The Queen of All That Lives (The Fallen World Book 3) by Laura Thalassa

The official story had always been that you died of cancer.”
    The general clenches his jaw. “No one believed it, most assumed the king had killed you himself, though there were those who believed that it was a suicide or that you met a violent end at the hands of an enemy.
    “There always had been conspiracy theories that you lived, but I never believed them. Not until he showed me …” General Kline’s voice is gravelly with age, but it’s lost none of its strength, not even when he’s grasping for words.
    “I don’t know how much you knew before you were … put under. Right around that time, the Southern WUN rebelled, and the Resistance was a part of that rebellion.”
    I watch him in wonder. Nothing about this video makes much sense to me. Why he made it, why he’s telling me this.
    “I didn’t make the call to rebel with the South Western territories, but I lived long enough to regret it anyway. The men who’ve secured control make Montes look like a decent guy, and you know how fucking hard that is to accomplish.”
    The general runs a hand over his thinning buzz-cut. “The king captured me a couple years after war re-broke out. I was sure I was going to be tortured. Not much love lost between the king and me. Instead he spins me this story about wanting my help, and he shows me something—something every bit as wrong as him.”
    General Kline grimaces and looks away. “You were so still.” His voice lowers. “He had you in this capsule, what I later learned was a Sleeper. And you were alive—unconscious, but alive.
    “I’ll give the bastard this—he loves you. He’s mad with it. Even now. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, I believe he’s still willing to destroy anything and everything to get what he wants, and what he wants right now is a cure for that cancer of yours.
    “He recruited me and the Resistance to work with him. And we have ever since.”
    I bring a fist to my mouth. I can’t put my finger on what I’m feeling. Relief, definitely. Knowing that the Resistance eventually opposed the advisors that hijacked the WUN makes me feel less disoriented about my own allegiances. But I also feel something else, something that makes me mourn the general more than I already do.
    Montes killed his son, and General Kline still found it within himself to work with the king because he knew it would help the greater good. When it came down to it, he was willing to make the same sacrifices he asked of me.
    “The king is not a good man,” the general continues, “but he’s surrounded himself with good men, so there’s that. And he’s trying to do right. The fucker actually consults me for advice from time to time.”
    Kline leans forward. “Listen to me carefully, Serenity. The king might win the war, but I don’t see him ending it. There is a distinction. That’s why the war still rages on. All he knows is violence. It’s a good skill for defeating the enemy, but it’s useless once the fighting’s over. And, Serenity, he knows nothing of peace.”
    He pauses for a long moment.
    “You do. That’s all your dad taught you in the bunker. As your general, I’m giving you one final task.”
    My body tenses, my pulse hiking at Kline’s words. I already know whatever he tasks me with, I’ll follow the order.
    “If the world you wake up to is the one I fear it will be, then you and I both know your duties aren’t over.”
    I already figured this out, and yet coming from the general, the prospect has my stomach clenching.
    “You need to help him. Believe me, I know how wrong it is to ask this of you.”
    I’m sucking in air fast. My veins thrum as they get battle ready.
    I understand him. The general and I might be more similar to one another than anyone else. Even my father. Even Montes.
    “That man,” he continues, “will eventually reconquer the world, and he’s primed to ruin it over and over again.
    “Serenity—” He levels his gaze on the lens, and I swear even though