“So, basically,” Caden said, his voice strained, “if it comes to it, he’ll prioritize his own interests over our collective goals.”
He paused, clearly exhausted from the discussion. “I wish I could offer a solid solution, but for now, we’ll have to adapt our plans. We need to find another way to handle this issue without relying on Petru’s cooperation.”
A few minutes later, Caden dismissed the team, but I remained seated, deep in thought. If Slava was as crucial as it seemed, we would need its assistance. I had skills beyond those taught to me by the magi at Cyclos. Maybe this was my chance to prove my worth.
Caden was nearly out the door when he halted, noticing I hadn’t moved from the table. “Emma? You coming?”
“I want to talk to him,” I said, lifting my chin and holding his attention.
“Talk to whom?”
“Petru.”
His jaw tightened, a mix of surprise and disbelief flashing across his face. “You think you can convince him to join us when I couldn’t?”
I straightened in my chair, choosing my words carefully. “You have a personal stake in this—being First Offensive of Crown. Petru knows that. But he doesn’t know me or my background, which might work to our advantage. He doesn’t know about…” I swallowed hard, “Alek.”
Caden stilled for a beat, then moved back to the table, and took his seat across from me.
“Besides, we’re already facing the worst-case scenario here. Even if I fail, I’m not going to make it worse.”
Caden’s eyes narrowed into slits, his posture stiffening as he crossed his arms. “And what would you do differently? What’s your plan?”
“I don’t know yet,” I admitted, holding his gaze. “But I’ll figure it out once I talk to him.”
Caden’s brow furrowed. “Doesn’t sound like much of a plan.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to gather my thoughts. “How much do you know about my life before all this—my human life?”
His head tilted slightly. “I know you were a lawyer of some sort.”
I nodded, and decided to give him more context. “I was training to become a criminal defense attorney. Which meant I took on a lot of extra classes of criminology, and more specifically, on profiling.”
“You did?” he asked, sounding more interested than I expected. “Why?”
I shrugged. “I was gearing up for a life surrounded by power-hungry lawyers, people trained to bend the truth in their favor. I couldn’t exactly afford to rely on what they’d tell me. I had to learn how to read them instead.”
“And you think you can use that knowledge on Petru?”
I nodded again. “Yes.”
He leaned back into his chair, watching me with a cautious, almost guarded look. “I’m hesitant,” he finally said, his voice low but clear.
“Why?” I asked, trying to keep the defensiveness out of the question.
“Because you’ve been less than forthcoming about your abilities,” he replied bluntly. “And now you want a chance to prove yourself. I can see how you want this but wanting it and earning it are two different things.”
His words were severe but not unkind.
“Then let this be my chance to redeem myself,” I responded calmly. “To prove I can do more than you’ve seen. Let me show you what I’m really capable of.”
Caden didn’t answer right away. His whiskey-colored eyes studied me, flickering with doubt, and consideration.
Finally, he let out a long breath, the tension in his shoulders easing only a touch. “All right, miss lawyer.” A wry smile was tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Let’s see what you’re made of.”
I couldn’t help the broad grin that broke across my face, rising from somewhere deep inside me. It must have caught Caden off guard— he drew back just a fraction, surprise playing across his features. For a brief moment, something softer surfaced beneath his usual stoicism, a rare glimpse of emotion breaking through as he watched me.
It struck me then what he must’ve seen—this was the first time I’d genuinely smiled since we met.
