"Ah," General Naziri claps his ringed hands together. "I am a blessed man to behold the face of the daughter and heir of Enver Sol and Sylvane Basilius. Please, my dear, sit. Sit. Make yourself at home."
I offer him a smile matching his own and claim one of the open pillows across from him. I cross my legs and still have room. I could get used to sitting in comfort. And it certainly feels nicer than being forced to sit on a wooden chair for my healing burns to endure.
"Thank you for your hospitality, General Naziri." I bow my head to show him respect.
"It is my honor to host you and your friend for as long as you need." He claps his hands again and a line of attendants walk inside with silver trays of food and tea, setting it all on the rug before us and leaving just as quickly as they appeared. "Please, eat. Drink. I never like discussing matters of great importance on an empty stomach."
"I can relate to that," I chuckle and only reach for food once General Naziri has done so first. Turns out the courtly manners I learned in Midori do come in handy.
Helios clears his throat, drawing our attention.
"Forgive me," General Naziri wipes his mouth with a linen napkin. He motions to Helios who looks exactly like him, albeit afew decades younger. "This is my son, Helios. You two have met already though, no?"
I nod and smile. "Yes, we have met. Thank you again for coming to our aid in the desert."
Helios' warm brown eyes meet mine and the intensity nearly causes me to look away. He scratches his ringed fingers through his dark facial hair, as if he's attempting to think of something clever to say in response.
"I'm only glad Hagar and I were there to be of assistance." Some of his long dark locks slip out of the bun at the back of his head, so he refashions it. When he pulls it all back, I notice his ears are pierced as well. He's an incredibly handsome man. I fight a laugh picturing Nyx squaring up to him, wanting to retainthe-most-handsome-man-in-the-realmtitle.
"General Naziri, if I might be so bold," I capture their attention. "What is to become of Bastian Tarkin?"
At the very mention of his name, the General frowns, placing the morsel of food in his hand back on the tray. His appetite apparently lost.
"That unholy bastard will be punished for his crimes against not only us, but the realm as a whole," he doesn't hesitate. "He is evil, his magic dark and disturbing. He is the reason Drogon's portal is now open after your father sacrificed himself to close it."
"And he kidnapped you," Helios adds, clearly having spoken with Hani. "You and your companion were tortured."
"Tortured?" General Naziri's eyes find mine. There is a pity only a father could bear for a daughter in his gaze. "The Beast tortured you?"
"No," I come to his defense, although I still blame Bastian for what I endured. "Drogon did."
"But the Beast did not stop him," General Naziri clarifies.
I swallow hard, remembering how Bastian fought to get to me. "He tried."
"Not hard enough," Helios sneers, his deep-rooted hatred for Bastian no secret. "May you find peace and healing here for all you have suffered."
I dip my head in gratitude for his blessing, but he's not going to like what I have to say next. "I ask that you spare his life."
"The Beast?" General Naziri scoffs. "Clearly you are still recovering from whatever head injury was inflicted upon you, child. There will be no mercy for the Beast."
"Kidnapping, torture, murder," Helios lists out, ticking his fingers. "These are not crimes that go unpunished."
"And I would readily agree with you, but Bastian is the reason Nyx and I escaped Malvolio – "
"He is also the reason you were there in the first place," the General grinds his back teeth.
"He knows the inner workings of the demons," I plead my case. "He can be an asset in this war."
"Or he can slaughter us all when we least expect it," Helios adds.
I'm not winning either man over right now.
"Why do you wish us to show mercy to an animal who clearly did not offer you the same humanity?" The General's question stumps me.
Why am I coming to Bastian's defense? He certainly doesn't deserve my forgiveness, nor any mercy extended to him. But then I see his face and remember all the good times we shared growing up and I'm immediately conflicted.
He's a monster, I remind myself. I've seen his cruelty firsthand.
