“Aesira?” A familiar voice called from the doorway, she spun around, her sword tethered in her palm.
“Mother?”
Of all the people Aesira wished to see, her parents were the least of them. “What are we doing in here?” she asked, glancing around the meeting room. “We need to be looking for Kamari.”
“Your sister is gone.” Her father’s voice was flat, emotionless.
“You don’t know that,” Aesira said. “Did you see her fall? Have the reservoirs been filled?” Her fingers twitched, eager to pull the blade from her side and fight her way through the crowd until she found the rebels. Found Kamari.
Her father shook his head, a thin smile spreading over his lips. “You had no right to leave Vargah.”
Aesira reared back in disbelief. “I was obeying the demands of my queen.”
He slammed his fist against the table. “And maybe if you were here, your queen would not be gone!"
His words landed like a stake through her heart. She had let Kamari down, just as she had let Eldrin down.
"You were being reckless!” He shook his crowned head, his Celestria pendant swinging from his neck. “Of all my children, you have always been so difficult to tame, Aesira. How is it that I have been left with no heirs except the one that I never wanted.” She shrunk back in her chair.
Years and years of her father’s scrutiny rushed to the surface, thickening her throat, burning her eyes. “You will do what your sister could not,” her father said. “You will marry Lord Raffe. Restore the treaty."
"You do not needastrato run Novaria," she spat. "You do not need this treaty other than for your own personal power."
Her father shook his head, the star pendant around his neck swaying. "Piscis Spring is nearly dry," he said, eyes narrowing. "If we do not keep this treaty in tact, if we do not gain water from Vargah, from Celestria, our kingdom will cease to exist." He took a step closer. "You will listen to me. Youwillensure this treaty remains, or the deaths of thousands will be on your hands."
Aesira curled her lip. "And when Vargah realizes you've lied about the spring? When they see we have nothing to offer?"
"I suppose that will be your problem. Be an asset to your kingdom, to your family, for once in your life." His words were no different from the pain she’d endured in the Order, just as piercing, lashing against her skin until she was raw. The Order had done what he couldn’t, which was whittle her down to nothing, and rebuild her into the shape they desired–hedesired. Something useful. Sharp. All edges and teeth.
Only, she’d let herself slip the last few weeks. She’d let herself remember that she was a person before the Order. That she was human, capable of friendship, companionship. Empathy and love. She was more than just a weapon. More than just a spare.
More than her mistakes.
I don’t want you tame.Stone’s voice filled her, bolstered her.
Her sword slipped easily from its sheath as she stood.
I want you wild.
It sliced through the air, smooth and effortless, until the very tip pointed at her father’s heart.
I want you fierce.
She pressed her sword farther until the pop of fabric sounded. “I will be leaving to find Kamari.”
“Aesira, don’t.”
She dug the blade in, ignoring her mother, smiling as her father’s eyes grew wide, panicked. But isn’t this what he wanted her to be? Why he sent her away? To become sharp and emotionless and lethal.
I want you terrifying.
The sword dug through his doublet and how easy it would be to pierce his heart and make him bleed.
A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead, collected on his heavy brow. “Please, Aesira.”
“You are a coward,” she said, lowering her sword.
“Your sister has failed us,” he said with a shaky voice. “If the goddess is not pleased with a different sacrifice, she will not fill the wells. People will die of thirst. We’ll lose power to the cities. We’ll be dried up before the storm season ends. And for what? Because she insisted on finding that madman she claimed to love?” He laughed, a bitter cold sound that pierced Aesira’s ears and she had a thought to cut out his tongue for good measure.
