Chapter 15
Lyrian
The meeting room buzzed with underlying tension, though most wouldn't have noticed it. I sat beside Zoren at the head of the long mahogany table, my hand resting over my growing belly as I sorted through the whirlpool of emotions around the table. Even now, surrounded by people who kept me protected, I still felt tense.
Twenty of Zoren's highest-ranking captains and lieutenants filled the room, each carrying their own agenda beneath careful masks of deference. They all wanted something.
Lieutenant Chen sat to my left, her usual calm tinged with concern over recent territory disputes. Across from her, Captain Rodriguez's ambition simmered just beneath the surface—nothing unusual there, as he'd always dreamed of advancement. The twins shifted, responding to the emotional atmosphere, and I took a deep breath, centering myself. It was about the only thing I could do at the moment.
Most emotions were the usual mix of respect, fear, and ambition I'd come to expect from cartel gatherings, but something felt off. I'd learned to trust these instincts over the past months, especially as my pregnancy had seemed to heighten my empathic abilities.
There. A spike of anticipation from Marcus, one of our newer captains. He was tense, thinking about something I couldn't figure out just by thinking about it.
His face remained impassive as he delivered his report on territory expansions, but his emotions betrayed him. Beneath the professional exterior lurked something darker, more calculating. I pressed deeper with my abilities, careful to maintain my own neutral expression.
"The Rivera family has agreed to our terms regarding the southern shipping routes," Marcus said, shuffling his papers. "They've withdrawn their claims to the harbor district."
Deception rolled off him in waves, strong enough to make my skin crawl. I probed deeper, picking up threads of anxiety, anticipation, and something else—triumph? Why would he feel triumphant about a simple territory negotiation?
I shifted slightly, placing my hand on Zoren's arm. We'd developed a subtle code over the months—a simple touch could convey volumes. He continued listening to Marcus's report, but I felt his muscles tense beneath my fingers. He was beginning to understand what I was thinking.
What we were used to doing was useful for moments such as this one. We could communicate without talking.
"The deal includes unrestricted access to warehouses six through twelve," Marcus continued, but I barely heard him. Images flashed through my mind—fragmented emotions and half-formed thoughts. The Rivera family. Money changing hands. Plans within plans.
Betrayal.
"Interesting proposal," Zoren said when Marcus finished. "Though I'm curious about your connection to the Rivera family. It seems you've omitted some recent meetings."
Marcus's emotional spike of fear confirmed my suspicions. His calm exterior cracked just a bit. "I don't know what you mean, sir."
"Don't you?" Zoren's voice carried that dangerous edge I knew well. "Perhaps you'd like to explain why you've been feeding information to our rivals? Do you want to talk about that?"
The room erupted in chaos—both emotional and physical. Marcus lunged forward, a concealed blade appearing in his hand. He was a fool if he thought that was going to work.
But Zoren was faster, and our guards were already moving. Within seconds, Marcus was restrained, his weapon clattering to the floor. The other captains recoiled, their emotions a storm of shock, fear, and—from some—grim satisfaction.
"How?" Marcus spat, struggling against the guards. "How did you know?"
Zoren's hand covered mine where it still rested on his arm. "I have my ways," he said without telling the truth about me. Some people knew, but only the ones we trusted fully. "take him to interrogation."
Lieutenant Chen caught my eye as she stood, her quick mind already working through the implications. She'd always been observant—perhaps too much so. I looked away, conscious of how my role in this revelation might appear.
After the room cleared, leaving us alone, I turned to Zoren. "I could help with the interrogation. My abilities-"
"No." His response was immediate and firm. The protective surge in his emotions almost overwhelmed me.
"I just proved how useful I can be," I argued. "I could tell immediately he was lying. Imagine how much more efficiently we could root out traitors if I was more involved. We could prevent situations like this before they escalate."
I had been fighting every day to solidify my role in the cartel. I wanted to feel more useful, to make better use of my powers.
"You've done enough." Zoren's tone softened as he placed his hand on my stomach. His opinion hadn't changed. He always said that I'd been doing enough, even though it couldn't be any further from the truth.
The twins kicked against his palm, and his love washed over me, though. That was how he always convinced me, even though the effect lessened every time it happened.
"The twins are your priority now. Our priority. Always remember that."
I fought back my frustration. "I'm pregnant, not invalid. I can do more than sit in meetings and occasionally point out liars. Let me be more involved, Zoren. Let me help protect what's ours."
"You are involved," he said, but I could feel his worry, his fear. "You attend meetings, you provide insight. That's enough."
"It's not enough. Not for me." I stood, needing space from his overwhelming protectiveness. Sometimes, he could be too much, just like he was being now. It wasn't something he was totally aware of.
The pregnancy had made me more sensitive to strong emotions, and his fear threatened to suffocate me. "I have these abilities for a reason. I could help with interrogations, screen potential allies, protect us from infiltrators-"
"And paint an even bigger target on your back?" Zoren rose, his emotions a storm of fear and love and desperation. I knew he meant well, but I was still annoyed. "You're already precious to our enemies because you're carrying my children. If they knew the full extent of your abilities-"
"They'd fear me as they fear you," I cut in. "We'd be stronger together. Think about it, Zoren. My abilities combined with your strength—we could transform how the cartel operates. Make it more secure, more efficient, and just better overall."
"No." The word fell like a wall between us. "I won't risk you. Or our children."
I could feel the terror beneath his words—the bone-deep fear of losing me, of history repeating itself. The shadow of his first mate's death still haunted him, coloring every protective instinct. But I also felt suffocated by it. "You can't keep me in a gilded cage forever."
"I can keep you safe." His voice grew hoarse. "I must keep you safe. It's what I've been doing and what I'm going to continue to do."
We stood there, locked in our impasse, both right and wrong. Finally, I stepped forward and kissed him softly. For now, it was the best I could do. "I love you," I whispered. "But you have to trust me to be more than something precious to protect."
He held me close, his face buried in my hair. "I do trust you. I just can't lose you."
Later that night, after Zoren had fallen asleep, I sat at my desk and considered my options. The twins stirred restlessly, perhaps sensing my inner turmoil. I placed a hand on my belly, sending soothing thoughts their way.
Lieutenant Chen had always been one of the more reasonable members of Zoren's inner circle, and I knew she appreciated the value of information. More importantly, she'd seen firsthand today how valuable my abilities could be. If Zoren wouldn't let me help openly, I'd prove my worth another way. Perhaps she could help me.
I penned a careful note, choosing each word with precision. Nothing too obvious, nothing that could be traced back if intercepted. Just enough to open a dialogue, to suggest the possibility of collaboration.
As I sealed the envelope, I felt the twins stir again. "I'm doing this for us," I whispered, touching my stomach. Maybe they were trying to tell me I was doing something wrong, but I didn't think so. They could sense danger, but that was all. "All of us." Our family deserved more than just protection—it also deserved to be happy.
I slipped the note into my robe pocket, ready to pass it to one of my trusted servants in the morning.