Page 59 of A Heart of Crimson Flames
“Are you going to put them with the others?” she asked, trembling. “Are you going to hurt them?”
“No,” I said, cocking my head at her. “You... you are protecting them?”
She nodded. “I am, Your Highness.”
Maez appeared beside me and the woman cowered again. “Why?” she snapped. “Why help the Wolves?”
I rolled my eyes and turned toward Maez. I put a hand on her side and forced her backward, hissing, “Let me handle this, please?”
“They’re only children,” the woman was responding. “They aren’t responsible for the evils of their parents.”
“And the parents? Where are the rest of the Onyx Wolves? Have any survived?”
“All those old enough to fight are gone,” she said. “Broken up into two factions by order of King Tadei.”
“How do you know all of this?” I asked.
“I worked in the nursery, Your Highness,” she answered. “The walls have ears in this place and the staff likes to talk. Well, that was before...”
“And where are the pups now?”
“Most of them gone, the staff took them, left to their homes in the city and on other islands.” She looked embarrassed as she added, “They took what treasures they could carry as well and left.”
“Two factions, you said,” I continued. “We know of the one going to Taigoska. The other?”
“West,” she said. “They are sweeping up toward Highwick to join King Nero’s war.”
“Gods.” I swallowed thickly. “The pups?” I asked, my mind snagging on something the woman had told us. “You asked if we were going to put them with the others—what others?”
Her eyes flared and she pointed a shaking finger to the ceiling. “King Tadei has taken them.” Her voice cracked. “They’re barricaded in the southern tower with him.”
My stomach curdled and Maez took a decided step toward the stairwell. I grabbed her by the wrist to stall her.
“Go back to wherever it is you came from,” I told the woman. “And send word. There will be more young ones to look after soon.”
The woman scurried past, keeping her eyes locked on Maez until she was far down the hall.
“Let’s go find the tower,” I said, pulling her wrist from my grip. “We’ll rescue the pups and then we head to Damrienn to join Calla’s fight.”
“Damrienn?” Maez sidled over to me and swept her hands up my curves. “I’ve made other promises to you.”
“You can’t be serious.” I looked at her like she’d grown two heads. “Those promises can wait,” I muttered. “I know you don’t want to face him, but we must help in this fight.”
“We have no business in Damrienn.”
“Maez,” I snapped. “Grae is your cousin. Sadie is your friend.”
“I don’t have friends anymore,” she said. “I am not so weak. I have told you I won’t intervene in this, Princess. I will do what I can from here and be happy of it. It is more than any sorcerer has done before.
“I amnotfighting for the Golden Court.”
“But you have to!” I blustered. “People we love could die.”
“Peopleyoulove could die,” she countered, then sighed, almost weary. “How many times do I have to tell you all this?” She shook her head. “Do you want me to go drop you off on the battlefield like I did in Taigos? I offered you a chance to join your twin and take up arms against Damrienn and you chose to stay with me.This,” she said, gesturing up and down her body, “isme.”
It was. And yet despite everything, it wasn’t. I was changing, yes. But not so completely that I was a whole other person. I didn’t think it was the same for her, either. The darkness she embodied—thedarkness I was starting to embrace—could be strength and bravery and justice, too. The righteousness of a sharpened blade. This power didn’t need to equate to indifference. I just needed to make her see it.
“I chose you,” I said. “Istilldo. But damn it, Maez, we need to go help them!”
