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“Yes. Perhaps it’s time I should explain that rescuing Jacob is not a priority for this rebellion.” I opened my mouth to speak, but she held her hand out to silence me. “Let me finish, child.”

I snapped it closed.

“The Dissenters stand in a precarious situation. The attack at our camp was a serious blow, and it left us with little resources. Thankfully, the North has been a generous ally, and they have been supplementing us ever since the attack.” She took a deep breath before looking at me. “How much do you know about the Civil Wars?”

I considered the question. “I know a little…mostly what they taught us in the academy.”

“Ah yes…the Telvian version of history. Then you know some, but not all. Perhaps it is time for you to learn a little more to gain a better understanding of what we are doing here.”

My curiosity piqued. I really knew nothing about the wars, only that they happened. But Sasha’s comment about theTelvian version of historymade me wonder if the story I knew was the real story at all, or if it was another form of deception thrown on the Telvian people to keep them loyal to Raúl.

“I recommend you sit for this part, child. The history of the UFA is not a pretty one.”

12: Schemes

This time, I took her recommendation and sat. Sasha cleared her throat, breathing deeply, and then began.

“During the Great Drought, the country that was once the United States broke out into chaos. The divide between federal power versus the power of the states grew into such turmoil that the government collapsed and the second civil war, known as the Division War, broke out. Each state fought for its share of dwindling resources. Smaller states banned together, while many of the larger states fought for their own independence. In the end, the war caused the entire country to divide itself into four factions—the North, South, East, and West. Yes?”

I nodded, acknowledging I knew this part.

She gave a soft nod in response and continued. “The Senate and the House of Representatives was disbanded. It was a broken system that no longer worked with the divide at the time. Instead, each faction voted on a representative who acted as the president of that faction. Those elected leaders formedthe Council of the United Factions. Philip Calvernon—Wes’s grandfather—was voted for the North. Mary Smith for the South, Johnathan Laurence for the East, and my brother, Derek, for the West.”

What?Sasha had a sibling who was one of the original council members? My shock must have been written all over my face because she paused for a moment, giving me time to process the information before she continued.

“As time pressed on and the drought continued, the weather worsened, becoming more violent and unpredictable. The Council struggled to make decisions because everyone was too focused on what was best for their specific faction versus what would be best for all involved. Alliances between regions were fickle at best. And, if I am to speak truthfully, our governments functioned more like monarchies than a republic or a democracy. Once each ruling family had power, nobody wanted to lose it.” She shook her head, eyes glassing over, before she let out a long sigh. “Power has that effect on people, I’m afraid.” She shifted in her seat, blinking a few times before she returned her attention to me.

“Derek was a fair ruler—a monarch—but a fair ruler, nonetheless. He could have been better, though, and there came a time when the people of the West wanted a new president. But my brother refused to give up his seat, and no matter how much I counseled him, he just didn’t listen. Talk of revolution sprung up among the people, and slowly Derek lost favor with his constituents. That, child, is when Raúl de la Puente came into power.”

My whole body tensed at the mention of my father. Never had I heard the full story…especiallynot in Telvia. In Telvia, the history books told the tale of a hero who stood up against a tyrant and reintroduced democracy to a war-torn land. I wasseeing that it wasn’t all a lie, but it wasn’t all true either—a careful entanglement of myth and reality.

Sasha methodically rubbed her hands together as she pressed on. “Raúl led a military coup in the West. He was a brilliant strategist—just phenomenal in his understanding of military tactics. He was young then, maybe twenty-five at most. But he had the respect of every general in my brother’s army. It was just all too easy for him to take over…all in one silent night of infinite screaming and horror that I don’t think I will ever forget.” Sasha’s eyes glistened, unfocused, as though her mind had wandered into the past. “I escaped that night. I fled to the South, but my brother and his family never made it out.”

I pressed my fingers to my parted lips.

“Shortly after the West was lost, Raúl’s talks of freedom and democracy spread across the UFA like wildfire, and people across the remaining three regions were intrigued. Raúl called for people to rise against their kings and queens that called themselvespresidents.” A pained smile consumed her lips, never reaching her eyes. “He wasn’t wrong, child. That’s the worst part. The Council of the UFA had indeed become monarchical, and that truth sang in the hearts of the people. They rose up. The entire UFA was thrown into chaos, into a third civil war—”

“The Loyal War,” I interrupted.

Sasha nodded. “Yes, the Loyal War. The war between faction loyalists and Raúl’s rebels.”

I didn’t think my mouth could open any wider. Once upon a time, Raúl had been the rebel. My how the tables had turned.

“As you already know, we feared Raúl’s intentions of conquering the South. Your mother promised you to Chase Calvernon in exchange for aid to the South, but they never made it in time. Raúl invaded, and your mother and I fled north when the region was taken. President Smith, I’m afraid, was not solucky. Just like my family, Raúl had Mary executed, along with her entire line of descendants.”

“Oh my god…”

“Yes,” she spoke somberly, “it was awful. A true loss…” Sasha shifted her gaze, but not before I caught the glint of moisture in her eyes. “My brother was a good man, Mara. Confused, perhaps, but a good man. And unlike Derek, Mary was truly wonderful for her people…” She paused, her lips slipping into a frown, “and she was a good friend.”

I was shocked. I had no idea that Raúl had slaughtered an entire generation of two different families to ensure they could never challenge his rule. And I had no idea that Sasha’s brother had been the ruler of an entire faction, either. No wonder she was hellbent on dethroning Raúl. He betrayed the original council members, murdered her friends and family, and took away her entire region! It all made sense. Everything slipped into place, each piece of the puzzle clarifying the story further until I really understood what was happening.

At least half of the Telvian people were once Westerners…people who had voted Sasha’s family into power, depended on their judgment, relied on their leadership. Raúl’s actions meant that the De’vor’s failed their people. And now, they suffered under the hands of a tyrant.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew what this was all really about. Sasha wanted her faction back. What’s more, she wanted revenge. And if there was one thing I had learned from Belinda, it was that revenge and power were superb motivators.

“I-I’m sorry, Sasha. I didn’t know.”

She blinked her eyes softly, clearing the moisture as she pursed her lips, obviously trying her best to keep control of her emotions. “Yes, well, now you do.”