There was a sick feeling in her stomach, made even worse when she realized that two men she admired and respected were being insulted and didn't even know it.
It burned.
She'd expected push back from the Kyren. She'd anticipated having to defend herself and the Trateri over their decision to leave the valley and move closer to the herd lands.
That didn't stop the trembling in her hands as she clenched them into fists. It wasn't fear causing her to shake but rather rage. An anger she couldn't afford to release because doing so would jeopardize everything she'd worked for.
"Eva?" Jason asked uncertainly.
She shook her head at him, hoping he would let it go. He did, but she caught the slight flex in his features that said he'd guessed at what they'd said.
The excitement he couldn't hide faded and his gaze became cold and hard. He watched the Kyren, the way Caden or his Anateri would. As if they were adversaries who might need to be put down.
Ollie's stance firmed, his face no longer open or friendly.
Their reactions bolstered Eva. They reminded her that the alliance was important but not at the expense of their self-respect.
If being in the Kyren's good graces meant losing her voice when those close to her were hurt, she'd rather burn her bridges while she still could.
Eva's chin lifted as she met Danyon's eyes with a hard look. "Are you really this dumb?"
There was fire in Danyon's eyes as he stamped one foot and lowered his head, so his horns were pointed at Eva.
Alarm spread across Jason and Ollie's faces as they tugged at her.
Eva held still, meeting Danyon's challenge with one of her own. "I said the Trateri didn't harm the red backs, and they didn't."
"Eva?" Jason said again, sounding like he thought she was losing her mind.
She wasn't. She knew exactly what she was doing. Probably.
"And if you're going to insult my friends, maybe you shouldn't have come in the first place," she continued.
At their core, the Kyren were predators. They respected strength. Show weakness now, in this moment, and they'd see it as confirmation everything they believed about humans were true.
Brave words from someone who needs us,Danyon sneered.
Eva's eyebrows lifted. "Has there been some mistake? Whoever said we needed you?"
You are on the run. Hunted by your enemy. Without allies you won't survive.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Eva fixed Danyon with a calm expression. "But I'd rather die than compromise my honor. You don't have to like my friends, but you will respect them in my presence."
We didn't come here to argue,Polaris interrupted.Orion wishes to see you.
Eva couldn't say she was surprised. She'd been expecting this call from the moment she awoke.
"As you wish," Eva said, conceding.
Not that she had much choice. As brave as her words had been, she didn't really want to destroy the tentative ties between their two people. If there was room to compromise, she would.
She could only be thankful Polaris had offered her a way out that salvaged both Danyon's pride and hers.
Danyon looked away, an unhappy harrumph echoing in her mind.
Eva took a step and paused.
What is wrong?
