Chapter 21
Brivul
“We come seeking alliance.” Brivul kept his voice steady and firm, his tail still coiled protectively around Mila. The scent of Talis’s expensive perfume filled the air—citrus and something darker, more exotic.
“Bold words from wanted fugitives breaking into my conference room.” Talis’s lips curved into a dangerous smile.
“You know who we are?”
“The former Niri general and the slave who escaped Kurg’s estate?” Talis leaned back, her jewels glinting in her elaborate headdress. “Your faces are plastered across half the district.”
Brivul felt Mila tense against him. His protective instincts screamed, but he forced them down. This was delicate territory.
“Then you know Kurg wants us captured.”
“Indeed.” Talis’s sapphire eyes narrowed. “He’s offering quite the reward.”
“We have something better to offer.” Brivul shifted his weight, ready to move if needed. “Information that could destroy him.”
Talis’s smile widened, showing perfect white teeth. “Now, that does interest me. That pompous slimeball has been a thorn in my side for far too long.”
“Then we share common ground.”
“Perhaps.” Talis drummed her fingers on the obsidian table. “Though I wonder why you’d risk coming to me rather than going to the authorities.”
“Because you hate him as much as we do.” Mila spoke up from behind Brivul. “And you have the power to actually do something about it.”
Talis studied them both for a long moment.
“You might be right.” She gestured to the chairs across from her. “Sit. Tell me what you know about our mutual enemy.”
Brivul kept his body angled between Mila and Talis as they took their seats, every muscle coiled and ready. The obsidian table reflected their faces like dark water, its surface cool and smooth beneath his fingertips.
“Kurg has been stealing from the Council of Seven.” Mila’s voice carried strength despite her fear. “He’s been laundering money through fake accounts.”
“Bold accusation.” Talis’s jeweled fingers tapped against the table. “Proof?”
Mila pulled out the data chip. Brivul tensed as she slid it across the obsidian surface. If Talis decided to betray them, that chip was their only leverage.
The holoscreen flickered to life, bathing them all in its blue glow. Numbers and transmissions scrolled past, each one more damning than the last. Brivul watched Talis’s face, noting how her eyes widened slightly at certain figures.
“This is…” Talis leaned forward. “These transmissions are authentic?”
“Downloaded directly from his private terminal.”
Talis’s smile turned predatory. “No wonder he wants you back so badly.”
A growl rumbled in Brivul’s chest before he could stop it. The thought of Kurg getting his hands on Mila again made his blood boil.
“The question is,” Mila continued, “what will you do with this information?”
Talis’s fingers danced over the holoscreen, examining more details. “Oh, I can think of several delicious possibilities. The council takes a dim view of theft, especially from their own kingpins.”
Talis then tapped a manicured nail against the data chip. “These transmissions could be fabricated, though.”
Brivul’s muscles tensed. The familiar weight of failure pressed against his chest. He should have known it wouldn’t be this easy.
“How do I know this isn’t just some desperate ploy?” Talis’s gaze fixed on Mila. “A slave trying to buy her freedom by framing her master?”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Brivul’s tail tightened protectively around Mila’s waist.
“I could just send you back to Kurg,” Talis said with a cruel smile. “The reward money would be substantial.”
The warrior in Brivul snapped to attention. His body shifted, rising to his full height as he placed himself between Mila and Talis. The scar on his jaw pulled tightly as his teeth bared.
“Anyone who tries to lay a hand on her answers to me.” His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. The general he used to be, the warrior he still was, blazed in his eyes. “And I promise you won’t enjoy that conversation.”
The obsidian table reflected his towering form. His hands curled into fists at his sides, every scale on his body rigid with tension.
“My, my.” Talis leaned back, though her smile faltered. “Quite protective of your little slave. Aren’t you, General?”
“She’s not a slave.” The words ripped from his throat. “She’s under my protection.”
Mila stood up and stepped forward, her chin lifted in defiance. Pride swelled in Brivul’s chest at her courage. His mate was no cowering slave. She was a warrior in her own right.
