Page 44 of Echoes of the Raven
I frown, curiosity overtaking my anger at her backhanded comment about my sister. Sara holds a seat on the council, like her mother Ana Plumanegra and her grandmother Teresa Plumanegra before that.
With cold calculation, she examines my reaction, then delivers her venom as I knew she would. “The taint of the fae shall soon be removed from our streets.”
I feared this was where Sara was going, yet the words cut me deeply. I convinced myself that Amira would not dare present the proposal to the council and wash her hands of our heritage.
Somehow, I manage to keep my feelings hidden from this viper and say, “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re referring to, Sara.” I sidestep her and walk away. “My apologies, I have somewhere to be,” I add as an afterthought.
She huffs, then throws her words at my back. “You and Jago could have benefited from a proper governess. A horse has better manners.”
I stop and do my best to bite my tongue, but this battle was lost many years ago when Sara and I were little girls, and she taunted me with jokes about my dead mother.
Calmly, I turn, push my face close to hers, and say in a soft voice, “I believe you’re wrong. A horse would have already stomped on your snake head.”
She gasps audibly, pressing a hand to her chest.
As I step back, I wink. “And your governess can’t hold a candle to Nana. At least she taught me to respect other people’s dead parents, so I’ll refrain from making jokes about yours. Have a good day, Gran Duquesa.” I curtsy with exaggerated deference, then turn onmy heel and leave.
It takes me several passes up and down an empty hall to calm down and gather my thoughts. When I feel capable of facing Amira, I head toward her study.
Rolling my shoulders, I knock on the door. Renata peeks out and offers me a smile.
“Does Amira have a moment? I wish to talk to her,” I say.
The adviser is gone for a moment, then returns and lets me in. “She can see you now.” After I enter, she closes the door behind her, leaving me alone with my sister.
Amira is waiting for me with her arms crossed over the desk.
My gaze darts toward the cabinet where the Plumanegra keys are kept. I wait for her to demand where The Eldrystone is, but it appears my sleight of hand remains unnoticed. An urge gnaws at me to swap my key with Amira’s before my luck runs out.
“Renata told me you met with Don Justo just now. How did it go?” she asks.
“I’m handling him.”
She narrows her eyes, and I think she will press me further, but she lets it go. “Good.”
I know this means she has decided to trust me. I wish I could do the same, but I think she’s making a big mistake.
“I ran into Sara,” I say.
Amira says nothing. She simply holds my gaze.
“You can’t,” I manage.
“I have to. We need to quiet the unrest, and this is the best way.”
“It’s… not right.”
Fluidly, she pushes to her feet, hands flat on the desk. “And what they did to our family… is that right?”
“Orys is dead, Amira.”
“And what about Rífíor and the veilfallen who escaped? What about those fae still out there who will continue to do harm to our denizens?” She points vaguely in the direction of the city, her finger shaking.
“They can be punished for their crimes, but the innocent shouldn’t have to pay for the mistakes of others.”
“Well, you and I are paying. Regardless.”
“Amira, please, you must think this through. This… action can’t be part of your legacy.”
