"Let him," I say coldly. "While he's busy with contingencies, I'll be separating his head from his shoulders."
The two lords exchange glances. The resentment hasn't vanished—it still simmers beneath the surface—but now it's tempered with something else. Not quite hope. Not quite trust. But the possibility of both.
"This attack happens in three days," I continue. "Return to your territories, select your assassins, and await the signal.Tonight, we feast to celebrate our new alliance. Tomorrow, we prepare for war."
"A feast," Lord Kaya says quietly. "With two lords instead of seven. That should be intimate."
"And if you disappear again?" Lady Asena asks, her eyes fixed on mine.
I meet her gaze directly. "Then Emir has standing orders to assume command and execute this plan without me. This time, I've ensured my absence won't cripple us." I pause, letting that sink in. "Though I don't intend to go anywhere."
The two lords bow—Lady Asena's deep and controlled, Lord Kaya’'s shallow and reluctant—and depart, each carrying orders that will set our plans in motion. Only Emir remains, his scarred face impassive.
"That went better than expected," he observes. "I thought one of them might actually walk out."
"They considered it," I reply, my shadows settling back around my shoulders. "You could see it in their eyes. The weight of being the only ones left... it's crushing them."
"Two lords, Kaan," Emir says quietly. "Out of seven. That's what your absence cost us. Not just territory. Not just soldiers. We lost the entire power structure of the Shadow Court."
The weight of that settles over me. "I know."
"Do you?" Emir's voice is soft but pointed. "Because they needed to hear you acknowledge it. Not just tactically, but... they needed to know you understand what they sacrificed by staying loyal when five others chose rebellion."
"I told them I failed them."
"You told them you failed strategically," Emir corrects. "That's not the same as understanding that they're the only two left standing. That every other lord looked at the choice between you and survival and chose survival. But these two—" Hegestures to where they departed. "They chose you. Even though you gave them every reason not to."
I close my eyes briefly. "What do you want me to say?"
"Nothing to me. But them? They need to know their loyalty wasn't misplaced. That you understand they bet everything on you when the smart money was on rebellion."
"I'll speak with them. Before the feast. Privately."
Emir nods, satisfied. "Queen Morwenna's terms were steep," he says, changing topics as he studies the rune-carved daggers. "Monthly visits for Nesilhan, Elçin's services, your direct access to the shadow realm..."
"A small price for twenty thousand warriors," I reply, though the weight of those concessions still sits heavily on me. "Besides, the queen seemed particularly interested in Elçin. I suspect there's some history there that neither of them is sharing."
"And Yasar?" Emir asks, his tone carefully neutral.
"Suspiciously useful," I say, watching shadows coil around my fingers. "He negotiated several key points with Morwenna that even I struggled with. For someone who supposedly spent his exile in the eastern territories, he seemed remarkably comfortable navigating Fae politics."
"Just one more question to add to my growing list of 'why I should eventually kill my cousin,'" I say with a smile that doesn't reach my eyes. "Though at the moment, he's been unusually useful."
"The feast preparations are complete," Emir says, his tone returning to business. "Security has been tripled. Though with only two lords attending, it'll feel more like a private dinner than a council feast."
"Good." I straighten, my shadows briefly forming the shape of a crown before dissolving into smoke. "Intimate is better for what I need to do. I'll speak with each of them separately before we gather. Acknowledge their losses properly."
Emir looks genuinely surprised. "You're actually taking my advice?"
"Don't let it go to your head," I reply. "But yes. If we're asking them to gamble everything on this attack, the least I can do is honor what they've already given."
"Try not to terrify the serving staff this time," Emir says. "We lost three footmen to resignation after your last 'friendly dinner conversation.'"
"In my defense, I only threatened creative violence. I didn't actually commit any."
"Which you'll avoid doing tonight," Emir says firmly. "Given that you're trying to rebuild trust with literally the only two lords who didn't abandon you."
"Where's the fun in that?"
