Kalie arched an eyebrow. “Have you looked in a mirror?”
With a less-than-ladylike growl, Selene stomped towards her. Mother stopped her with a raised hand.
“I think it’s time we take our leave from this court.” Mother’s face could’ve been carved from ice. “I know when I’m not wanted.”
“Obviously not, or you would’ve cleared out before I returned home.”
Selene spat a curse and stormed through the door. Mylis caught it before it could close.
Mother paused before him. “The traitor’s son.” She turned her nose up at Kalie. “Clearly you’re worse off than I thought, if you have to resort to hiring filth like this.”
Mylis didn’t flinch.
Her words sank into Kalie like barbs, though, and she curled her hands into fists. “I trust Mylis more than I trust either of you.”
“And my sister trusted his father with her life.” Mother sniffed, peering at Mylis like he was vermin. “Look where it got her.”
Pointing at the door, Kalie bared her teeth. “Out.”
Mother stopped on the threshold. “I’m going to give you a final word of advice, Kalista, even though you’re too prideful to appreciate it. Having a title does not earn you power or respect.” Her brows knitted, her lips pinched together, then she exhaled sharply and spun on heel. “I hope that lesson is less painful for you than it was for me.”
As Mother strode out, Kalie collapsed on the sofa. Gods, her head was pounding. Her throat was tight, and though she blinked rapidly, her stinging eyes burned.
“Give me a moment, Mylis,” she whispered, but the door didn’t close.
Zane stepped inside. Judging by the storm brewing on his face, he wasn’t happy.
Kalie rubbed her eyes. “What?”
“That meeting was a mistake.”
“Every meeting with those two is a mistake.”
“No. The other meeting.”
Raising her head, Kalie met his smoldering gaze. One of the gods must’ve been having a terrible day, because they seemed determined to ruin hers.
“The Speaker said this is a righteous war, and she’s foreseen our victory.”
“I don’t give a damn what some ancient hag says. War is unpredictable, brutal, deadly?—”
She gave him the most reassuring smile she could muster. “I understand it’s concerning, but Azura herself whispers to the Speaker?—”
“On Oppalli, we only have one god.” Kalie’s brows pinched together at the abrupt change of topic, but Zane powered on, pale and strained. “Mordir. Death. He doesn’t pick sides and save people. He waits for them to slaughter each other, so he can take their souls to hell and feast on their misery.”
The lights flickered. Outside the window, trees shuddered violently.
Kalie frowned. “That’s a pretty sad thing to believe.”
“It’s a realistic thing to believe.” Zane stormed back and forth, flexing his fists. Specks of grass and mud stained her cream-colored rug in his wake. “There’s not some magic court waiting in heaven to save our asses. If there was, we’d still have families. So you can go on believing whatever stupid old myths you want, but the Federation’s a shitty place. You can’t take the word of some ancient crone that everything’s going to be alright.”
She bit back a huff of exasperation.I don’t have the patience for this right now,she nearly said, but the pain on his face stopped her.
“You don’t believe there’s anything after?”
“Hell, I guess.”
“Nothing better? Zane…” Kalie sucked in a breath. “You don’t think you’ll ever see your family again?”
