Aydra hugged her arms over her chest. “That’s what I’m worried about,” she admitted. “They’re growing up too fast.”
“Nineteen. A great war on our horizon. I’d be worried if they weren’t,” Draven told her.
She hated that he was right. “True.” She sighed and took his hand then, taking another look around the room as the servants went back to putting things out for the meeting. “Let’s go get some food. I think they’ve things handled—Hey, Willow—” she called to her lady “—if you need us, we’ll be in the kitchen. Please do not deviate from where I’ve placed everyone. My axe was sharpened yesterday and I’ve been itching to strike it through something.” She paused and looked around the room at the Dreamers who stared at her. “You’ve been warned.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
AYDRA CHOSE THE pantsuit outfit to wear to the meeting.
The black pants hugged her curves, and the thick peplum caped shirt clung to her torso until it flared out and away from her hips. Draven placed the crown on her head as she was dressed, and she nervously turned her ring three times around her finger before they set out of her room.
“Stop fidgeting,” Draven said under his breath as they walked.
“I’m not,” she argued as she stretched her fingers at her sides.
He smirked sideways at her and shook his head. “Liar.”
Her jaw clenched as they reached the Great Hall. “Shut up.”
The Council was already seated around the table, with the Dreamer captains. The Blackhands and Honest were mingled in the corner, the Nitesh standing off to the side speaking with Nyssa. Aydra and Draven greeted them with hugs and smiles. Aydra’s nerves stayed bottled up, only waning just slightly when she spotted Dorian talking to Nadir.
She slipped out of the Blackhands’ conversation to go and hug her brother. Dorian kissed her cheek and then gave her a tight lipped smile.
“Why did you sit me next to him?” he said without moving his mouth.
“Because you can handle it,” she argued, keeping the smile on her own face. She gave him a wink and pressed her palm to his cheek. “Just keep him from engulfing all of us in flames.”
Nadir came up then, smiling widely as he gripped onto Dorian’s shoulders and shook them jovially. “Sun Queen,” he uttered. “What is on our agenda for this meeting? Trading routes and food or are we speaking of our beloved ships?”
Aydra’s arms crossed over her chest, and she raised a brow at his smiling figure. “Nadir, tell me something,” she said, stepping closer to him.
Dorian slipped out of Nadir’s grasp just as Aydra reached him.
“What’s the last thing I said to you yesterday when you arrived?” she asked, voice edging.
Nadir sat his chin in his hand, and he looked up at the ceiling as though he were recounting their words. “You introduced me to your brother.”
Aydra grabbed the napkin off the table. “I told you—” she smacked his arm three times “—don’t—go near—my—sister!”
Nadir winced and blocked her blows. “What—she came on to me!” he whispered fast. “I was weak!”
Aydra glared at him. “Sure you were,” she mumbled. “And my sister is terrified of everything. There’s no way she would have come on to you.”
Nadir’s brows narrowed slightly. “Maybe you should get to know your sister a little better then—” she smacked him again “—hey!Enough with the hitting!”
“You’re lucky my King asked me not to castrate you,” Aydra warned.
The deliberate clearing of Draven’s throat at her side made her pause. Aydra took a deep breath, feeling herself calm as Draven’s hand landed on the small of her back. “I’m fine,” Aydra made herself say.
Draven stared at his best friend, and Nadir lowered his arms. “What the Infi, Naddi?” he whispered.
“What? You’re mad at me too?” Nadir argued. “It’s not my fault. I was avoiding her, doing as I’d been told. She— She—I was weak—We spent most of the night talking anyway—”
Aydra’s brows raised at him, and Nadir backed away before she could hit him.
“Not that that’s any better!” he said fast. He pushed his hair back off his face and sighed heavily. “I’m not apologizing,” he finally said. “I know what you said… but… it was nice. Talking to her.”
Aydra hugged her arms over her chest and gave him a pursed lips once over. “Break her heart, and I’ll break your neck,” she finally told him.
