Page 96 of Lady for Embers

“Yes,” Talwyn said con?dently. “They have been wronged as much as the rest of us. The only difference is they recognized it before the rest of us and tried to ?ght back against them.”

Arianna glanced at her brother, a look passing between them, and Talwyn pushed forward, intending to capitalize on whatever this ?icker of indecision meant.

“We have always had a good relationship, have always worked for the betterment of my people and yours. My desire was always to see you free to roam and not trapped in these lands.”

“And yet you are not the one who relieved us of our shackles,” Stellan said.

“Just because she accomplished the task ?rst does not mean I did not intend for and desire the same outcome,” she replied.

“And yet actions still speak louder than words,” the Alpha countered.

“So I am the villain because she had access to resources I do not?”

“You are asking us to align ourselves with you when you openly admit you do not have access to the same resources she does?” Arianna replied, her head back in her palm. “That does not seem in our best interest. Being on the losing side of this war will likely ?nd us con?ned once more.”

“So loyalty means nothing?” Talwyn demanded. “You now decide who to throw your lot in with based solely on resources and power?”

“Sweet child,” Arianna simpered with a low laugh. “It is a commendable effort. The puppet can report back that you truly did make a decent argument and a good attempt at manipulating our incredibly tender sensibilities. But open war? Of course we will take into account resources and power. You would be wise to do the same.”

“What makes you think I have not?”

“You stand on one side, and we stand on the other,” Arianna answered, gesturing to the ground.

Talwyn looked down to ?nd the toes of her boots at the edge of a large crack along the pave stones. Looking back up, she met the Beta’s eyes. “So that is it, then? You have chosen? War lines are being drawn. Soon you will not be able to change sides.”

“You would do well to remember that, young queen,” Arianna agreed. She pushed to her feet, Stellan rising beside her. “The light and the dark are intertwining, and you choose the side of neither. The side that will be left with nothing.”

“What exactly makes you certain that we will lose?” Talwyn challenged.

“Because the light and the dark have everything to ?ght for.”

“Ihave everything to ?ght for,” Talwyn snapped.

“You did at one point in time,” Arianna agreed. “Now it appears all you have is a puppet, and someone pulling both your strings.”

Chapter 20

Scarlett

The sun was out. There was not a cloud to be seen. Just clear blue skies and a sun so bright she had to squint against thelight.

Thank Anala, Saylah, Arius. Fuck, she’d even thank the Fates at this point. Spending so much time in the freezing northern continent had her willing to sacri?ce anything they demanded of her to just have this moment in the sun.

She propped her hands behind her head, basking in the warmth on her face as she stretched out atop a bench on the navigation deck at the back of the ship. Other than climbing the main mast to the lookout platform, this was the closest she could get to the burning ball of ?re in the sky.

Her power levels were ?ne, not full, but ?ne enough. She was trying not to take too much from Sorin, especially after Beatrix’s cryptic warning a few days ago about his magic being the cost of crossing the Veil back to their realm. She had too many other things to worry about before she could deal with the other thing Sorin had learned.

Apparently Beatrix knew the Sorceress.

But she was going to need full reserves tonight. And so was Cassius.

Which meant they were both going to need to top off their power wells.

For four days, she and Cassius had been Traveling back and forth between here and Pyry. And with each passing day, the waters they were sailing in seemed to get darker and darker. Callan had told her what Tava had said, and the Lady was right. The waters were slowly turning black.

Or they had been.

For the last two days she could swear they were hardly moving even though the Fae captain of the ship assured her they were still making progress west.

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