Court Of Shadows and Lies

7. The Flames We Stroke

I turned away from Elliora, starting to walk, but her words kept pulling at me.

“Big sister,” she called me.

It wasn’t something I had heard in a long time—certainly not from her. I kept telling myself I didn’t care, didn’t need attachments in this house or this family. But something about her voice had shaken something loose inside me, something I hadn’t felt since I was her age.

Her footsteps behind me were quick and uncertain, and she hurried to catch up again, grabbing my hand once more, stopping me in my tracks. "Big sister Cessalie, please wait. Don't go. Please."

I stopped, letting out a sigh, and turned to face her. “What is it that you want now?” My tone was sharper than I intended, and I could see the fear flash in her wide, freckled face as she shrunk back.

Did I scare her?

I sighed, forcing my expression to soften, though it was harder than I thought. “What do you want, Elliora?” I asked again, this time in a gentler voice.

She lowered her eyes, shaking her head slightly. “Nothing. I just... I just wanted to thank you for today.”

I crossed my arms, my annoyance with Isla still bubbling beneath the surface, but I tried to push it down. “It’s fine. Someone needed to put that brat in her place.”

Elliora nodded, though there was still a hint of worry in her eyes. "But... Sister Meliora will not like this."

"Who cares?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You shouldn’t either. Just focus on yourself and don’t let them push you around.”

She frowned, looking down at the ground as if struggling with something. “But they’re Father’s favorites. What can I do?”

I clenched my jaw. Father doesn’t listen to anyone when it comes to his precious favorites. Rylan, Meliora, Isla—they were all untouchable in his eyes. But Elliora? She was an afterthought. Like me.

I sighed, pushing my thoughts aside and looking at her, her small frame trembling slightly. “Then you come straight to me, Elliora. If they try to bully you again, you run straight to me. I’ll make sure they don’t bother you.”

Her eyes widened with something like hope, though there was still hesitation there. But she nodded, and for the first time, I saw a hint of trust.

The day passed uneventfully, quiet, with nothing worth noting—until I was summoned to my father’s office. I had known it would happen sooner or later. As soon as I walked in, I saw them—Meliora and her bratty little sister, Isla. And of course, there was Kaelen too, lounging on the couch, not bothering to get involved as usual.

I know why I am called here. Those bitches have snitched.

My father sat behind his desk, absorbed in whatever work was in front of him. He looked up when I entered, and I couldn’t help but notice again how much he resembled his older brother. But the similarities ended at their appearance—he would never be half the man his brother was.

Clearing his throat, he looked at me, his expression unreadable.

I stood there, staring back at him, waiting for the inevitable. His gaze flicked briefly to Meliora and Isla, both of them looking smug, and then back to me.

"Cessalie," he began, his voice calm, but there was an edge to it, "I've heard some troubling things today."

Of course you have. They couldn't wait to run to you.

Meliora stepped forward, her tone honeyed but dripping with false innocence. "Father, I didn’t want to bother you with this, but Isla has been so upset since this afternoon. It’s hard for me to see her like this, especially when it’s all because of Cessalie."