Page 88 of Lies of the Wicked
Thessa stood on wobbly legs. “They deserve the truth. Everyone does.”
“I instructed Wayland to share the necessary details before we left. Your friends are likely taking it better thanyou.”
Thessa huffed. “So they know it’s a rebellion, and not just an encampment? About the possibility of war?”
He nodded. “Can you please sit back down now?”
“How long until the capital retaliates?”
“Considering a new carriage of soldiers arrives at my property and the McPorter’s every third day, they’re bound to suspect an uprising.”
“Is that where you’ve been sneaking off to? You said you had meetings.”
“Only to hear the reports from our spies. You didn’t think the capital would just give up?”
She was unnerved. “So we’re moving north, is it?”
Another nod.
“But what if we didn’t have to fight? What if the Supremes were open to a negotiation?”
Soren let out a small laugh. “The Supremes don’t want to talk, and Ido notwant to talk to them. I want tokillthem.”
“You wouldn’t try? If they’re expecting an uprising, then what’s the difference?”
“I would be too busy killing them to talk, is the difference.”
She rolled her eyes. “Then what about all the innocents in the capital? Will you at least warn them?”
Soren stood, towering over her. “No one is innocent in Gravenport.”
“You can’t possibly mean that. I’m from Gravenport.”
“That’s different.”
Thessa crossed her arms. “It’s entirely not different,” she snapped. “There are Celestial and Botanical witches living there. Witchlings, Soren. What about the Elementals that are forced to stay and don’t want to? Think about the McPorters.”
He lifted his chin. “With every battle comes casualties.”
Thessa scrunched her brows. “That’s not good enough.”
He tilted his head to the side and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to lead this army?”
“If it means being anything like you, then I’m positive I don’t.”
“Then you’ll sit back down and do as I say.”
She wondered who was standing across from her? All the warmth was drained from his face, his tone ... everything. She’d put trust into someone she barely knew. Too much trust.
Again.
She did this to herself, again.
Her lips trembled.
What have I done?
Without another thought her legs were moving. She was tearing through the tent flaps and pounding dirt beneath her bare feet. She flew through the center of camp, sprinted through an alleyway of canvas, and stopped short before the group of horses.
