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His expression tightens. The scars over his eye deepen as he frowns, shaking his head. His tail swishes across the floor, but with nervousness or anger, I am not sure.

“You call kneeling strategy?”

“I think,” I say, voice even, “that you are a warrior who measures strength only in battle.” I step closer. “War is fought with more than blood and blades. I think that you do not respect me because I did not answer challenge with combat. But tell me, Za’tan, what would it have served me?”

His jaw clenches. I press my advantage.

“I could have risked one of my people,” I continue. “Any one of them would have stepped on the sands gladly on my behalf. But what would that have gained? Blood does not make allies. As it is I have secured a degree of hope. I have given the Al’fa a reason to listen. I have made myself valuable.” I tilt my head. “And I did not have to draw a single drop of blood to do it.”

Za’tan exhales through his nose. It is not quite a sigh. Not quite a growl. Then, finally, he nods.

“Perhaps there is more to you than I thought.”

It is not an apology. It is not respect. But it is a step. And right now, I will take every step I can get. I smile, only a half-smile, more, would not be appropriate to the situation, and nod.

“Thank you,” I acknowledge. “I hope so.” He grunts, looks around, then gestures with one arm that we should continue. “You will escort me to my home?”

“Yes,” he says, after a moment’s hesitation. “I think it best.”

“For my protection, Za’tan?”

He looks around. We stand at the far edge of the arena, ready to begin our ascent up the spiraling ramp to the top where my room is located. Dozens of eyes watch us, surreptitiously or openly, it doesn’t matter. Some gaze in question, others in disagreement, and some, however few but prominent all the same, with disgust and hate.

“Yes,” he says, narrowing his one good eye as he casts a challenging gaze around the room.

“Then I thank you,” I say, meaning every word.

His eye stops on mine. Studying, questioning, and weighing everything. Finally, he nods, gestures again, and we walk side-by-side up the ramp.

* * *

“No,” Dilacs says, shaking with barely contained rage.

“Brother,” Khiara hisses.

“Enough,” Vapas says. “Do not be a fool. This is our Queen. It is not on us to second guess, but to follow.”

“You are all fools!” Dilacs yells, throwing his hands up. His human mate, Gweneth, dodges the wild gesture by deftly ducking his arm and placing her hand on his chest. He growls, but when he looks at her, his eyes soften. Still, his anger vibrates through the room. “My Queen, Iwillfollow your lead, always. But you must see how dangerous this is. We cannot put you in reach of the Shaman.”

I watch them. My warriors and their human mates. The love they share between each other is beyond clear. A flicker of jealousy twists in my chest when I see the way they look at each other. I want someone to look at me in the same way. I, though, am the Queen. The looks I get are of quite a different nature.

Not when the Al’fa looked at me. Like he wanted to devour me. Or shove his?—

I stop that train of thought fast. I cannot give myself over to base desires.

“Dilacs… all of you,” I say, keeping my voice carefully controlled and neutral. I look at each of my warriors in turn. So few, so much risk, and I keep asking more of them. I know they all would like nothing more than to stay with their mates. For them to be safe, but there is no safety as long as the Shaman lives. They know it as well as I do. “I know I am asking too much. Believe me, I do not do so lightly. But this is the only path I see.”

“What is it you ask of us?” Vapas asks.

“Khiara, would I be correct that you know the resistance best?” I ask.

He frowns, looks at the other two, half-shrugs, then nods.

“I think so, my Queen,” he says.

I nod, pursing my lips. This is a big ask, making me nervous. It’s foolish, but I always feel this way when sending one of my people into danger. I have never gotten used to asking them to for any reason, much less a mission as fraught with peril as this one will be.

“Then I will ask that you accompany me on this mission.”