I still don’t think I’m selling him. I need to give him… something. But everything Daegan has told me, he’s told me in confidence. I won’t break that.
Maybe there’s something I can tell him that he probably already knows, but that he can’t exactly use against them. My father is the king and apparently has more involvement in the other regions than I realized. An entire population declining won’t be a shock to him, but it might show him that Daegan is really talking to me about things.
“Their species is dying off. Did you know? Mysterious illnesses and shorter lifespans… or something like that.”
He interlaces his hands and nods. The news doesn’t surprise him, but I think it’s enough to quell any suspicions. For now.
“They are due to leave soon. You can keep playing your little game, but if you don’t get anything before then… oh well. We send them back to their lands with no harm done.”
I hold my tongue.
“And as you said…” he looks at me with cold, calculating eye. “They’re dying off anyway.”
It feels like ice water was dumped down my back. The way he said it, the way he looked at me…
It takes everything in me to smile, turn, and leave the room with whatever composure I have left.
When I shut the door behind me, I close my eyes, suck in a deep, slow breath, and let the rage seep in again. And then I look ahead with fierce determination, storming back toward my room.
But on the way, I realize I don’t want to go back to my room alone. I want to see Meela, Daegan, and Raef. I want to apologize for my weak moment from earlier and assure them I can do this. I’m ready. I know they all noticed.
I reroute and head for her room.
My knuckles hurt with how hard I knock on her door. I pace back and forth until she answers. It doesn’t take long.
“Elle.” She lets out a relieved sigh.
And weirdly, instinctively, I reach out and hug her.
She lets me. Barely. Her hand pats my back awkwardly as I wrap my arms around her for a moment, closing my eyes. She smells like a sweet spice I can’t name. Then I pull back.
“That was weird,” she drawls. We both laugh.
“Can I come in?”
“Obviously.”
She opens the door to show me the rest of the room. I’m surprised to find Daegan is already at the doorway directly behind her with concern on his face.
Raef rises from his seat deeper in the room.
I don’t question the absolute relief I feel seeing them all, I simply revel in it. It’s the best I’ve felt all day. The why can be dealt with another time.
“You’re all here,” I say, struggling to take my eyes off the one who I can’t keep out of my head lately no matter how hard I try.
His lips pull back into a tight-lipped smile.
“Plotting world domination,” Meela says after she closes the door.
I take the seat that doesn’t have a drink in front of it on the table, and they follow.
We’re all sort of in a circle around the table now, glancing at each other as we all settle in. “It’s been a really weird day,” I finally say.
Meela chuckles. “Are you okay though?”
“I am. I had a little spiral. I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Daegan says.
