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T his 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 formed the 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… especially not 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 was seeing 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 themselves presidents .

” 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 so lucky.

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.”

I rubbed my brow, history echoing in my mind. “Sasha, when Raúl took over the southwest, what happened after that?”

Her gaze flickered to me, the gentle wrinkles of her face crinkling as she grimaced. “You were born in the South, did you know that?”

My eyes widened. “What?”

She nodded, pursing her lips. “I was there when you were born, child. A cool spring night—I’ll never forget it—and your mother fought hard to bring you into this world.

” Her eyes glistened with emotion. Then she shook her head once more.

“When Raúl took control of the South, that’s when you were taken from your mother.

She fought hard, but she was horribly outnumbered, and I made her leave you behind. It was the only way.”

My mother. A woman I never met and always thought had abandoned me on my father’s doorstep, had actually been a rebel.

And she didn’t abandon me…I was taken from her.

Taken by Raúl. Why? No one knew. But I was stolen from her, and now she was believed to be dead.

I worked my jaw, trying hard to suppress the sting of unshed tears in my throat.

Sasha folded her hands on the table, straightening her back. “After that, your father set his sights on the North, but they managed to keep him at bay. And so, we find ourselves here.”

I pressed my lips together, trying to muscle the flood of painful emotions under control.

“This might come as a surprise to you, child, but the North does not aid this rebellion out of sheer good will. They fear that Raúl’s incessant need for power will drive him into another attempt to conquer the North again.

And our allies to the east know that if the North should fall, they have no hope of surviving a war against Raúl. ”

Sasha leaned back in her chair, folding her hands on her lap.

“You see, child, human beings are motivated by wealth, power, survival, and revenge. It’s that simple.

Don’t ever make the mistake I made all those years ago and think that people will sacrifice themselves or their positions simply because they care.

” She leaned forward, her voice portentous. “There is always a deeper motive.”

My stomach twisted, and I suddenly felt itchy on the inside, shifting in my chair uncomfortably. I understood Sasha’s position, but I didn’t like it. It didn’t feel right, and it left a sour taste in my mouth. I attempted to change the subject.

“So why did you tell me all this? What does this have to do with my brother?”

Sasha tipped her head softly, acknowledging the question before rolling her shoulders back and facing me straight on.

“I tell you this story because I want you to fully understand our position in the rebellion.

The attack on our base was disastrous, and it left the Dissenters with nothing to offer the North.

Whatever leverage we had to secure their aid is now gone.

By the grace of god, they continue to assist us, but I must tread carefully in how I utilize their resources.

If my propositions leave nothing to be gained for them, then it is highly doubtful they would agree to it.