“You’ll work yourself to death,” Roan said, finishing the wrapping around Devoria’s face. “I understand—“

“You do not.”

Devoria stared off, jaw clenched to the point of her teeth aching. Roan couldn’t possibly understand the weight of her failure. She was meant to protect her twin—the being she shared a womb with—and a mere disagreement had separated them. She had not stopped since the disappearance.

Whispers came her twin was long dead, slayed by the False Prince, Dante. Devoria would not believe it until she saw the body herself. Until she felt for her twin’s heart and found only quiet.

What had they argued about? Devoria had screamed and pushed. She wished she could take it back now.

“It is my responsibility to find our sibling,” she said in a calmer tone, despite her fingers itching to dig back into the open cut across her face. “You have other duties to attend to, brother.”

Roan flinched, lowering his gaze. He wanted to argue but something in her expression must’ve stopped him. Instead he nodded. “What of the prisoner?”

Devoria turned to the stare into the mirror. You’d cut her across the bridge of her nose. Not many could say they drew blood while dueling her. Devoria did not hold back on the battlefield. She’d become known for never taking prisoners, killing every single one of Aurelius’ soldiers and stringing their bodies up as a reminder that the rebellion against the False King lived. Aurelius sat on the throne now, but Devoria held the key to his defeat.

A bastard. The one Roan was meant to watch over.

“I will handle it,” she responded, standing. If Roan disagreed, she didn’t stay to hear it. He was her younger brother and she loved him, but he was soft of heart. Roan was built for politics and schemes, not breaking bones and plunging swords into people.

Her fellow soldiers greeted her as she passed them. They’d taken a plot of land for themselves, enough to set up tents outside while some stayed in the old Fidelis’ mansion. Cassius, her father, had been duke before Aurelius seized the throne. Cassius, her father, had lived before Aurelius seized the throne. The very thought of backstabbing, usurper king made her blood boil.

You were being kept in the small dungeons beneath the mansion. They had been using it for storage before Devoria gave the order to throw you inside until you regained consciousness. Normally she would’ve killed you, but her twin was behind enemy lines and you might hold knowledge of some sort of whereabouts.

You were one of the generals for Aurelius, after all.

Devoria slammed a hand against the metal bars to focus your attention on her. “You did not bleed out,” she commented lightly. Despite hating you, despite wanting you dead, Devoria could admit respect when she saw a worthy fighter. “Good. I have questions that you’ll need to answer if you wish not to starve here. I’m sure the Usurper King would not want his general dead just yet.”

She assumed Aurelius must’ve sent you here. To take back the land or attempt to kill rebels, she wasn’t certain. The endeavor was fruitless, however. Her soldiers easily outnumbered the measly group you’d brought with you. It was as though you’d been sentenced to death.

“Will you speak?” She couldn’t afford to let any emotion show. No weakness. “Or do you wish to rot here another day?”