Temperance by Ella Frank Page A

gathered in a circular fashion around whatever was in the center of them, and he knew it had to be the two sisters.  
    When Li’Am had first told him of his plan, he’d been skeptical. But after he’d listened to reason and understood the roles these four women played, it made sense that Li’Am would not want them anywhere near Seraphine. After all, it was their mother who had ignited her wrath of destruction in the first place. It made sense that they could somehow be the end to it also.
    He looked around his men and realized that Li’Am’s son was nowhere to be found.  
    Where is he?  
    “I'm right here.”
    Ry’Ker felt his heart jumpstart when the sensualeer appeared beside him.  
    Li’Am had informed him that Si’Bastian had recently exhibited a new talent—one where he could seamlessly fade in and out on a whim. He had not appeared happy about this new development at all. In fact, he’d ordered Ry’Ker to watch him while outside the castle. Something that proved difficult when one party could disappear.  
    “Why are you no longer with the women?” he asked, his voice stern, not allowing room for any deviation.
    “One of the sisters…”
    When Si’Bastian trailed off, he prodded, “Yes?”
    “She provoked me.”
    Ry’Ker fully faced the man beside him. “You left four women your father entrusted to you in the Taise Forest because one of them provoked you? Good job, sensualeer. Your father will be proud.”
    As his final sentence hung between them, Ry’Ker knew he’d gone too far.  
    Si’Bastian’s eyes, the ones rumored to be capable of transfixing a body, darkened until they were black, while his mouth, which was said to be able to talk a person into shameless depravities such as giving their body over for his use, tightened into a thin line.
    “No, he won’t. But he never has been when it comes to me. But you… You’re a different story. Aren't you, soldier? Ry’Ker, head of the Imperial Guard. Loyal and righteous all the time. Tell me. Doesn’t it get tiresome?”
    “I—”
    “Go and be noble, Guard. Before I’m tempted to make you be otherwise.”
    Ry’Ker stormed away from Si’Bastian before he said something he would regret. He didn’t like the position Li’Am had placed him in, especially when he knew his aversion to Si’Bastian’s kind.  
    He had good reason to dislike those marked sensualeer . And even if he hadn’t lived through what he had as a boy, trying to survive under Seraphine’s rule would have turned him against anyone born what she was.
    He marched over to where his men were gathered and could hear their hushed whispers as they talked amongst one another. When they parted to allow him closer, he was surprised by what greeted him.  
    Their orders had been specific: capture the women and bring them safely back to L’Mere. But after years of no contact with the women of Arcania, he’d wondered if ‘safely’ was asking too much of his soldiers.  
    It appeared, though, that he’d been worried for nothing.
    There, sitting in the center of his men on a larger boulder, were two frightened but safe women. One’s hair was as black as the night surrounding them, and the other’s was a light shade of brown.  
    As he stepped into the center of the circle, he saw that they had their arms hooked and were sitting as close as they could to one another—a show of solidarity and also a sign of fear.   Ry’Ker had no idea how they must be feeling. Being surrounded by a group of men with weapons drawn must’ve been terrifying.
    He walked around them and noticed the way they were attired. Both were in long pants of some sort and odd shirts made of very little material. It was strange to say the least. He was used to women dressed in long, billowing gowns, modestly covered from head to toe. Not women who wore pants.
    He stopped in front of them, and the one with the ink-colored hair looked up, causing Ry’Ker to lose his footing for a second. The woman staring