NOLAN

“We’d love to have Yena join us here at the university,” the woman was saying. “What a talent she has… we of course saw her performance at the werewolf university she attended last year, and we’d be honored to have her in our design program.”

Nolan was on a video call with an admissions officer at the School of Fashion Design, where Yena had applied.

“I know you spoke to my colleague,” the lady continued. “About our security concerns. I’m sure you know this, but our school won’t be able to provide the extra security that would be needed to keep her safe here, at cost to our university.”

“Yes,” Nolan said. “I understand that, and of course we will be covering all expenses.”

His brain was still not working its best. But this call was urgent for the school, and Nolan needed to get everything in order for Yena.

“I can tell you now that the palace will most certainly be contracting some private security agencies to keep an eye on Yena while she is in your country.”

The woman said, “Very good,” but she sounded wary.

“Human agents,” Nolan clarified.

He saw her shoulders relax.

“I think what would be best,” Nolan went on, “in terms of the security at your school campus, in particular, would be for a small team of private security guards to accompany her to school in plain clothes… we can find some younger agents to take those shifts… they may need to enroll in her classes, to keep a cover, and provide her with 24/7 security.”

“Hmm.” The woman looked upward and to the side. Seemed like she was doing math in her mind.

“And there are some other things pending,” Nolan said, thinking carefully about how to word this. “Can we talk more about them another time? When I can speak with more certainty about some plans that are still up in the air right now.”

The woman nodded. “Of course. But we’ll need to wait to iron out the details first, before we give the princess a formal offer of admission, though.”

When they’d hung up, Nolan got right on the phone with his attorney. He told him about the plans for the separation and divorce.

Then he called his secretary into the room, too, and had the man start taking down some notes about all the other things that needed to be done, to get Yena set up for school.

Travel arrangements… Nolan would schedule a private plane for her trip overseas. It was too dangerous for her to ride with the public.

Lodging… he’d have someone find her a comfortable apartment… one with lots of security.

And payments for her education… he’d pay the school outright, in a lump sum, to cover it all.

He wanted to take care of everything for her. It was the least he could do.

“I spoke to the School of Fashion Design today,” Nolan told Yena.

“You did?” She jerked backward, like this was really surprising to her.

“Yes… I thought you should know they’re eager to admit you to their program, they just haven’t sent you an acceptance letter yet, because they want to approve some security arrangements first.”

Yena gave him a very critical look, narrowing her eyes.

“Really? Why didn’t they tell me anything directly?”

“I’m sure they’ll reach out soon. I’ve been calling them, so they were getting back to me.”

“You’ve been calling them?”

Nolan nodded.

“Why?” Yena looked annoyed.

“I knew there would be things to arrange,” he said. “I wanted to get ahead of it, take care of some things for you.”

“And you didn’t even think to tell me about it?”

Yena’s tone was harsh. It seemed like she’d given up trying to hide her anger from him.

He darted his eyes away from hers, hoping she wouldn’t notice how much it was hurting him.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t realize that would upset you,” Nolan said. His own tone of voice sounded irritated now, too.

He didn’t want to fight, though.

Yena shrugged and turned away, pacing to the other side of the room, and Nolan tried to re-focus.

He started remembering their last fight. When, after the Gina incident at the party, Yena was mad that Nolan hadn’t told her about the fact that he had been talking to his ex…

He realized he’d done it again, just with someone and something else.

She didn’t like secrets. She’d told him that.

But Nolan expected her to be happy when he told her about her acceptance to the human university. But it bothered her so much that he’d been talking to the school, without her knowing about it, that it was all she could focus on.

Sometimes it felt like no matter what he did, trying to impress Yena, it just kept backfiring. Making her even more and more upset with him.

She sat down in a chair, looking tired and conflicted.

“Well,” she finally said, “That’s good news, that I got in.”

Nolan met her eyes. “It is. Congratulations, Yena, you deserve it.”

The moment didn’t feel happy though. The air between them was tense.

“And I wanted to tell you something else, too.” Nolan took a seat across from her.

“What?”

“We’ll of course be paying for your school. All the tuition, and whatever your housing and living expenses are, those will be taken care of. I don’t want you to think that because you and I are splitting up, that you won’t have support.”

Yena looked down. Then she dropped her face into her hands.

Nolan was confused, not sure how this was bad news.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

She nodded, first up and down, like yes. Then shook her head back and forth like no.

She sucked in some air quickly, and when she looked up at Nolan again, her face was red.

“I don’t want it,” she said.

“What do you mean? Someone needs to take care of you, Yena.”

“I can take care of myself,” she said quietly.

Nolan frowned. “In some ways, yes. I know you’re very independent, but…”

“And I’ll have Evan with me, too,” she added.

The mention of his rival’s name made Nolan lose his train of thought.

“Evan?”

Yena nodded. “Yeah, he’s going to travel with me to the human world, so I won’t be alone.”

“Oh…” Nolan’s mouth went dry.

It was bad enough to know Yena would be spending time with her brother while she and Nolan were separated.

But to think of them going away together, too…

Yena leaving Nolan to follow her dream, work on her education and career, was one thing. It was already hard enough knowing there was anything she loved more than him.

But now she was leaving him and going away with Evan?

“I just…” Yena was trying to talk but choking on her words.

Nolan didn’t want to hear any more about the brother. He jumped in to get back on his topic before she could say anything else about Evan.

“Yena, I am going to support you for the rest of your life, okay? You won’t need to worry about anything. I already made arrangements, the money is all being prepared for the school fees, and we’re getting an apartment for you, well, where you want to live is up to you, but…”

Nolan was starting to talk fast, rambling on nervously.

Yena interrupted him.

“Just stop, please,” she said.

Nolan stopped mid-sentence, with his mouth left open.

“Maybe I should tell you something,” she continued. “Something you should know, before I leave.”