POV: Maya
I stared at Zara's extended hand, the weight of her ultimatum crushing down on me. Come with her and abandon everyone who'd followed me. Or stay and watch them all die. Some choice.
"No," I said.
Zara's eyebrows rose. "Excuse me?"
"I said no." I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the fresh blood that poured from my nose. "I'm not abandoning my people."
"Your people?" Zara laughed, sharp and mocking. "Look around, sister. Your compound is burning. Your army is being slaughtered. You're dying. What exactly do you think you can do for them?"
"More than I can do by running away."
"That's not bravery. That's stupidity."
"Maybe." I met her silver eyes with my own. "But I've spent months becoming a monster. Executing followers. Terrorizing anyone who questioned me. I lost myself
