20. Chapter 20

Kissing Niara hadn 't been part of my plan at all. Snyg, I hadn't even had a plan until I saw the idiot drooling all over her. In that moment a deep rooted instinct to leave my imprint on her one way or another overcame me and I pulled her into the shed.

I wasn't even sure what I was trying to accomplish, definitely not leaving with the mother of all erections and feeling robbed of something my entire being yearned for more than anything. It wasn't simply about sheathing myself into her hot pussy, ney, I wanted to be inside her alright, but not just her pussy. I wanted to be in her heart, her mind, her soul. I wanted to be every breath she took, every beat of her heart. I wanted her more than anything before in my life.

It took a tremendous effort, not to bend her over her worktable, pull up her skirts and take her. The only reason I didn't was that I worried she would hate me after. Her desire for me had been obvious and she would have gladly given her body to me, I was sure of that, but after? Ney, after she would have run to her Conrad, whining and begging him for forgiveness and spending the rest of her life trying to make up for her mistake . Which was the last thing in the universe I wanted to be.

When something crashed into the wall next to me, I thought at first it was my fist hitting it in frustration until I realized she had thrown something heavy, making me chuckle in satisfaction for having gotten under her skin.

By the entrance I stopped, turning, helpless not to drink in her beauty. Her chest heaved up and down deliciously in barely contained rage. Her grey eyes resembled a stormy sky, her blonde, curly hair had mostly come undone, encircled her like a halo. All in all she looked like an avenging goddess and once again I had to restrain myself not to grab and bend her over the table.

"Are you coming to see your brother?" I asked.

Her mouth opened and closed wordlessly, her eyes threw daggers at me, making mine involuntarily turn to the object she had thrown at me, part of an anchor, that would have hurt had her aim been better.

She took a deep breath, her body shuddered as she straightened herself, lifting her chin defiantly her hands grabbed her loose hair and piled it on top of her head.

Wordlessly she pushed by me on the way to her palace . Another chuckle escaped me when her shoulders connected forcefully with my arm in an attempt to push me off balance.

"You're despicable, you know that?" She fumed as we walked up to her brother's lair. "I'm only glad I'm finally rid of you."

I didn't correct her assumption that her role as hostage was over just because her brother had done his part. I had no intention of letting her go just yet, if ever. I didn't allow the thought in that I regarded her as mine, because that was preposterous, but deep down, even then, it was slowly digging its way to the surface, seeding the idea. More fool me for not being aware of who she was to me.

Very different from the first time I met with Nathan and Niara, Nathan sat on a throne like chair, his hands steepled on top of his knees, he haughtily stared down at us.

"Sister," he greeted Niara tonelessly.

Taken aback, Niara stared at him, "Nathan?"

"I'm so grateful to you, Vissigroth Myles," he finally deemed to address me and I arched my eyebrow mockingly at him, "Nathan."

He came down from his throne , which had been erected on some kind of pedestal, opened his arms wide in a benevolent greeting to embrace his sister. The whole scene would have been much more impressive, had Nathan been older, broader, stronger or even held a title beyond baron of a floating ruin, a title that might have given him some kind of power behind his ostentatious behavior, as it was, his demeanor was more embarrassing than anything else.

Niara, however, embraced her brother enthusiastically. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"It was a trying experience for sure," Nathan agreed. "And you, sister, you look well, do I dare hope Vissigroth Myles treated you with the respect you deserve?"

"I am well, thank you… brother," Niara tried to read her brother, his formal behavior but looked just as puzzled as I .

"Well since we are all here now thanks the gods, let's talk business, shall we?" Nathan waved his arm over to a seating arrangement in a corner.

A small table had been set with drinks and snacks. The corners of my mouth twitched, challenging me to keep the chuckle that wanted to bubble up inside me in check. It wasn't time yet to end this charade. On some level it even amused me and I was curious to what ends Nathan was willing to go and what leverage he thought he held over me.

"You met with the Chrymphten," I prompted after declining a drink or snack.

"Ah, yes, the Chrymphten," Nathan nodded. His elbows rested on the chairs armrests and again, he steepled his hands.

I disguised a snicker with a cough, but Nathan tried so hard to play the role of a male who held any kind of power or leverage, it was hard to keep my composure.

Niara threw me a glaring glance, also aware of her brother's ridiculous behavior, but unwilling to laugh at his expense.

"I did give them the coordinates as promised," Nathan filled us in. "They were very gracious and informed me of a place where I should take Horn, to keep my people safe."

"Good," I nodded, not giving him an inch.

"They also provided me with some information," Nathan baited.

It was time to end this charade and show the little prick who was in charge here. I heard Niara's sigh as I rose to my full length. "Whatever you think to extort from me, you better remember that it is I who still holds your little life in his hands. It will be my word that will sway Susserayn Myccael to have you executed for treason or alive and even the leader of this pathetic swimming island you call Horn.

"You better decide quickly your course of action, my patience is wearing thin, baron ."

Nathan visibly deflated in his seat, returning to the frantic boy I had first encountered. One day he might grow into his boots and become the male whose shadow I glimpsed here and there, but that day wasn't today or tomorrow.

"I beg your pardon," he said and actually looked the part enough so that I allowed my stance to relax somewhat. I put my hands on a chair’s headrest and nodded at him encouragingly.

"The Chrymphten told me where I should take Horn to keep my city safe, I will download the coordinates for you. They also told me the day of when to expect the attack."

I snorted and rolled my eyes. So the Chrymphten had seen through my little ploy. I tapped my fingers on the armrest.

"I advise you to take Horn close to Aecor, you will be much safer in the vicinity of my city than anywhere else."

"You think they lied to me?" Nathan asked so astounded I nearly felt sorry for him.

"Of course they did," Niara exploded on her chair, raising her even more in my estimation. She was definitely smarter and more cunning than her brother.

"What did you tell them?" Niara demanded.

"About?" Nathan looked confused .

"About where and how you got the information for the location of the atmospheric defenders." Niara huffed.

"Oh, I told them I bribed one of Vissigroth Myles's officers," Nathan looked proud of himself.

"I'm sorry," Niara looked at me, "please don't have him executed."

"What?" Nathan cried.

"The Chrymphten aren't stupid, Nathan. They know that you traded with them because Horn is broke. They know you used all the credits they gave you for repairs."

"So?" Nathan still didn't get it.

I spilled it out for him. "None of my officers can be bribed to buy this kind of information, the Chrymphten tried before. And even if they would take a bribe, it would be at a price you wouldn't be able to afford."

"Oh." Nathan crumbled even more on his chair.

I folded my hands behind my back and circled the seating area, "This is entirely my fault. I should have given you a cover story before I sent you out." I said, berating myself. I should have. But it was too late now.

"We can still recover from this though, I'm willing to bet that the date they gave you," I looked at him questioning and he answered right away.

"Three weeks from now."

"So they will attack in one or two." I concluded.

"How do you know that?" Nathan asked .

"Because they still want the element of surprise," Niara explained, not even looking at me for confirmation, so sure was she of herself. What a seffy .

"It might even be today or tomorrow," I concluded. "They will want to catch us of off guard."

"You have one place they'll attack for sure," Niara said.

"Where?" Nathan wrinkled his forehead.

"Your safe space," Niara couldn't quite keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

"Alright, lots of things to do." I concluded. "If I were you I would get Horn ready as soon as possible and take it as close to Aecor as you can," I advised Nathan, then turned to Niara.

"Coming?"