The councilmen and Nobles all looked to Rhaif then for confirmation.
“Nobles, send word to your Belwark captains to search the towns for any Infi. You’ll heed the Venari’s suggestion and have them ready for disposal upon his arrival.”
A quell of silence rested over the table for a moment. Aydra could feel the angered tense in the core of her brother at her side.
“Are there any other demands for the meeting?” the councilman asked.
Everyone looked around the room, waiting for someone else to speak out. But no one ever did.
“Thank Arbina,” Rhaif muttered as he pushed his chair back. “Let us feast,” he announced.
Aydra didn’t move from her chair. She felt her jaw tense and eyes nearly roll as the men and women around the table stood, all sighing in relief as though the meeting had been a marathon. She grasped her drink in her hand and took a long swig of it. Her brother stood and shook hands with the man at his side. Aydra merely watched them all kiss one another’s ass for another moment. Fake smiles. Taudry comments of war and snide remarks of grander.
For once, she wanted to hear someone say something that didn’t go straight to the crown’s head.
“I believe you’re the only one in this room who wouldn’t be beheaded at such an entrance.”
And suddenly she was reminded of her own fraudulent place in this kingdom.
Her own fake facade took over, and she raised a sly gaze up at her favorite Dreamer, Ash. His short sun streaked tawny hair was cut clean over his pointed ears, and he gazed down at her with stark golden hazel narrow eyes. The triangular set of his jaw matched the high collar on his white quilted peplum gambeson.
He extended his long hand down to her, and she allowed him to pull her to her feet. He pulled her close, his hand wrapping around her waist. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to distract the entire council from some secret workings of yours,” he said, his eyes darting down at her figure.
“And because you do know better?” she asked with a raised brow.
“I’d say you simply had a pleasant day on the beach.” He lowered his head, his breath tickling her throat. “And were rested enough for an even more pleasant night.” His lips pressed to her throat, and she cursed her body for its response.
She reached for his chin and lifted his face to meet his eyes again, pushing the thoughts of her morning with the Belwark to the back of her mind. “Eat up, Dreamer. You’ll need your strength later.”
He smirked and nudged her nose with his, his long fingers clenching at her waist. His lips met hers, and she gave in to his musings, allowing his tongue to rake her own—but only for a moment. She pulled back and grazed his lip with her thumb.
“Sister!”
The noise of her sister’s excited voice brought her back to the awareness of the room. She gave Ash’s chin a tug and met his gaze. “Find me later,” she whispered.
Her sister’s arm sank around her own as Ash stepped back. He gave her a short bow, his hair falling over his eyes. “My Queen,” he acknowledged. His eyes averted to Nyssa, and he gave her a short bow as well. “Princess.”
As he turned on his heel to leave her, Nyssa squeezed Aydra’s arm. “One day, I’ll make an entrance as you do,” Nyssa mused.
Aydra smirked, still watching Ash as he joined his company cohort, Haut. “One day, sister, you’ll rule over all these men and not know the threat of a man underestimating you,” she said as she turned to face her. “Of that, I am sure.”
Nyssa’s bright almond amber eyes sparkled at her above her freckled apple cheeks. Aydra smiled down at the beautiful nineteen year old standing in front of her. She’d braided three sections of her long dark scarlet hair above her right ear, the rest of the silken waves flowing over the left side of her face, just hiding her eye. Aydra reached out and pushed the thick hair back, revealing the small blushed smile on her pouty lips, one of her dimples showing with the crook of her grin.
“You look beautiful, Nyssa,” Aydra said, envious of the bright natural beauty her sister possessed. “Where did you get the dress?” she asked as her eyes darted over the navy velvet gown on her petite figure.
Nyssa held out her arms, showing off the long flared sleeves of it. “Found it myself,” she answered. “Dorian and I went out to the shores yesterday. We stopped at a few of the shops. He found a few items and bought me this.”
“Your brother buying you clothes?” Aydra asked. “Careful. He’ll think he can dress you next,” she added with a wink.
Nyssa laughed. “Let me guess. Dear Rhafian left the blue dress out?”
Aydra’s brows raised. “Mm… that he did.”
“I assumed it as soon as you walked in. You usually wear the lace ones when you want to piss him off.”
Aydra took a long swig of her drink. “I think this time I exceeded expectations,” she mused, noticing her brother’s glare from across the room.
“Drae,” Nyssa said then, her voice taking a serious turn. “Why did you stand up for the Venari?”
Aydra looked around them, and then pulled her sister over to the window. “What do you mean?” she asked her.
“I mean… you asked the Dreamer company to hunt elsewhere. Why?”
“I did not stand up for the Venari,” Aydra argued. “After everything Duarb put Arbina through before his being forced into his tree, and the greed of their ancestors attempting to take over our kingdom, I dare not trust their kind. But… the Noctuans are different. The Venari have no control over the creatures that roam their forest. And innocent creatures deserve to live, regardless of how misunderstood they might be,” Aydra answered her as her
