My hand raises to stop their conversation, each member of the council’s voices awkwardly dying off, “I think we should continue this conversation later. This meeting has lasted long enough.”
Alina looks at me, shocked, the disapproval written across her face. “I– well, how else are we supposed to get things done if we justpushthem off? We need those things–”
Eveera stands up abruptly from her seat, the chair skidding out from underneath her. “Vada and I will take care of them. Like we always do.”
The finality in her voice has the room erupting with the sound of chair legs scraping against the stone floor. They all file out one by one, and Eveera throws a tendril out to slam the door shut behind the very last of them. She slides down in the seat, rubbing her temples back and forth, a peeved sigh leaving her lips.
“Arghhh, you weren’t meant to leave as well.”
My mouth parts to argue, and she slaps her hand across it. “It was not a request. Leave. Now.”
I wrench away from her hand and storm through the doors, nearly colliding with Bennett and the Suramians on my way out.
“They insisted.” He tries, his face apologetic.
My eyes roll at the weak excuse, and I turn my attention over to Devlen. “I already told Caz, here, that it would be better if you just left.”
He crosses his arms, staring up at me with his ice-blue eyes, not an ounce of fear in them. I heave an annoyed sigh, grumbling, "it has been one too many weeks of you twoexistinghere."
I grab hold of the iron handles and push, forcing the doors open again. Eveera’s head snaps up at our intrusion, and I wave my arm out dramatically for them to enter.
She cranes her neck to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of who I’m gesturing at. “There, now you’ve seen her. She’s fine. Go back to Suram,please."
Her brows furrow, “Devlen?” He snorts in my direction, and the two of them waltz past me, into the room. Caz doesn’t look any more pleased than I am about it. “What the fuck?” She asks.
Devlen looks around nervously, his eyes bulging a bit at her animated ink. I guess the shackles did more than just suppress her magic and the seal.It suppressed everything.
“Er-uh, we just wanted to make sure you were alright.” He stammers.
Caz jabs his finger in Devlen’s direction, “hewanted to make sure you were safe.”
“I–” she starts before closing her mouth, humming as she tries to think of what to say. Her eyes turn accusatory at me, “you couldn’t have prevented this?” My jaw drops, and she frowns. “Close your mouth, you look like a fish.”
I bite back my retort, settling against the stone wall to watch her. “Look,” she starts again, rising from her seat, “thank you for what you did— even if it was against my will at one point.” She mumbles, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “But I am in very…" she looks over towards me and then to Felix, "well…mostlycapable hands here. Go home.”
Devlen’s face falls, and his head droops, disappointment lining his features. “Come on, Dev.” His partner pulls back on his arm, trying to urge him away.
“Wait!”
There's desperation written all over his face, his eyes pleading with his companion, "Caz, we've never done anything this adventurous." I hear him whisper.
"I'm not sure I'd consider a war zoneadventurous." Caz complains, "it’s not just because Iwantto go home – and let me be clear, I do. TheWieldershave asked us to leave."
Commanded,we have commanded you to leave.I gripe.
Several times in fact. Not that they have listened. Instead, he’s gone over my head, bringing the issue straight to Eveera.
"Eveera — er — your Highness," he starts again, "we can help." His counterpart looks at him, bewildered, before excusing them and dragging Devlen backwards by his ear.
They forced us to sit there, listening to the two of them argue loudly outside the doors, for over fifteen minutes. By the time they decided to finally relieve us of the awkward tension building in the room, they were both red and flustered.
She lifts her head, propping her chin on top of her hands, a cat-like grin gracing her face. "So, did you two come up with some sort of service you can argue we need, so that you can stay? That is, if I’m feeling generous today."
“Are you feeling generous?” Devlen asks hopefully, causing both Felix and me to snicker.
"Don't bet on it." I quip. Her left eye twitches, but she recovers quickly, batting her lashes at them.
Devlen rocks back on his heels and looks nervously over at Caz before blurting out, "Caz used to work for the Consul." The man's jaw drops, disbelief etched across his face as he jerks his head back and forth, muttering the word 'unbelievable'. "Hecould be your liaison. Surely you're going to need something from the unoccupied kingdoms? Some kind of aid?”
