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… And they weren’t alone.

Sixteen

Three others were in the tent, allof whom turned silent at the sight of her—and all of whom were on the royal council.

The first wasLoroGaiel, who glared daggers at Alex upon her unannounced entry.

The second wasLoroRoathus of House Lorenn, who she had first met during a formal dinner with the royal family in present-day Meya. Even after Alex’s weeks spent wandering the ancient city and meeting those inhabiting it, the wisened Meyarin was still the oldest of his race that she had encountered, his grey hair and lightly wrinkled features paying tribute to the many, many years he had lived.

The final Meyarin wasLoroCykor, who Alex had only encountered during her time in the past. He had met her as Aeylia, so he had no idea who she was in the present or that they had been acquainted once upon a time. Even in the past she hadn’t known him well, but shedidknow that he was the head of House Raedon—and Niyx’s father.

“What areyoudoing here?” Gaiel snapped at Alex. He was so incensed that she was surprised he didn’t bare his teeth at her. “I thought I made it clear that you weren’t welcome amongst us.”

“And I thought I made it clear that I don’t care what you think,” she returned, striding further into the room.

“Alex,” Kyia admonished, a quiet warning in her tone.

Alex couldn’t read the look on her face, nor could she understand the caution in her voice.

Before she could think of a way to ask without revealing her obvious confusion, Zain exhaled loudly and said, “There’s certainly something to be said for your timing, little human.”

Alex dumped her sealed satchel containing thelaendraon the floor and asked, “What’s going on in here? Why are you arguing?”

When no one answered, she placed her hands on her hips and stated, “I haven’t had a good morning and despite my fervent hopes to the contrary, with my luck of late, my afternoon is bound to be even worse. I can’t stay long and I don’t have the patience to put up with any crap right now, so someone had better answer me.” She leaned in meaningfully and hissed to finish, “Now.”

It was Cykor who responded, though he didn’t actually answer her. “I can see what Astophe meant about her spunk.Tel de sondrae nevara sesa dom.”

Alex only just kept from jumping when the four others repeated his words: a murmured, ‘May the light guide him home,’ in their native tongue.

Figuring it was the Meyarin equivalent of ‘May he rest in peace,’ Alex felt uncomfortable and unsure about what to say next, let alone if she should attempt to address Cykor’s ‘spunk’ comment. She decided against it, and waited for one of them to speak again, tapping her foot with deliberate agitation.

Reading Alex’s mood loud and clear, Kyia, looking as tense as a brick wall, said, “Gaiel went to see Aven.”

Alex stopped breathing. Then she gasped out a gargled sound of disbelief, unable to articulate how she felt at the veryideaof him doing something so idiotic.

“Thenorotthought he could barter with the false king,” Zain said through clenched teeth.

Alex turned blistering eyes to the insufferable council member. “Tell me you didn’t.”

Gaiel crossed his arms. “I did. And I’m sure it won’t come as a shock to hear that he is willing to negotiate.” He shot a glare at Kyia and Zain before finishing, “Unlikesome.”

Alex released a harsh-sounding laugh as she recalled what Gaiel had said the last time they’d crossed paths, now understanding why Kyia and Zain were so tense. “You offered me up, didn’t you? You said you’d deliver me on a silver platter.”

Gaiel didn’t answer except to raise his chin imperiously and look down his nose at her.

“Tell me,LoroGaiel,” she spat his name, balling her fists to resist summoning A’enara, “am I worth more to Aven dead or alive?”

“When we hand your useless human hide over, Aven is going to allow us back into our city with the guarantee that he won’t Claim us,” Gaiel hissed.

“There is no ‘when’, Gaiel, nor is there even an ‘if’,” Zain ground out. “We’ve already made that perfectly clear.”

Alex didn’t attempt to debate the matter of if versus when versus at all. Instead, she said, “Aven won’t hold up his end of the bargain—the moment you hand me over, you’ll have lost any bargaining power you had. He’ll Claim you on the spot. In fact…” Her eyes skimmed his body, searching for any silvery scars. She found none, but anything could be hidden under his clothes. “How do we know he hasn’t already? If you met with him in person, how can we believe anything you say? You could just be his messenger right now.”

“I am no fool,” he snarled at her, despite all evidence to the contrary. “I waited until he was alone on his balcony and I remained on theValispathin open air where he couldn’t touch me. We spoke. That is all.”

“We only have your word on that,” Alex pointed out.

Tersely, he said, “My word is more than enough, human.”