Ramesh cleared his throat and gently extended a bottle of water toward her like one might offer a piece of meat to a cornered animal. "Here," he said. "Just… take a sip of this. Slow your breathing. Think twice before ordering us to invade Ferry Island out of spite."
Emily snatched it from his hand, glared outside the window, then huffed out a humorless laugh. "That is exactly what I am thinking. Why take only the fortress. Why not take the whole city? Why share power when I can rule alone?"
The car fell into uneasy silence, broken only by the hum of the engine and Emily's sharp exhales as she tried_ and failed_ to calm herself.
Dr. Ramesh wondered if Vicente had perhaps breathed some mist into Emily's brain. Yes, she was powerful, but so were their neighbors. A peaceful resolution was better than resorting to unnecessary Violence.
They could not fight Vicente. And they certainly couldn't fight the fourth queen.
