Nadi looked down at her untouched blood, arranging her features into an expression of distress. “What can I do?”
“Align yourself with the winning side,” Mael said simply. “I can protect you, Monica. I can ensure your place in the family, regardless of what happens to Raziel.”
She raised her eyes to his, genuine confusion in them now. “But I still don’t understand why you would do that for me? You hardly know me.”
Something flickered in Mael’s golden eyes then—something that had nothing to do with familial concern. His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
“Let’s just say I see potential in our…association.”
Ah. The implication was clear. Nadi felt a strange pull toward him in that moment—not attraction. Sure, he was more than handsome, even if he wasn’t exactly her type. But it was a recognition of an opportunity. Mael was offering her a second chance.
She could have another attempt at taking out the Nostroms from within. Without the Serpent around to muck things up. If her goal was simply to infiltrate and destroy the Nostroms, aligning with Mael would provide better access, better security, better chances of success.
So, why did the thought leave her feeling hollow?
“What would you have me do?” she asked, playing into his expectations.
Mael leaned forward again. “Watch my brother. Listen to what he says, especially when he thinks you’re not paying attention. If he mentions the Rosovs, or anything about Mother’s plans, I need to know.” He paused. “And if he hurts you—if he even threatens to hurt you—you come to me immediately.”
Nadi nodded her head. “I’m afraid of him sometimes.” It was easy enough to play into the narrative. “The way he looks at me…like he’s imagining all the ways he could tear me apart.” It wasn’t a lie either.
“That’s because he is.” His tone was grim. “My brother views everyone as either a tool or a toy. And both eventually break.”
He reached for her hand again, and this time, she met him halfway. His thumb stroked across her knuckles in a gesture that was clearly meant to be more than just comforting.
“You don’t have to face him alone, Monica,” he murmured. “Not anymore.”
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. Mael truly believed he was helping her, protecting her from his dangerous brother. And perhaps, in his own way, he was.
“Thank you,” she said softly, squeezing his hand. “I don’t know who to trust anymore.”
“You can trust me,” Mael said, his eyes never leaving hers. “I promise you that.”
The meal continued on from there, drifting through other topics that were far less interesting. Discussions of her home—which she had to carefully make up on the fly. He told her all about how he used to go hunting for Wild creatures just outside the wall as a child. But, as the conversation went along, it meant she couldn’t avoid something she’d been desperately hoping to this entire time. But now it was inevitable.
She had to do the deed of drinking the hideous glass of blood.
As they spoke, Nadi carefully extracted information while maintaining her vulnerable facade. Mael revealed that the council meeting would include distant branches of the Nostrom family rarely seen in the metropolis. That security would be heightened not just because of Raziel’s defiance, but because of increasing tensions with the Rosov clan. That the task they would likely be assigned would involve infiltrating Rosov territory.
All valuable intelligence for her plan with Raziel.
Ifthat was still her plan…
But as the meeting drew to a close and Mael escorted her back to his waiting car, Nadi found herself unsettled by how effectively he had managed to plant seeds of doubt. Not about Raziel’s nature—she had no illusions about that—but about their alliance.
Was she backing the wrong Nostrom? Mael was clearly the more stable, more rational choice. The one who would give her greater access to the family’s inner workings. The one less likely to snap and kill her on a whim.
But was Mael the one more likely to win?
And was Mael the one who would be easier to control?
As she settled into the plush leather seat of Mael’s car, she caught him watching her with that same heated intensity.
“Tonight,” he said, closing the door beside her, speaking through the open window, “remember what I said. Whatever happens, I will keep you safe.”
The car pulled away, leaving Mael standing on the curb, a mountain of a man whose golden eyes followed her until they turned the corner.
Nadi leaned back, closing her eyes and letting out a long breath. The meeting had gone exactly as she’d hoped—she’d gathered intelligence, established Mael’s trust, positioned herself as a potential ally.
