the yacht?"

  “It’s not me, Alessandro,” Thomas said, his tone firm but calm. “Marcus is here to take you back to Ars Pheria. The Emperor’s orders.”

  Alessandro's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. “Marcus? Oh yes, Marcus. Did I not crack his head open?” he growled.

  Thomas gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Yes, but he’s fine. He’ll be here when I tell him you’re awake.” He paused, his voice softening slightly. “He knows about the girl and the incident at the apartment. He thinks you’re out of your rational.”

  “Does the Emperor know?” Alessandro asked with worry.

  “No, I don’t think that’s the reason he summoned you,” Thomas replied. “Are you feeling okay, Alessandro? I’m worried about you too.”

  “Thomas, I have to go back to California, and you’ll help me,” Alessandro insisted. “You don’t know what I was after.”

  “No, I don’t know,” Thomas said sternly. “Why don’t you start telling me what you were after when you dumped Luna at the nightclub? Her father is a politician, and he used his influence to put the police on our tail.”

  “Thomas! Please leave us alone,” Marcus said, standing in the doorway of the main chamber.

  “Prince Alessandro,” he continued, “I apologize for the inconvenience. The Emperor requires your immediate return to Ars Pheria; it’s a matter of national security. I had no choice. This letter is from the Emperor himself.”

  “I understand, Marcus. I’m sorry I hit you. Could you please untie me? I’m willing to come with you. I just wish you’d asked before kidnapping me,” Alessandro said with a touch of humor.

  “I apologize, my Prince. I must keep you secured until you are safely back in Ars Pheria,” Marcus said in a cold voice. “Thomas will help you eat and drink. After that, I will administer more sleep medication. I can open the letter and show it to you, if you'd like.”

  “Open it,” Alessandro replied. He knew Marcus would not buy it but he had to give it a try.

  “Prince Alessandro,

  This is not a letter from a father to his son, but from an Emperor to his successor. Your immediate presence in Ars Pheria is required. Should you no longer deem yourself the rightful heir, you may remain on Earth as you wish.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Emperor Sephianos.”

  This letter explained why Marcus had been given strict orders to return Alessandro to Ars Pheria, conscious or unconscious. The Emperor had offered his successor a choice: to reject the role if he no longer saw himself fit for it. But Alessandro's father, Emperor Sephianos, had made it clear that there would be no such option for his son. He would follow his orders, or there would be consequences.

  Marcus walked out of the camara and turned to Thomas. "Do not make a mistake, or I will have to tie you both," he said with a cold edge to his voice.

  Thomas nodded and helped Alessandro drink some water. He wished he could trust the prince, wished he could help him as he always had before. But his rational mind said otherwise. As much as it pained him, the sensible course of action right now was to follow Marcus's plan.

  "I cannot help you, Alessandro," Thomas said, his voice steady but tinged with regret. "You would do the same if you were in my shoes."

  Alessandro closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts as the throbbing headache gradually eased with the water. Thomas was doing the right thing, at least, from his perspective. It would be unjust to ask him to rebel against the Emperor. Perhaps, Alessandro thought, he should speak to his father about Ava once more, and request permission to return to her.

  "I understand, Thomas. I've changed my mind," Alessandro said, his voice steady and assuring. "I need to speak to the Emperor myself. I cannot rebel against him again, that would only make him lose his patience with me." He paused before adding, "Can you bring Marcus back? I need to speak to both of you."

  "I might have acted unreasonably and nearly lost my mind over the past few days," Alessandro began, his tone more measured. "I can understand that my actions may not have seemed logical from your perspective. But just so you know, I haven’t lost my rational yet. I won’t ask you to do anything you're not authorized to do. I've decided that I will speak with the Emperor directly, and based on his decision, I’ll either stay in Ars Pheria or come back to Earth."

  Alessandro could see the relief on Thomas’s face. Marcus, still skeptical, was convinced that at least the prince could now be released from his restraints. Thomas untied Alessandro and served him dinner. The rest of the journey would be much easier.

  “Thomas,” Marcus said, his voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm, “Why don’t we call the American officer and tell him our patient woke up the moment he smelled pizza in Rome?”

  “What’s this hospital gown doing here?” Alessandro asked, glancing at the outfit as he processed the situation.

  “We haven’t exactly been acting reasonable ourselves lately,” Thomas replied, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “We trafficked a prince out of the US, got past the most emotional airport officer I’ve ever seen. The guy was practically indigo navy all over. I really wanted to give him a hug, but… was not the best time.”

  Alessandro listened to the entire story of his abduction with an amused smirk, his mind working through the details. He was relieved to know that Ava hadn’t woken up while Marcus was in the house. At least she was safe back in her own home. A part of him was still troubled by the mess he’d left behind, but he knew that there would be a time to explain everything to her. Right now, though, his focus had to be on his father. He had to understand the national security urgency his father mentioned in his brief letter. What could possibly be happening on a place like Ars Pheria which would be a national security matter?

  When the Ars Pherian trio reached the Turkish shores, the driver in suits was waiting for them at the port of Mersin. Five hours later, they arrived in Cappadocia. They mounted their horses and rode into the woods, where the cave of the portal was located. Deep within the verdant valley, where the sun only reached at midday, they left their horses free outside the cave. The Ars Pherians entered the darkness of the hidden cave, while their horses slowly made their way back to the stables.