"No, no, Prince," the Infi drawled. "The question is, which sister doyouwant?"
"My older is dead," he repeated.
"What if there was a way to bring her back?"
"It's a trick," Corbin hissed.
He knew it was… But—
"There is a way,” Aja said. “Bring them back. Undo the curses of our land. Wouldn't you like to bring them home? Become the hero of this world. Haerland's true savior."
Dorian's body chilled at the words. Undo every curse. Bring back his sister. Bring back Draven. Possibly their child...
The closest thing to becoming a hero he might ever know.
"How?"
Corbin grabbed Dorian's arm and whirled him around. Dorian hadn't realized he was shaking until that moment. Hadn't realized a tear had slipped from his eye and was freezing on his cheek.
"Your older is gone," Corbin whispered. "He is lying to you."
"What if she isn't gone?” Dorian managed.
"She is," Corbin argued.
"But what if I could—“
"Even if you could, what will you have to give up in exchange?" Corbin cut in. "You know Haerland. You know the Infi's games," he continued as he leaned closer to Dorian.
Dorian blinked back the emotion burning at his nose as he thought of Aydra. Felt her smile in his chest. Her hand ruffling his hair just as the wind was doing. Her arms wrapped around him and holding him. His heart constricted, and he forced himself to speak.
"What if doing this is the only way I can keep my promises?" he whispered.
Corbin's jaw tightened, apparent he knew the battle going on in Dorian's head. "The promises you made to your sister did not include you forgetting all she taught you and making deals with Infi just to bring them back. That’s not why she died. That Infi is only telling you what you want to hear."
The words made his heart knot. Dorian knew he was right. Knew whatever it was the Infi was saying to him was only a ploy. Knew he couldn't give in to this desire no matter how desperate he was to prove himself.
Even if it did rip his heart into pieces to resist hearing what the Infi knew.
"Which will it be, Prince?" Aja asked again. "The one you stood by and watched burn alive? Or the one you left all alone, an entire week's journey away?"
Dorian turned back to Aja, fists curling as he held back his form. Staring at the smug smirk on the creature's face.
"Nyssa," he said firmly. "I choose Nyssa. Now tell me what you want."
"Freedom without persecution," Aja replied. "Peace."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"You need an army," Aja stated. "We have an army. We want freedom. You can give us that."
Dorian scoffed. "You mean you want the freedom to terrorize every corner of Haerland without our hunting you down. You would infiltrate our streets and impersonate loved ones. Strike fear into every person's heart so that they would have to ask their own family when they returned home for the day if they are truly who they say they are." Dorian paused and shook his head. "You cannot think I would allow that."
The Infi shrugged. "Fine," he said. "We'll take over your homes after you're all dead."
Dorian shifted, and a small smile spread over the Infi's face.
"I'll make you a deal, Prince," Aja said. "My army for your home and our freedom. And I'll throw in the location of your sister as a measure of good faith."
