It seemed Aurorahad returned with something in hand, after all.I’dhoped months ago thatshe’dreturn with my twin, but what lay at her feet might be even better suited for me now.
Although her timing could’ve been better.
Clearing my throat, I slid on the kingly mask I’d worn for so many years now—numb, disconnected, empty.
LikeFather.
“Valenia, you’re dismissed,” I said, my voice as cold as the look she had trained onAurora.
“What?” Val’sgaze snappedto meet mine. Whereshe’dappeared cold and callused to Aurora, when she looked at me, an ember of that heatremained.
“Shall I repeat myself?” I questioned, placing my hands behind my back to keep myself from reaching for her.
She was who I wanted.
Who Ineeded.
And yet, there I was, pushing her away in favor of winning the war.
Conquer them all, Father’s voice demanded. It echoed in my mind as I watched Val stiffly dip her head and mechanically walk away, passing Aurora without a glance. Val’s posture was rigid, even as she rounded the corner and walked out of sight, heading deeper into the castle without another word.
And for the first time in a while, my heart ached as she left my sight.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on what I had to do next.
“Come,” I said to Aurora, opening the door to my private chambers and motioning for her to follow.
A moment later she filed in behind me, using her foot to shut the door behind her. She crossed the space to the large table I stoodbeside,dumpingthe contents in her arms carelessly onto the table.
She was upset—I could see it in the tension in her shoulders—but Ididn’thave time for that right then.
“Where are they heading?” I asked her, glancing at the many itemsatopthe table.
“It seems random,” she shook her head. “They’re aiming for some spot just outside ofNeokell, but—”
“Neokell?” I asked, needing to be confident. “You’re sure?”
I’dnever shared all thatI’ddiscovered with Aurora. I had wanted to spare her the horror of our reality.
And the horror of the real me.
The same one Val had seen, and had not backed away from.
“Yes,” Aurorasnappedas sheunrolledone of the maps and pointed to where a sloppy circle had been drawn around where the old mines were.
And where the encampments were now.
Somehow, my twin had figured out exactly what I—and Father—had tried so desperately to keep hidden.
“They’re comingsoon,” she warned, rolling the map back up.
“We have to act,” I stated, my heart pounding as my mind reeled with the newfound information before me.
“Better do it sooner rather than later,” Aurora said as she headed for the door.
She wasupset, andlikely needed space—Iwasn’tgoing to force her to stay if she wanted to leave.
But she didn’t.
