Prescott kept his arm wrapped around Kerrigan’s shoulders as he drew them into the room. No one would know the city was at war here. Everything was resplendent with throw pillows and thick carpets. Candles lit the space with wax dripping down over large candelabras. Arbor lay out across a divan like a welcoming goddess and not a usurper.

“You didn’t say you were bringing the girl,” Arbor said, letting the lush red of her skirts fall to the floor.

“Change of plans,” Kerrigan said. “I was instructed not to let him do anything stupid. So, here I am, doing stupid things with him.”

Fordham’s scowl deepened. “This isn’t stupid. It’s necessary.”

“Yeah, Kerrigan,” Prescott said with a wink. “Necessary.”

“Pres, leave her alone,” Arbor said.

He made a face at his sister and headed over to a table, where he poured red wine from a decanter. “A toast to our victory?” he asked, offering drinks all around.

Fordham and Kerrigan both declined. She liked Arbor and Prescott, but they were on opposite sides of this fight.

“Fine. Sister,” he drawled, passing one to Arbor.

“Why must you instigate?”

“It’s my best feature,” he joked and then leaned back against the table.

“You said you were willing to listen,” Fordham accused his cousins.

“And we are,” Arbor said. “If you are as well.”

“You have to stop this before it gets worse.”

Arbor rose to her feet, and Kerrigan saw for the first time what she had missed all those nights in the House of Shadows. Arbor wasn’t some forgotten puppy, falling after her cousin who had all the power. She aspired to power.

“Before what gets worse? Because as far as I can see, things can only get better. The wall is down, Fordham. It is what we always wanted. Now, we can leave the mountain and find a place of our own.”

“By conquering nearby cities? By killing everyone inside?”

“We didn’t kill everyone,” she said with a feline smile. “And here I thought you were coming to join us. How easy it would be in this battle to take down your wretched father and claim your rightful place on the throne.”

“I’m not interested in patricide,” he said evenly.

“And it would never happen that way,” Kerrigan interjected. “The Society is here. You can never hold out against us.”

Arbor assessed Kerrigan and then dismissed her. “What are forty dragons against ten thousand trained fighters? This isn’t our first war. We know what we’re up against.”

“I don’t think that you do,” Fordham said. “If you surrender now, then I can negotiate favorable terms.”

“Surrender?” Prescott asked. “After we won Lethbridge in a fair fight? That’s laughable.”

“You will all be slaughtered,” Fordham snapped. “I am trying to do the right thing. If you will not listen, then I will find someone who will.”