“I’m convinced that we will be able to solve our disagreements. Thank you for your attention to detail, Miss D’Aboville. I’m sure your King is pleased to have such a fine talent like yourself working for him.”
Loveday smiled at the Noxier King’s compliment and forced herself to respond with something casual. They’d made it through most of the difficult stuff already, and it seemed like the Noxier were open to being fair with their land claims. The Noxier second and spokesperson, Audrey Asema, seemed pleasant enough, though Loveday wasn’t sure how deep that went.
It seemed there would indeed be a neutral area between the two clans' newly established borders. Loveday had expressed to the Noxier how the Calleigh were not willing to give up the land on which their trade route existed, but Davorin Ingram, their King, had only smiled sharply and laughed-
“My darling, if we wanted to cut off the Calleigh’s supplies don’t you think we would have done that by now? Please… the Held have nothing we require. It is only the ability to expand our hunting territory that we seek. Is this not a fair ask? I promise it will not interfere with Calleigh trading. You have my word.”
There was much to go over as far as the exact borders and neutral zones, what that would look like, how and if a treaty should be drafted, but Loveday felt a bit of exuberant relief that it seemed like the Noxier were telling the truth.
She was hesitant to relax entirely though, only because she knew from the history books that the Noxier could be devious, and she did not believe they had exposed their true motivations yet.
Dimitri Veil had sat stoically for the duration of the meeting, which Loveday was thrilled and impressed by. He barely clenched his teeth, or huffed at all! The most she saw was a subtle eye-roll which he was being careful to hide.
Seems like he did remember the night before, and the efforts she’d gone through to impart to him how much of this was going to be posturing.
Loveday tried not to think about whether Dimitri remembered what he’d told her about his own past. If he was winging it, then so would she. As far as Loveday was concerned, they were in this together now. She would carry his secrets, and they’d both try to carry the clan…
Davorin Ingram tapped a pointed claw to the table between them and hummed thoughtfully. Loveday tried not to look tense.
“It is surprising how well you have acclimated to living with the Calleigh,” he smiled at her. “Perhaps there is more to your being here than simply a mediator, after all, how can a Held speak for their clan unless they are a part of it, hmm?”
Loveday was about to smile and explain that she had studied very well, and that the Calleigh were very welcoming, allowing her to truly feel like part of the clan, but the Noxier King seemed to be on a roll…
“Maybe congratulations are in order!” He grins at her and Dimitri, who is now crossing his arms. “A Held mediator for the Calleigh is rather suspicious, but a Queen on the other hand makes a lot more sense, both personally and strategically, wouldn’t you agree?”
Loveday can feel the way Dimitri tenses beside her, and in the next five seconds she plasters a quick shy smile to her face and runs through about a dozen scenarios where she tries out every possible answer except the one Davorin Ingram is fishing for.
That’s quite the thought my lord, however I truly am a simple Held girl who has come to stand up for the Calleigh in their time of need- no, that makes the Calleigh look weak and her look too fragile.
That’s an interesting notion! Perhaps someday the King and I shall discuss it, but for now we should return to the matter at hand- no! That just leaves a perfect window for the Noxier to keep needling at her until she exposes that she truly is just a random Held with no real training and no ties to the Calleigh other than the ones she’s forged herself.
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Loveday needs the Noxier to underestimate her while simultaneously believing that she has a sway among the Calleigh. That she’s needed.
Loveday cannot allow herself to be a weak point through which the Noxier can find faults or an exploitable way to break through…
I need to be a wall. I need to be someone that they are certain they can’t manipulate or outmaneuver. I need them to believe I am ready to stand up for but also die for the Calleigh-
In five seconds Loveday has already decided what she’s going to say.
She makes her smile slightly more demure and reaches a hand over to rest lightly on Dimitri’s shoulder. He does a good job not tensing under her touch, and Loveday watches as the two Noxier’s eyes widen only slightly before they both smile deviously.
“We are in the process of finalizing our mating agreement. However, I’m telling you this in confidence, so I hope I can trust the two of you not to spread this around.”
Loveday squeezes Dimitri’s shoulder and laughs shyly…
“My King and I are committed to each other, but we didn’t want our happy news to detract in any way from these important conferences. I trust you understand?”
Audrey Asema nodded, flashing her a teasing grin.
“Of course my lady, and congratulations! What thrilling news. Has there ever been a Calleigh/Held couple, do you know?”
Loveday waved a hand, thinking she could just make up a number, when suddenly Dimitri sat forward and took her hand from his shoulder.
Loveday froze, fearing he was going to shove her away or otherwise blow a hole in her makeshift lie, but to her surprise, he clasped their hands together, rested them on the table in plain sight, and gave the two vampires across from them a stern nod.
“We aren’t concerned with what others do. Now, have we satisfied your curiosity? I believe there are some things to be discussed in regards to the neutral zone between our two clans.”
Davorin Ingram chuckled icily, then nodded at their linked hands.
“Of course, of course. Perhaps we can continue drawing up the plans for the border at a later time. It has been several hours, and I wouldn’t dream of detracting from your time with your beloved mate. Miss D’Aboville… I am thrilled to see your residence among the Calleigh will be permanent. Good evening, and again, congratulations.”
Dimitri didn’t let her hand go and Loveday didn’t stop smiling until they were certain the Noxier had left not just the room but the building.
Then Dimitri shook her off with a soft growl and hissed at her darkly-
“Why did you do that?”
Despite herself, Loveday glared at him, still anxious and tense from the many hours of back and forth that evening.
“You heard them, right?! They were not beating around the bush. If you’re going to have a Held as a liaison, there better be a damn good reason. Forget trust. Unless they see me as a part of this clan, indispensable, I am never going to be more than a weakness for them to try and exploit. Who does that benefit? Not you. Not your people-“
Dimitri curled his lip and snickered ruefully.
“So you think you can just waltz in here and assign yourself as my mate? Sweetheart, that’s not how it works…”
Dimitri’s tone was more teasing than condescending, but she still bristled. Before she could reel herself back in, she was stepping closer and lowering her voice to an aggravated whisper.
“That’s how it’s going to have to work if you want to keep your Kingdom. You’re not a stupid man, Dimitri, the Noxier are looking to expand their territory and that means you’re in the way. If your people thought you had any chance of beating them in a one on one fight, why did they come to me to mediate in the first place?”
It was hitting below the belt, she knew, but Loveday had to hope that the King was able to set aside his heartache for the moment and assess the situation with her rationally.
Fury sparked in his eyes for a moment, and Loveday had to actually remind herself to stand her ground because when Dimitri was really angry he could definitely make her gaze want to skitter away. She held firm.
Finally, the softening of his shoulders and the slight pinch to his lips made her realize he was thinking it through.
Would it be a pleasant experience? Probably not. Did either of them want it? Obviously, no. But Loveday had already decided that she was going to put all her eggs in this basket. She was committed to the Calleigh, and knew she would live or die with them. She was just praying that Dimitri Veil could come back from the dead to survive or perish with them.