Page 113 of Taken By Touch and Torment

“He blames you all for his lost opportunity to rule,” she said, “because King Earle decided ordaining Rune and the turned as custodians of Valentin was the smarter move, rather than taking back the island under complete kingdom dominion.”

Sadie nodded. “I was able to convince Kole to vouch for us at key moments, spinning the illusion that he was fighting for his own power by opposing Ivan and Haemon. He thought I supported his play for Valentin’s lord. In reality, I was using him and other powerful born to inadvertently cement the victory of the turned. He was merely a casualty in our grand scheme to win the war and secure Earle’s begrudgingly awarded blessing.”

“Are you sure you aren’t a succubus?” Scarlett asked with a small smile.

Sadie eyed Scarlett in a way that irritated me, which I knew was half the reason she was doing it.

“In a past life, darling,” Sadie said with a wink.

“Focus,” I snapped, and Sadie shot me a smirk that was nothing short of victorious.

“Okay, then we also need a way to mend that bridge,” Scarlett said. “He has very little desire to help the turned. We can convince Kole that Durian is unfit and dangerous far easier than we can convince him to defend us against the kingdom. He needs incentive, and it needs to be ego-boosting, because most of his resentment is about his lack of promotion and perceived mistreatment by superiors. He needs to feel recognized and respected.” She looked at Sadie, hesitating a moment before adding, “He may be a disgusting little rat, but I think—no, I know—he’s tired of being treated like one. We need a new approach.”

Sadie lifted her brows, and the room went quiet. All eyes moved to Sadie.

When Sadie’s lips slowly curved, Uriah released a breath. I stared at Scarlett, and I couldn’t possibly be in love with her more than I already was.

Sadie nodded. “Noted.”

“The next faction are the mortals,” Scarlett said. “Clearly, most mortals already have reason to back us and oppose Durian, and I know you’ve already been working with mortals in dry lands on this front. Just like I know that those mortals’ exports are crucial to Earle, especially the poisons and other weapons. Not being spread too thin during wartimes and the threat to exports need to be highlighted with both Kole and future relations with the kingdom. It would be stupid for the kingdom to back Durian now, even if Durian is too blind to see that.”

I nodded. “Agreed on all fronts. We’ve received recent word that the turned in Ravenia are putting up one hell of a fight. If Earle divests resources and men to meddle in Valentin’s affairs now, then he really has gone mad. He will have proved the dissenters right.”

Scarlett tapped her fingers on the wood, nodding as a crease formed between her brows. “The only mortals that support the born are those brainwashed and subjugated in the born districts. I have reason to believe those mortals and the lower class born have a lot more in common with each other than with Durian and the born elites.” She paused. “The night I escaped, we were attacked by a group of born who had lost respect for Durian. The way one of the women spoke of failed religious prophecies made me believe she had once believed in Durian’s holy book, and perhaps had even been duped by his visions, but she’d become disillusioned. They said that the born were starving. There’s a blood shortage problem in born districts, isn’t there?”

Everyone glanced at me nervously, knowing I was shielding Scarlett from the current state of Aristelle. She hadn’t been ready to shoulder such a weight.

“That’s what happens when you erect a border and force mortals to choose a side,” Uriah said. “Not to mention the attacks on blood cafés. They wanted anarchy, and they certainly received it.” He massaged the bridge of his nose. “I promised Blondie that I’d say it plainly.”

Scarlett peered at him, puzzled, while I stared at Uriah in utter warning. I feared his next words and what they might reveal. Scarlett still didn’t know about Durian’s direction of massacres and destruction in her name.

“Mortals are suffering all over Aristelle, and it’s only getting worse,” he said. “It’s getting dark. Really dark.” He met my eyes and didn’t say anything more.

Heartbreak crossed Scarlett’s features, and it reflected in the squeeze inside my own chest.

“Durian was clearly using blood shortages and widespread poverty as evidence against Rune and the turned, but now it’s starting to backfire,” she murmured, refocusing. “I think this needs to be exacerbated. We need to counter his propaganda with our own, highlighting Durian’s failures.”

“Already in motion,” I said gently.

Scarlett’s eyes rounded. “Oh. Good.”

“We’re also spreading the information that Durian is an illusionist. There’s a reason he kept his gift a secret for this long. Mental magick breeds distrust. No one likes feeling manipulated.” I smirked at her, and Scarlett shrugged in response, the corners of her lips quirking. “You’re right about it all, Little Flame. Keep going.”

My use of her pet name brought a satisfying blush to her fair cheeks. She tucked a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear.

“I think there’s a reason Durian and Earle feel so much inexplicable comradery, and it has everything to do with their questionable mental states. Durian is blinded by his own delusions,” she said. She took a deep breath, frowning before regaining her composure. “And Brennan, his own second in command, is beginning to see through it.”

“Say it plainly, dear,” Sadie cut in, her tone sharp as she looked at Scarlett pointedly.

My jaw clenched. I didn’t enjoy seeing another dominant correct Scarlett, especially not Sadie. I shot her a glare, my lips turned down. Sadie lowered her authoritative energy as Scarlett spoke.

“I encouraged Brennan to see through Durian, carefully and meticulously, the entirety of my stay in the palace,” Scarlett said. Mason appeared shocked, looking at Scarlett with new eyes. “I can’t create new desires, but I can tease out desires already present—even if they’re deeply buried—and slowly make them stronger. In this case, I searched Brennan’s mind for weaknesses.”

My closest comrades leaned forward in their seats now. I beamed with pride. No matter how much anger and fear simmered below the surface, knowing what Scarlett had sacrificed and what she may still give of herself in the future, I was mesmerized.

I stood in awe of Scarlett’s radiance always, especially when she showed just how powerful she was, even in her darkest moments.

“Like Kole, Brennan is starving for validation. He’s well-respected among the elites and what remains of Durian’s devotees. He’s charming?—”

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