Teresa shook her head, but by this point, everyone was ignoring everything she said, so no one made a comment about it. Ivy only nodded hesitantly because she wanted to make sure that her people were being taken care of before she pushed for anything else. Isela was in agreement with her Skyborn male counterpart and she shook her head, since she wanted to find a more peaceful solution.
Jeresa, the female Fireborn nodded, since she was a representative for her people and she knew that when the time came, they would get their own piece of the Ironborn. Too many Fireborn had gone down the last time. She was ready to crisp all of them if she was given the chance.
Relle, the Earthborn female also nodded, since she knew that their leader wouldn’t lead them onto a path that wasn’t the best one to begin with. She was smart, but she knew she wasn’t the smartest of the Council, and so she stuck to being a representative for the muscle. They would be there when they were needed and otherwise she defaulted to Coren.
“Well enough. With a significant minority duly noted in opposition, we will adjourn to our own people and remain in contact regarding our preparations and any new reports on the whereabouts or activities of the Ironborn dissidents and especially the Shadowborn and Candra.”
Everyone started to get up and go their separate ways, but then Teresa got up and looked over at Coren once more. “Candra has been in your care for over half of her life.” She said coldly, since she knew that Candra had been behind a lot of his power for a long time. The Council’s goal, apparently, was to make sure every member had their own Lightborn battery, but there had only been one usable for some time, ever since Lillet and Fernando had long ago refused to comply with any order they were given. “Why do you think she left? Reports say that she stood behind the Shadowborn as he destroyed a large portion of our forces.”
Coren slumped into his seat and rubbed his eyes as he answered, treating Teresa, as always, as a tedious child. “Lightborn cannot resist their Shadowborn counterparts. You know that just as well as I do. But with the Shadowborn removed, Candra will come back to us. She knows us well enough to know that the best place for her is here.”
“You’re sure?”
He leaned his head slightly to the side for a moment, looking bored again. “You’re not?”
Her glare turned almost deadly as she looked at the wolf that was supposed to be her partner in the Council, though they had been at nothing but odds since the very beginning. “Sure that your personal servant will come back to us once you’ve killed her own partner of preference, no. Everything else that you’ve been so sure about hasn’t exactly panned out exactly as you envisioned, has it?”
She knew it was bold to say so, but the purpose of the Council wasn’t to let one person lead. His position was merely one of wisdom and organization, of announcing official decisions made by the whole. He was a puffed up speaker for the Council, so far as she was concerned. They brought her up to the Council for a reason, after all.
“Nor have things come along quite as you imagined either, Teresa.” He said without looking away, and she could tell he wasn’t talking about the current political situation, but rather the situation between them. “Go take care of your river-dwellers. Prepare them for what is coming. And remember that we have been appointed here to do what is best for all our people.”
“Perhaps I’m not the only one who needs to be reminded of that, Coren.” She said with a growl as she got up and went off in her own direction.
It was only Alina and Coren left after everyone else, as usual, and so Alina moved closer to him. “Can’t we have her assassinated?”
He sighed deeply and leaned back in the chair, which she obligingly laid further back for him to make it into more of a reclining stone seat than a throne. “I wish. But everyone would know I had ordered it.”
Alina moved from her seat to slide into his lap, and then she leaned forward to get even closer. “I suppose we don’t need any troubles within the Council right now. We’ll deal with her later. What’s our plan?”
He kissed her a few times before laying his head back and answering. “Nickel and his pack will be looking for friends right about now, trying to prepare for our retaliation for what they did in Geneva, yes?”
“Mhm. Unfortunately.” She said as she stretched out along Coren, more cat-like than wolf-like for the moment.
“I suggest we send them some.”
She let out a growl of satisfaction and then she smirked as she kissed him several more times. “He’ll see that coming, but I still like it.”
He laid back with his hands behind his head as he kissed her. “They will need to be powerful and convincing friends. Chosen with care and discerningly prepared.”
“Indeed. I think we have plenty of friends who would fit the part.” She stared down into his dark blue eyes for a moment, holding his gaze. “We need to get Candra back.”
“We will.” The water in the glass beside them rose up in a group of thick droplets that came down on Alina’s back with a soft touch, sliding right through the shirt she wore and onto her skin. “It may be some time, but she’ll come back to us. And she’ll know even more just why she must remain in our care. Don’t worry yourself about her. I’ll see to Candra. You worry about finding us some friends to send to dear Saint Nick.”
Alina moaned at the feel of his water caressing down her skin
