“Estrella was saying she doesn’t think she deserves the title of tsarina,” Roman remarked.
I shot him an incredulous glare, but before I could retort, Isabella’s sweet yet commanding voice rose above the din. “That is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I’m just an acolyte. I know nothing about ruling, Bells,” I murmured.
She crossed her arms, her beautiful face twisted in a stubborn anger that made me want to cower. “I was just an acolyte too, but when the opportunity to make a difference was presented to me, I took it. Are you honestly going to tell me you don’t want the chance to make a difference?”
“But—”
Her chair scraped loudly against the rough wooden floor as she shot to her feet. “No buts! What about everyone else? Catina was just a girl who dreamed of love but was left for dead; Razvan was just a sick boy who fantasized about adventure; Sorin and Roman were just children looking for family. Even Enso was the second youngest in his family, thrust into a position of power too early. Are you saying none of us deserve our positions?”
I gaped at her, at a loss for words. There was no rational argument against her point. She was right. Wasn’t this exactly what I had wanted when I awakened from that darkness, realizing how wretched the world was and how helpless I was in fixing it? As tsarina, I could incite real change and help both acolytes and humans alike.
After all… I glanced at the vampires around me. My family, yet also a reminder of humanity’s enslavement. The entire ruling cabinet consisted of vampires responsible for the well-being of humans. Predators ruling over their prey. I could be the first step in changing that. Didn’t humans deserve a chance at freedom? It didn’t matter if I felt ready; I needed to rise to the challenge.
A gentle warmth brushed against my temple. Roman had pressed a kiss there, a tender touch that sent butterflies fluttering through my stomach. “As I said, our people will be fortunate to have you, and I’ll be the happiest man alive with you ruling by my side. What do you say, Your Highness?”
I smiled, my eyes fluttering shut. “Let’s set the world ablaze, mylove.”
“And watch it burn,” he purred.
“Is that ever going to stop?” Enso grumbled, grimacing at our display of affection.
“I doubt it,” Razvan replied with a bemused chuckle.
“The uncomfortable sexual tension before was easier to tolerate,” Catina added.
I blushed, realizing we had quickly become that couple who couldn’t be around others. “Aren’t we supposed to be discussing the new information?”
“That was the plan, if you two ever stop groping each other,” Catina retorted.
I stuck my tongue out at her, and she smirked in return. Our relationship had improved since my rescue, especially as we collaborated on plans for our acolyte rehabilitation store. It was a shame Edward had slipped through her grasp. Knowing what I did now, the ghosts of his touch haunted me, a trauma I doubted I would ever escape. Though Codran had hurt me, Edward was just as much a monster and deserved a painful end.
“Codran revealed that Mihal has already won over the Pantera House and is currently negotiating with the Azu House. They’ve established a stronghold in Cacera now,” Roman announced.
“We all know what will happen if they gain the support of the Panteras and the Azu. Those are the two largest Houses, controlling roughly half the land and resources in the world. We cannot let him win over the Azu. Have we been in contact with Mami?” Enso asked.
Razvan nodded. “I can send a letter to her immediately.”
“We should mobilize you there with a small squadron of warriors, just in case they aren’t friendly,” Isabella suggested.
“I can send four of my soldiers with him; it would be wise to have aFjällräv presence,” Ylva added, her bare feet resting on the table as she slouched back in her chair—the picture of relaxation, though her eyes and ears remained perked forward.
“After the execution. I want everyone here for that; it will present a united front,” Isabella stated.
Enso rubbed his hand over his jaw. “Then we need to schedule the execution soon. Mihal already has an advantage; we can’t afford delays.”
“The day after tomorrow is the full moon; two days after that, we’ll host the execution. We don’t want it too close to the full moon, or that could complicate things,” Roman said.
“What about the town?” I interjected. We had made considerable progress in the past week, but it would be a long time before it was fully repaired. They still needed us.
“We’d do more harm than good if we kept our armies here during the full moon. We need to disperse for now,” Roman replied gently, his thumb brushing over my hand again, even as I frowned.
“We should send some support after the full moon; that would give them a full month of aid, and they should be mostly rebuilt by then,” I proposed.
Isabella smiled knowingly at me. “You and I can work on the logistics of that. I’m sure we can spare a few soldiers to come help after the full moon.”
I nodded. “And what about the other Houses? If Mihal has already reached out to the Pantera and Azu Houses, shouldn’t we contact the rest?”
