She couldn't move a muscle below her neck. Azula had never felt fury like this in her life. And given her intimidating nature, that was saying something.
"What shall we do with them, Princess?"
"Azula, we are concerned," said Li.
"Now that your brother has betrayed the Fire Nation," continued Lo.
"It is more vital than ever that your inner circle-"
"-is composed of only those whom you trust most."
Azula smirked. Trust was for fools who let their hearts rule their heads. And she was no fool—those in her inner circle were the ones she trusted not to betray her, for fear of her vengeance. In that sense, her inner circle was very trustworthy indeed.
She put on her most innocent tone. "Are you suggesting that Mai and Ty Lee, my oldest friends, are disloyal to me?"
"Not necessarily," Lo began.
"We just believe that you-"
"-should watch those around you more closely."
"After all-"
"-no one could have predicted-"
"-Prince Zuko's betrayal-"
"-because no one was watching him."
Azula's smirk grew more pronounced. That was where her trainers were wrong. She always watched her fool of a brother carefully—that was why she was the only one who wasn't shocked by his treason. She had known all along that he was torn, and had sensed him weakening over the past few weeks.
"Don't worry," she sneered. "I do watch my inner circle closely. I always have. I understand that you might think Mai would have lingering loyalty to Zuko, but you're wrong. She's far too practical to let something like an adolescent romance rule her senses. And as for Ty Lee, she's too weak-willed to defy me. They both know the consequences for any signs of treachery."
It was a simple truth. Since childhood, both Mai and Ty Lee had been talented, interesting, and afraid of her; all qualities Azula needed in her companions. Neither of them would ever think of betraying her, because they knew what would happen if they did. They were loyal to Azula, above all else.
There was no reason for that to change now.
"What shall we do with them, Princess?"
She glared down at the two of them, her mouth curling up into a snarl as the shock and humiliation of her miscalculation hit her with full force.
"Put them somewhere I'll never have to see their faces again! And let them rot!"