31. NATE

“Has there been any progress?” I questioned as I stopped next to Lucas. He glanced at me. “Time is running out fast. I don’t want to risk any of the guards,” he said softly. “We don’t know what’s waiting for us on the other side." “I understand the risk.” My eyes darted around us. “But we need to do something. We can’t just let this be. There was to be a way to get the kid back, Lucas.” “How about someone volunteering?” Mason suggested. “They’ll be going in on their own free will.” “It doesn’t mean that it won’t rest on my conscious if something happens to them.” Lucas sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. “I－” “You can’t,” I interrupted him before he could finish his sentence. “You’re the King Lucas. The people here need a leader.” He scoffed. “We all know that they never wanted me as King.” “And we all know that nobody else would make a better King than you,” I told him. A commotion at the door drew our attention. The guards were struggling to hold off a man who wanted to