Page 20 of Red Queen

My people are her allies in this shared cause against Catarina. As are the others here. I have room for the smallerallies, those who’d fall under an onslaught from Catarina if they stood on their own.

I have no idea if she’s spoken to any, tried to seek out the few from the court who found their way here, but it doesn’t matter. This is the life blood of the operation. The others are ready, both here and those who returned to their fortresses, waiting word.

My fortress has a bite to the air, a hum of energy that only a war can bring. I look at Eleanna but her face is a cool mask.

“Let’s talk war,” I say, turning back to the maps. “We’ll need every advantage we can find.”

The tension in the room is tangible, a wordless spiral of power and distrust.

“When do we strike?” Eleanna asks.

I move to the head of the table, brushing my fingers over the parchment map sprawled across the aged wood. “Scouts have been dispatched,” I inform Eleanna, locking eyes with her blue gaze. “They are seeking information on Catarina’s plans as we speak.”

“That isn’t a strike.”

Although the others don’t make a sound, the ripple of shock rolls through loud as court mutterings. I let her words roll off me and I flicker a glance at her.

“Strike? This isn’t a game. Curb your bloodlust.”

“Or release yours, General.” Her hands curls into her skirts.

“Testing me isn’t smart, Eleanna. Unless you want to waste time. If by blood lust you mean a massacre of the troops we have right now then we can strike.” I pause letting my words sink in. “If you wish to win, then we gather information first. Information’s worth more than ignorance and weapons. So…we find out about her plans.”

“Good,” she says, low and controlled. “Smart.”

“Catarina has already made herself comfortable on your throne. Her minions are combing the lands, hunting for younow,” Ivan says, choosing that moment to speak. “My spies have confirmed this.”

The room goes still, the gravity of Ivan’s words settling like a weight.

I turn. “Is there a problem? We assumed that.”

Ivan steps forward, his eyes hard as flint. “Catarina won’t stop until she finds Eleanna, unless we can kill her first,” he states, the truth in his tone unmistakable.

“Or give me to her?” Eleanna asks, eyes narrowed.

“No,” I say. “He’s letting us know. She’ll come for you.” Already I see the carnage and torture Catarina will rain down in hopes of finding a rat to give up Eleanna. “Unless we stop her.”

Eleanna looks about. “She’ll wreak havoc, kill innocents.”

Is that remorse I hear? Perhaps there’s hope for her, after all.

“Then we’ll ensure the latter,” I say, the familiar fire of war igniting within me.

Henry’s lips thin into a line. “We must strike before she consolidates her power, General Amanar.” His hand is hovering above a strategic location on the map.

“Agreed.” Nicolai moves closer to the map as he studies it. “A preemptive attack could shift the balance in our favor, General.”

Marianne nods, her expression serious. “I fear Catarina might anticipate such a move. We should be prepared for anything.”

“And must keep her presence here secret. Anyone leaving must not know.” Ivan meets our gazes. “Or swear to die with that knowledge. Which, I do.”

The other add their assent. In my head I make a note to talk to both Eleanna and Ivan about who she’s seen and who knows. But since everyone wants the same thing, it won’t be a problem.

We dissect tactics and strategize formations while a flood of memories hits me—an onslaught of fervent passion and deep-seated pain. Eleanna, ever the enigma, straddles the linebetween ally and adversary. There was a time she was my entire world—the dangerous rhythm my heart danced to. But now? Our history’s a battleground littered with the fallout of betrayal and a love that’s been ravaged and left behind.

“Alexandru?”

Eleanna’s voice cuts through my reverie, and I refocus, masking my inner turmoil with the stoic facade of General Amanar.

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