Page 31 of Burn of the Everflame

Perplexing emotions wound through my chest. The only person to ever tell me they were proud of me was my mortal mother. After failing to protect her, I hadn’t felt worthy of anyone’s pride.

For Diem’s sake, I had hoped to earn her mother’s trust, but this was more than my cold, hardened soul knew what to do with.

Meros banged his fist on the table several times until the arguing stopped. “The things you’ve asked for, Auralie—these are your demands? All of them?”

Auralie laughed. “Oh, no. We’ve only just begun.”

Sophos rubbed their temples. Meros sighed. Arboros quietly pressed her lips together. Faunos seethed.

Ignios wobbled in his seat, as if trying to stand, and two of his attendants leapt forward to ease him back. Bits and pieces of his skin flaked off and fell at his feet. “What more could you possibly ask for? You want our homes, too?”

“In fact, we do,” Auralie said flatly. “Your mansions are built on stolen land. We want it back.”

“Auralie,” Arboros interjected, “the people who live in those homes now are not the people who took the land from the mortals. How can you expect us to punish people for something that was done generations ago?”

“My people are still suffering the consequences. Why should yours be allowed to escape them? Justice can’t begin while the evil still remains.” She drummed her fingers along the arm of her chair. “We can be reasonable. If you prefer, your people can simply pay a fair price. For their land, their homes, and everything else that was taken.”

Faunos snorted. “Next, they’ll want our firstborn babes.”

Auralie smiled. “Now that you mention it, we demand that reparations be paid to the half-mortal children, too.”

The Crowns erupted into another roar of complaint, but my eyes were still on Auralie. Defending the half-mortals would not be a popular decision among the Guardians—Cordellia’s deep frown was evidence of that—but Auralie didn’t seem to care. She was using the rebels’ leverage to secure a future for all Emarions, even those forgotten by both sides.

I understand now, I thought, laying a palm over my heart and thinking of the Queen who owned it, why you’re such a compassionate woman. I see who showed you the way.

“Order!” Sophos shouted. They slammed their palms on the table. “Order, order!”

Faunos flopped back in her seat and kicked her legs up on the table, clearly done with any semblance of decorum. The other Crowns sagged in their thrones, looking ready to quit.

“Your Majesties, why are we even here?” the Fortos Vice General cut in. “What can the Guardians offer that my army cannot?”

“According to my sources, you’ve yet to win a battle,” Auralie said. Her gaze cut to Alixe. “Tell me, High General, can a war be won by retreating alone?”

My father shot Alixe a warning stare that she pretended not to notice. “No, Madame Bellator,” she said. “It cannot.”

“And you rebels can do any better?” the Vice General shot back.

“We took the Meros port and the island. We’ve got informants in every palace and active members in every realm.” She stared at Ignios. “Including yours.”

“You lie,” he sputtered. “There are no mortals in my realm. My borders make sure of it.”

“Indeed. Thankfully, some of your own believe you as poor a leader as we do.”

He swung his poisoned glare to the man and woman at his side, whose faces paled. I strongly suspected that Auralie’s claims were a lie, but the seeds of doubt had been effectively and masterfully sown.

“We also have informants in Ophiucae’s army,” Auralie said. “We know when and where he’s going to attack. Can the Emarion Army say the same?”

The Vice General didn’t respond. The Crowns exchanged loaded looks.

“You Descended only know one way to fight—with magic. Even when you fight with weapons, you rely on your shields to protect you. Against Ophiucae, your magic doesn’t work. We’ve been fighting without magic for centuries. We know how to do it . . . and win.”

“How do we know you won’t join him?” Sophos asked. “You were fond of him once. Enough to conceive a child together.”

“A child he tried to murder,” she fired back. “I know his desire for control. When he’s done killing all of you, he’ll expect the mortals to submit. If we deny him, we’ll be next.”

“You say that now,” Faunos said. “What if he makes you his Queen and offers to let you rule beside him? People give away their hearts so quickly at a little taste of power.”

The air around Auralie seemed to chill. “My heart belongs to my husband, Andrei. Now and always.” Her knuckles blanched where she gripped her chair. “Ophiucae deceived me once. It won’t happen again.”