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“What are you doing here?” Caelia demanded, her eyes hard. “Have you come to gloat?”
Her raised voice woke up Aracel, who sat up next to her brother, anxiously looking back and forth between us as she smoothed her hair. “Um, hello.”
“No.” I stared at her, remembering what she’d told Raenisa about her grandfather. She reminded me of Theron, forced onto a path that she hadn’t chosen herself or wanted to follow. “I came to talk to you.”
Caelia’s chin jutted out, defiance in her stance. “About what?”
“Your House.” I stepped closer to her, so she could see the sincerity in my gaze. “Your family.”
She huffed a bitter laugh. “What? Did you just realize that my relatives won’t pay your bounty to trade us? I could have told you that. The High Houses are cutthroat.”
I shook my head. “No. Theron hasn’t even written them to ask. That was never his intention.” Aracel’s eyes widened as if wondering what horrors we could have in store for her. “Though House Amyntas is offering enough money for Xavier that we could fund the entire war effort.”
“Prick,” Raenisa muttered under her breath.
Caelia’s mouth pressed into a thin line as she digested the information.
“So what do you want?” she asked, looking me in the eye.
I paused for a moment before answering. “I want you to join our cause.”
“What?” Raenisa looked at me sharply. “Did Theron approve this?”
“When have I ever asked his permission for anything?” I challenged, and she snorted, muttering under her breath about insolent concubines as I continued talking to Caelia. “I’m offering you a chance at a new life, one where you can make your own choices. To choose the life you want to have. Join us or not. You can leave and find a new life far away. Anything other than opposing Theron’s rule.”
Raenisa sucked in a breath, and there was a moment of silence as Caelia weighed her options. Her eyes narrowed on me. “Why would you risk it? What do you get out of this?”
I sighed. “The truth is, we need your help. We’re going to have to marshal all our forces to take down Nyana, and I believe that deep down, you want a world like the one we are trying to create. Your family has been hiding Endbringer for centuries... You must have some hope for the future. Plans of what you’d change when you became empress?”
“I never thought that far...” Caelia looked away, her gaze drifting out into the night sky. Seconds ticked by before she spoke again. “What would I have to do?”
I held her stare. “Stand by my side and lead your men into battle. Fight beside us and our allies as we dismantle the empire.”
Raenisa stilled beside me, holding her breath as Caelia considered me.
Her eyes were bright as she dipped her chin. “Alright, I’ll join you.” She glanced over at Raenisa. “I’m willing to fight for a chance at a different life.”
Xadrian whooped, pulling his sister into a hug that knocked them to the ground. “I’ve been hoping for this moment for years.”
Caelia rolled her eyes and punched him in the ribs. “I’m not joining the rebellion. I’m allying with House Axidor. It’s different.”
“Sure it is.” His eyes sparkled as he turned to me, gorgeous in a way that could take your breath away. If I’d been anyone else, I probably would have swooned. But only Theron held my heart.
I raised a brow. “According to Roza, all the rebels think you’re a traitor. As does the Niothe, since you targeted them in the battle.”
Aracel let out a small laugh, nervously twisting her hair. “Xadrian pissed off an entire army. I’m not surprised.”
Caelia chuckled as Xadrian rolled his eyes, and their bond struck me. They were a family. Not like the backstabbing nobles I’d met so far. They loved each other.
“Can you unlock our manacles now?” Aracel asked, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and wariness. “I need to use the bathroom and I’m sick of peeing in front of my brother.”
“I am too,” he muttered.
“Um, yeah sure.” I glanced at Raenisa and she shrugged.
“I don’t have it. You’ll need to get it from Theron.”
I winced. He’d said I had just as much authority as him, but I’d been pushing it today. “Fine. I’ll be right back.”
