Flashback ( PDFDrive )

newborn alicorns and let them finish developing as though they’re
part of the colony.”
Luzia backed away. “I don’t know what you’re—”
“Yes, you do,” Sophie interrupted.
“It’s okay,” Tarina assured Luzia. “The girl is an ally. The empress
recruited her specifically.”
“And the boy?” Luzia countered, tilting her head toward Fitz.
“He . . . was part of the girl’s deal,” Tarina admitted. “She doesn’t
work alone.”
Luzia turned to Sophie. “Someday you’ll understand how foolish
that is.”
“Maybe,” Sophie said, not willing to lose focus. “But right now
we’re trying to save two unborn alicorns—and you know how
important those babies are. So if I have to shove past you to get to that
hive, I will. The contractions are only three and a half minutes apart.
We need those pods now.”
“Such authority for someone so young,” Luzia said. “And yet you
speak without wisdom.” She strode forward enough that she finally
moved past the gates’ glare, becoming fully visible. And Luzia was
every bit as striking as Sophie remembered from the Tribunal—maybe
even more so with her black hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail,
drawing more attention to her pointed ears. Her bronze skin
shimmered with flecks of gold, which matched her severely cut golden
tunic, and with her knee-high golden boots, she’d gone from Egyptian
goddess to Amazonian warrior. Which made it all the more terrifying
when she folded her well-toned arms and told Sophie, “You cannot put
the alicorns into the hive.”