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Chapter 30
Kaiya
Scowling at Jaiel, I walked back to my seat. His smile faltered as I snatched the glass of wine from his hand and took several large gulps. If I was going to have this conversation, it would absolutely be with some alcohol in my fucking system.
Gods, I hated him sometimes.
I finished the glass and watched Jaiel fill another glass and offer it to Liam. The stick-up-his-ass noble refused, jaw tight, glaring at Jaiel and I in wait.
I almost felt bad for the guy, but then remembered he still hadn't apologized for lying the past two years.
He deserved to be uncomfortable.
"Well, I'll get us started," Jaiel said, sitting in the chair beside me. His knee brushed against mine, and I shifted away. "I've always known you were stubborn." He chuckled. "But I didn't realize you were also an idiot."
Liam narrowed those green eyes, then sighed and turned to look at me. "Are you also going to insult me?"
"Wh — what?" I stammered. "No, I —"
"Kaiya and I think what you're doing is foolish and brash," Jaiel interrupted, leaning forward. "Just open your ears and listen to what everyone is telling you for once."
Liam glared at Jaiel. "You know why I have to do this."
"I know you think you have to do it," Jaiel said, before taking another sip of wine. "But your reasoning is gremlyn-shit. The council brought forward several suitable alternatives, and you shot down every one without even a second thought."
Liam shook his head, jaw tight. "You saw what that wraith did to the wall, didn't you?" His voice was stiff as he looked between us. "Imagine what would have happened if it had made it through, or if more had attacked, or if one of our enemies knew that wall was damaged. The damage from this one incident will take us at least a week to fix, and that's already pushing everyone to their limits." His hands clenched atop the desk. "No one wants to listen, but we truly are at the end of our rope. I can't keep these people safe anymore — not without help."
"But this marriage only replaces your current problem with a new one," Jaiel said, leaning forward. "Your people had good ideas — especially that one about teaming up with the body mages. Why not at least hear them out?"
Liam let out a soft hiss and leaned back in his chair. His mask broke as disgust bled across his face. "You KNOW why I don't trust those beasts, Jaiel."
"I do," Jaiel said, voice softer. "But it wasn't the Shifters who killed your parents."
"But they failed to protect them!" Liam ground out, green eyes blazing.
"It was tragic, and we all miss them," Jaiel replied, leaning forward. "But it was an accident. And the Shifters don't pillage and raid other groups. Can you really say the same about the Berserkers?"
Liam's jaw tightened, and he turned to stare at the fire again.
Jaiel's elbow dug into my side, and I winced.
Forsaken hells. I guess this was as good a time as any to chime in.
"What if we could cure the dragons?" I asked. "Would that make your situation less desperate?"
Liam looked at me, expression softening briefly. "Unfortunately, they are too few and too young to be of much use. For now, they need to be protected, not used for protection."
That made sense.
"Then what exactly has changed to make you feel like you're out of time?" I asked. "Surely the attack wasn't enough to tip the scales that far. From what your Gram, Mirrim, and the council say, they seem to think you can last a while longer without help."
"Exactly," Jaiel added. "Those Berserkers have waited this long. Surely they can be put off longer. Fuck! Isn't avoiding the betrothal the reason you took that damn mission in Gleyma —"
All of us froze, the past playing between us in an instant.
Liam's face went completely blank. "Enough," he said, voice hard. "I'll not change my mind." He paused, gaze slipping to meet mine. "Unless there is another reason for me to call it off —"
My throat tightened, and I froze, pinned by those cold green eyes.
