But it hadn’t mattered.
She’d still done it.
Astra shook her head. “Sounds like someone I wouldn’t want to piss off.”
“Hmm,” Ivonne said as she crossed the room. “You see, to me, it sounds like yet another traitor in a long line of women who wouldn’t know the first thing about protecting their court.”
Astra scoffed. “You sure you want to talk about mother-daughter loyalty, Ivonne?”
Something in her eyes flashed, so slightly, so impossibly subtly that no one else in the room would know the violet fear that gripped her by the throat. She swallowed her irritation and decided it was in her best interest to move forward.
“What did you really come here for, Princess?”
I found where they’re keeping Lumas, Ameera beamed. And some information I think will be helpful.
“I came to see for myself what’s happened to a once beautiful city. Shame, I’ll have to report such conditions back to my mother.”
Ivonne’s face reddened. “That would concern me if your mother ever deigned to leave her throne and do something about the infections spreading in her court. Alas, we both know I have no reason to worry.”
“I suppose only time will tell,” Astra replied, rising from her seat. The rest of the council watched her as she descended the stairs and made to pass Ivonne, who stepped into her path.
“When you tell your dear mother of what you’ve seen, be sure to include who helped the rebels consume the city. She knows exactly what to do with traitors.”
The word tickled Astra’s ears, the space she kept vacant in her heart for a certain tall blonde throbbing. She’d used the word twice now—traitor. The intentions behind each syllable were laced with venom. Astra turned her eyes to the High Priestess’s frigid glare.
“Do not fret, Ivonne. I’ll give her every sordid detail.”
Astra pushed through the room, carrying her chin high, even as a stinging flood of uncertainty crashed through her veins.
Astra jogged through the hallway, her day dress slipping against the onyx tile behind her.
Where are you? She sent across the temple, searching for the buzzing golden energy of Ameera’s mind.
Lobby, she sent back as Astra rounded the corner.
Ameera leaned over the altar table, gathering a stack of documents and books into a woven bag, the kind the priestesses carried back and forth from services.
Helena giggled as she helped her stuff one more book inside.
“I’ll see you this evening?” Ameera asked as she caught Helena’s warm gaze.
“Looking forward to it,” Helena replied, resting the tips of her fingers against her chin.
“She’s quite pretty,” Astra observed as they exited the temple gardens and looked both ways down the city street. “Where are you taking her?”
“She’s taking me to an art gallery in the Sixth District. Will you be okay on your own for the evening?”
Astra wiggled her eyebrows as she spotted the creaking sign swaying in the breeze over The Waning Wren. “I’m sure I can find something to entertain myself.”
“And the commander.”
“Oh, shit. Yes. Forgot about him.” Astra pushed the wooden door open and let Ameera enter the dim pub. The walls were already lined with people, despite the early evening hour.
“We made out pretty good,” Ameera said softly. “Ivonne has been panicked over the Rift’s leaks for months now. Helena wasn’t sure about the details, but she’s been pulling texts on the wards and origins. She also overheard Ivonne arguing with your mother at the Spring Equinox in Lunaria. She accused your mother of covering up something for Selenia.”
Astra shivered. “Selenia? Why would she be in leagues with Selenia? They barely tolerated each other before her Ascent.”
The girls stepped up to the bar, the busy eyes of the bartender landing on them momentarily before pulling another pint for the man next to them.
