Solar Reign

X I I I

Aihfie nearly flinched as she looked back up at Roseria. Surprise and shock passed her face, and something very close to fear followed in its path. "How did you get to Averotho? No one goes to Averotho. Are you insane?"

Kyle digested the words, but didn't understand them. How could he, when he had been raised not in Anlithamy? Or, was he unaware because he was nothing more than a commoner? Anger hissed against his skin as he clenched his hands into fists.

Once a commoner, always a commoner. The thought tasted bitter on his tongue.

"I can make gates. Or have you forgotten that? Anyway, I told him about the leadership of our Queen. I think he may be advantageous for us."

Aihfie now looked beyond angry. Much like her brother, shadows gathered and pooled around her feet, a sign of just how pissed she really was. "You're foolish. What if he comes here? What if he decides to take Anlithamy? Or have you forgotten why Averotho has been hidden all of this time? Don't tell me you are really that ignorant?"

Roseria was stubborn to a fault. A lesser fae would have taken a step back at the chill in Aihfie's voice, but not Roseria. She tilted her chin up in clear defiance. "You aren't seeing the bigger picture. He can end Andorra. I told him something that would ensure her death."

"What does it matter? Anders is dead. Who would take over in her place? Anltihamy has been without a ruler for decades, and now you're trying to kill the only heir to the throne? Leaving it completely empty for Kaeberon. Are you dense?"

Roseria shook her head. She ran her tongue over her teeth. She had a plan, messy as it was, but she needed Aihfie's support. Needed the numbers. Needed the alliance. Despite disliking Prince Puck and his children, Roseria knew that they were similar to herself. All teeth, all bite, all bark. Anltihamy needed that more than ever.

"You're not thinking big picture. We can choose someone for the throne-"

"No. Cornomous chooses the heir. If he didn't, my father would be King. Our best bet is to control Andorra. Control her movements, her decisions, her thoughts. That would be easiest." The finality in Aihfie's tone was surprising to Roseria. It seemed that she was not the only one plotting against the throne.

Kyle, tired of not being included, interjected. "How? Control her how?"

Aihfie turned to him with a raised brow. She assessed him for a moment, clicking her tongue at what she found. "You'd be a good start."

Roseria rolled her eyes. She had already made the same assessment. "Wiping Andorra's memory is already in the works. We have that planned."

"Then why bother with the King? Why did you visit him? If you already planned on making a puppet of Andorra, why are you sniffing to other continents?"

Roseria couldn't help but explode. Couldn't help but snarl in Aihfie's face. "Because she doesn't even deserve to be a puppet! She deserves death for what she did to Anders! She deserves death for coming here, to our home, and taking over as if she knows what is best for us!"

The silence in the clearing was loud. Both Roseria and Aihfie blinked at each other, tension wrapping around all of them. The anger and the hate was loud in Roseria's voice. When Aihfie tilted her head, she saw Roseria in a new light.

"You loved him."

Roseria bit her own tongue, upset at herself for losing control. But, it didn't matter anymore who knew; Anders was dead. But, he didn't have to be.

"King Kaeberon has connections to the Deathwringer. I want to resurrect Anders. And once he is resurrected, he could take the throne."

Aihfie felt something dark brush against her throat. She didn't dare blink, not against that truth and revelation. It wasn't possible. It wasn't possible. "No. Even if you could bring him back, he would not be the same. That would be unnatural."