***JAKE'S POV***
I was waiting at the gate a little longer tonight than usual. I knew that Alex needed to wake up, eat, get dressed, and all of that. However, tonight it felt like the night was gone before I saw her and Alina coming out of the castle. The moment that I saw them though, a tension that I hadn't even known I was feeling seemed to dissipate and I felt so much lighter and calmer.
I opened the gate for them as they came closer and waited for them to come through it to join me on the outside. After that, we quickly hid in an alley so that no one would see us while we talked about what was going to happen next.
"Jake!" Alex smiled when she saw me and took my hand in excitement. "I convinced him to let us go. He said no at first, but I spoke with the king alone and now he has given me his permission. We're to leave this weekend, in two days."