“Think about it logically.” Mila’s voice rang clear and strong. “Kurg claims to be the wealthiest kingpin on Jorvla, yet his market control is fractional compared to yours.”
Brivul’s tail remained coiled protectively around her waist, but he let her take the lead. The fierce intelligence in her eyes reminded him why he’d fallen for her.
“His wealth doesn’t match his influence.” Mila gestured to the scrolling data. “The numbers don’t add up unless he has another source of income.”
Talis’s jeweled fingers stilled on the obsidian table. Her sapphire eyes narrowed as she studied the figures with new interest.
“The council’s funds.” Talis tapped a particularly large transfer. “That would explain how he outbid me on the spice trade routes.”
“Exactly.” Mila’s voice gained confidence. “He’s using stolen money to create the illusion of legitimate business success.”
Brivul watched Talis’s expression shift from skepticism to calculation. His warrior instincts told him they’d struck a chord. The rival kingpin’s pride wouldn’t let this slight go unchallenged.
“Your markets are three times the size of his,” Mila pressed. “Yet somehow he claims double your profits? The math doesn’t work.”
A slow smile spread across Talis’s face. “No, it certainly doesn’t.”
The tension in the room shifted. Brivul felt it in his scales. They’d convinced her. His muscles remained coiled, ready to protect Mila if needed, but hope flickered in him.
“Well then.” Talis leaned back, her jewels catching the light. “Perhaps we should discuss how to use this information to our mutual benefit.”
Talis’s fingers traced the edge of the data chip. “I must say, I’m impressed. Not many would dare bring such evidence to me directly at such great risk.”
Brivul kept his protective stance, his tail still wrapped around Mila.
“I’ll take this to the council myself.” Talis tucked the chip into her elaborate robes. “Kurg’s been strutting around like he owns half of Jorvla. Time someone clipped his wings.”
Relief flooded through Brivul’s chest, though he didn’t let his guard down.
“And our freedom?” Mila’s voice carried steel beneath its softness.
“Once Kurg falls—and he will fall—I’ll ensure both your names are cleared.” Talis’s jewels caught the light as she inclined her head. “You’ll be free to go wherever you wish.”
The tension in Brivul’s shoulders eased slightly. The thought of Mila finally free, no longer having to look over her shoulder, made his heart swell. She deserved that and more.
“You have my word as a kingpin.” Talis rose from her seat, her robes whispering against the floor. “And unlike some, I keep my promises.”
Brivul dipped his head in acknowledgment. “We appreciate your assistance.”
“Oh, the pleasure will be all mine.” Talis’s smile turned sharp. “I do so enjoy watching the mighty tumble from their pedestals.”
Talis swept from the room in a whisper of silk and jewels. The moment the door clicked shut, Mila spun toward Brivul, her green eyes bright with triumph.
“We did it!”
Her joy hit him like a physical force. Brivul pulled her close with his tail, drinking in her radiant smile. The sweet scent of her filled his senses.
“You did it,” he corrected. “That was brilliant, breaking down the numbers for her.”
“We make a pretty good team.” Mila’s hands came to rest on his chest, and his heart thundered beneath her touch.
His mate was not only beautiful but brilliant. The way she’d handled Talis, showing such strength and intelligence under pressure, made his chest burst with pride.
“A very good team.” His voice dropped low as he gazed down at her upturned face.
Her lips parted slightly, and the urge to claim them nearly overwhelmed him. His tail tightened around her waist, drawing her even closer. The heat of her body pressed against his scales sent sparks of electricity through his blood.
But no. Not here, not now. Their first kiss wouldn’t be in some kingpin’s conference room while they waited to see if their gamble would pay off. His mate deserved better than that.
With heroic effort, Brivul loosened his hold slightly, though he couldn’t bring himself to let go completely. The disappointed flash in Mila’s eyes made his resolve waver, but he held firm.