“As am I,” Brynne added, feeling Zael’s fingers subtly brush hers as the elders looked at each other and murmured among themselves.
Although Brynne’s JUSTIS training in diplomacy and negotiations served her well in the talks with the council today, she never would have imagined she’d end up using those skills here, standing beside Zael under the scrutiny of five high-ranking members of his kind. And try as she might to be professional, it was nearly impossible to keep from staring at the unearthly, ageless beauty of the assembled elders.
Nethilos was the tallest and most distinguished with his rich, olive skin and intelligent, contemplative golden-brown eyes. The two other males, Haroth and Baramael, were also imposing figures on the dais.
Haroth, a handsome black male with dark brown skin and sage-green eyes, looked as much a warrior as a diplomat with his muscled body and ebony hair shaved close on the sides and rising into a short mohawk.
Baramael’s dual-colored eyes were what set him apart—one pure blue, the other as gold as a coin. Beneath his jet-black crown of silky, spiked hair, his stare was unsettling, utterly unreadable.
As for the women, the three of them were beyond beautiful too. They had also been the most resistant of the council, firing one question after another. Blonde-haired Nathiri’s silvery gray eyes were as gentle as her interrogation was shrewd. Fortunately, she’d seemed satisfied with the answers she received, as did soft-spoken Anaphiel, a female with creamy, mocha-colored skin and a coil of delicate black braids seated on her head like a crown.
Anaphiel’s fathomless, sapphire-blue eyes had been a comfort during most of the meeting—as they were now, when the last of the council elders, Tamisia, pinned Brynne with a challenging stare from her seat on the dais.
“You say the Order will only ask us to consider sharing our crystal with them under the worst of circumstances.”
The gorgeous Atlantean female had long, platinum blonde hair with a single streak of bright gold running down the left side. Her sky-blue gaze had slid between Brynne and Zael for the duration of the meeting, her slender form perched at the edge of her chair like a viper waiting to strike.
Brynne hadn’t missed the oddly combative posture, but she hadn’t let it intimidate her either. Nor would she now.
“That’s right,” she answered solemnly. “The Order is fully aware that the colony depends on its crystal for many things, including protection. They will never ask it of you unless they feel the crystal is in jeopardy, or if they deem it necessary to combine the power of two in order to prevent a war—or, in the worst case, stop one.”
“Hmm.” Tamisia’s mouth pursed. “And if we agree to this alliance, then one day find ourselves asking the Order to surrender their crystal to us for these same reasons, how will they answer?”
“The Order is prepared to never let it come to that,” Brynne assured her, confident in that fact. “The Order will ensure the colony’s protection from all enemies and will assist with anything the colony should require to maintain its autonomy.”
“Anything except the crystal.” Tamisia’s smile was smug. She swung her flat stare to Zael. “This is no alliance. It is a one-sided proposal from a race that’s been out to wipe us from the planet since the moment they arrived on it.”
“Do not confuse the Breed with their Ancient ancestors,” Zael interjected sternly. “The Breed has shared this planet with us for well over a thousand years. They’ve never been a threat to us or the humans they’ve lived alongside all this time.”
She grunted, clearly unconvinced. “Tell that to the scores of humans who were slaughtered in a single night two decades ago.”
Brynne shook her head, outrage flaring in her. “That was an attack instigated by an animal named Dragos. He unleashed hundreds of blood-addicted Rogues to retaliate against the Order and create a worldwide panic. No one among the Breed wanted that to happen, least of all Lucan and the warriors.”
Tamisia ignored her, never taking her eyes off Zael. “Why did you really bring this female here?”
His answering look was darker than Brynne had ever seen in him before. “Because I trust her. And I trust the Order—as should all of you.”
The elder lifted her chin, her gaze icing over, as dismissive as her tone. “You ask too much, Ekizael.”
“Damn it, Sia.” Zael’s sharp utterance sent her brows high on her forehead. “This is about peace. It’s about the future of this colony.”
“Is it?” she replied airlessly. “I wonder.”
Brynne’s chest tightened at the unexpected familiarity that crackled between Zael and the woman. Animosity flared in Tamisia’s tight expression in the long moment that she held Zael’s hard stare. And from beside her, Brynne felt an angry heat radiating off his tense body.
“This will suffice for now,” Nethilos announced. “We have enough information to consider and make our decision. We’ll convene again in tomorrow at daybreak.”
He rose, and four of the elders did too. Tamisia was last, defiant as she lifted fluidly from her seat and then glided off the dais in smooth, long-legged strides.
“Come on,” Zael said, placing his palm against the small of Brynne’s back to show her out of the chamber.
All the breath leaked out of her lungs on a relieved sigh as soon as they exited to the open courtyard outside. “What was that about?”
Zael shook his head. “Nothing important. Tamisia will come around, I’m sure. Nethilos is on our side. As is Anaphiel, and possibly even Baramael.”
“How could you possibly tell that?” She couldn’t hide her surprise, recalling the dark-haired Atlantean’s indecipherable bicolored gaze.
“Didn’t you see his smile?”