“Estel,” Aspen says, “is there a chance the Renounced know about the bomb? Is that what Dahlia truly was after?”
She considers this for a moment. “I don’t think so. All who know of the Parvanovae know how dangerous it is. The seelie would never approve of using it.”
“Perhaps they want it so it can be destroyed,” Tris says.
Estel shakes her head. “Even if that were the case, not even the Renounced would be so careless as to send a human to retrieve it.”
I bite my lip, eyes going unfocused. “Then that means Mr. Duveau is acting alone.”
Minuette lets out a low whistle. “The humans want to blow up the isle.”
Flauvis shows his teeth in a wicked snarl. “I say we use it to destroy the mainland. That will put the humans in their place.”
My heart leaps into my throat. “What? No!”
“That is not what I joined this alliance for,” Aelfon says, springing to his feet and stomping an enormous hoof.
“But Flauvis has a point,” Nyxia says, and I burn her with a glare.
“I didn’t come here to blow up humans either,” Tris says, putting a hand on her hip. “I joined you to stand against the Renounced. Even though we must bring back the Old Ways, I remain seelie.”
“As do I,” Aelfon agrees.
“Pitiful.” Flauvis shakes his wolf head with a canine grin. “We are gifted with the one thing that can silence our enemies forever, and you get cold hooves, Aelfon?”
Aelfon raises an enormous clenched fist and the wolf king crouches into a defensive posture, ready to spring off all four paws—
“Enough!” Aspen’s voice rings through the atrium. “We did not call this meeting to divide our alliance.”
Flauvis makes a muttering sound that mimics Aspen’s tone in a high-pitched whine, but returns to his place at the table. Aelfon too stands down and lowers onto his chair.
Aspen continues. “We called you here because the threat from the humans is far more imminent than we originally thought.” He turns to me, drawing the attention of the others.
“He’s right,” I say. “According to the assailant, the mainland has already sent warships. Even if we can keep the Parvanovae out of their hands, they’re coming for us.”
19
Shouts and arguments roar across the table, so chaotic it makes my head spin.
“This is just like the last war, isn’t it?” Tris puts her hand to her forehead, expression panicked.
“It’s worse,” Aelfon says. “The humans have far more terrifying weapons than they had back then.”
He’s right, but I can’t bring myself to say so out loud. I’ve read about the latest weapons the mainland army has begun to manufacture, seen sketches in the broadsheets of tanks, rifles, machine guns, and mortars. Airships that soar through the sky like monstrous birds, dropping explosives on enemy soil. All things that make the swords, spears, and the occasional gun I’ve glimpsed on the isle seem like children’s toys.
“All the more reason to use the star bomb,” Flauvis says.
“No,” Aspen argues. “We need more information before we can consider using the Parvanovae.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. That wasn’t the argument I’d expected him to make. Fury radiates through my blood as I whirl toward my mate. “Are you seriously entertaining this idea?” I say in a furious whisper.
He doesn’t meet my eyes as his response comes through the Bond.I’m sorry, Evie, but we must discuss every possibility we have. Not only in terms of winning the war, but to make the Alpha Alliance fair.
I continue to burn him with my scorn, fists clenched so tight I can feel my nails slice into my palms. It takes no small effort to wrench my gaze away, back to the arguing royals while tears sting my eyes. I’m surprised how protective I feel over the humans after everything they’ve done to me. But the truth is, for every corrupt councilman, soldier, or mayor, there are thousands of innocent lives. They don’t deserve to die in a war they hardly understand. A war no human is ever taught the true history of. Until recently, not even many fae knew the truth—that the descendants of King Caleos had survived the very execution that sparked the first war.
Without realizing it, my voice leaps from my throat, quavering despite the fire that roars through it. “We cannot continue to perpetuate the same corrupt violence the humans began. If we annihilate their people, we are no better than the townspeople who burnt my grandmother at the stake.”
“That’s all very sunny and idealistic of you,” Nyxia says, “but if a human army truly is on its way, we have no other choice but to meet that violence with greater violence.”
