Page 97 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
“Cordelia,” Sandra whispered, getting up from her chair.
Ignoring the withering glare our mother bestowed her with, my sister took a few slow steps toward me before her hands clutched around me in an embrace.
My fingers felt her long blonde hair as my eyes closed. My troubled mind calmed at the smell of home and caramel. “I missed you,” I whispered when Sandra’s silent tears spilled onto my shoulder.
“I knew you were alive,” she searched my eyes. “I felt it.”
“This is a council meeting, daughter,” the Queen bit out. Her pointed gaze fell onto Sandra. “Act like it or I will order you out.”
Sandra reluctantly let go of my shoulders, nodding, breaking the short-lived peace within me.
I scanned the table my mother sat at the head of. The familiar eyes of Mother’s council were filled with distrust as they glared down at me, including William Barren and his son.
Timothy’s eyes darted from mine to Francis’ as the blood drained from his face, though he quickly masked it with a disgusting smirk when Sandra took a seat beside him, noticeably moving the chair as far as possible from my former betrothed.
“Shall we?” Francis moved out chairs for me and Roxanne to sit across from my mother.
Florence chose to stand near the exit.
“I understand from your letter you have a proposition for me, Cordelia.” The Queen exclaimed; the crown, she rarely wore, sparkled with her every slight move. “I am listening.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, meeting her gaze. “We propose combining our forces: we are ready to protect your people as our own if you supply us with Royal steel weaponry and soldiers that are ready to put our differences aside and fight as one united army.” I glanced at Martin—the commander of my mother’s army—as he broke into laughter.
The man with a scar across his face, I had never met before, carried the laugh along with William and Timothy. Only Sandra, Mother, and Athena—an old woman with dark brown skin, whom my mother always went to for advice—stayed quiet.
“They want our army,” William Barren said through his laughter, yet it fell short when the Queen raised her hand, silencing the room.
“And what makes you think we need your help?” The Queen crooked her head so slightly.
“I am sure you are aware Wurdulacs attacked a village near Silverstone just a week ago.” I glanced at William Barren who now seemed to avoid my gaze at all cost. “It took dozens of our kind to stop that attack, and they’ve already taken so many lives.”
I studied my mother’s features, yet couldn’t find even a trace of concern in her eyes.
When the Queen hadn’t replied I continued, “Their goal during the attack was not to destroy the village, but to weaken our forces. It is just the beginning.” I paused, swallowing the lump that grew bigger. “Wurdulacs’ goal has always been to rule, it won’t be long until they come to the palace.”
I glanced at Sandra as my chest ached from the idea of her and the twins getting hurt.
“We protected the palace just fine the last time,” Timothy scoffed, placing his hand onto Sandra’s lap.
My breathing hilted; my stomach turned inside out. Timothy crooked his head, staring at me; a cruel smile spread across his face.
“With the help of our people,” Roxanne spat out, glaring at Timothy.
His brows furrowed when Roxanne’s words settled in before he looked at the council for confirmation.
“No matter how hard you try to ignore the fact, it is still a fact,” Francis chimed in. “The only thing that stopped Wurdulacs last time was the army of vampires that fought alongside humans.”
Sandra carefully moved Timothy’s hand away when our eyes locked. Her lips trembled when she forced a small smile. I gripped onto my chair to stop myself from strangling Timothy right here, in front of everyone.
“Wurdulacs are coming here, Mother.” I moved my gaze to her.
“Hm,” the Queen leaned to the side, listening to Athena’s whisper.
I fought back the urge to roll my eyes at such unnecessary theatrics. The meeting would already be over were we to have a normal conversation.
“We are proposing a temporary treaty that would allow us to work together against what we know will be another war.” Francis leaned on the back of my chair as though he couldn’t be bothered to partake in this nonsense of a meeting.
“And what makes you a trustworthy candidate to propose such an agreement?” Martin narrowed his eyes, his voice finally reminded me of the silhouette I caught Francis and Roxanne talking to all those months ago.
