Chapter 13
Briar
Several Months Later
“You cannot charge the Earth Court more for your services,” the Fae Queen said from the head of the table.
“Why not? He charges our Court more for his services for obtaining Marks,” Cyrus replied.
Briar rubbed at his brow. He had to give Cyrus credit.
Going head-to-head with Talwyn Semiria was a bold choice in its own right, but he was handling her well.
He supposed this was why he was the Fire Court Second.
The fact that he was the one here arguing with her rather than the Fire Prince himself had been a sore subject from the start of this meeting.
“You have your own Fae to give Marks,” Talwyn said with a sneer.
“Good thing Eliza isn’t here for that statement,” Sawyer muttered under his breath, and Briar was inclined to agree.
He was certain that Nakoa was talking the Fire General down at this very moment, but he threw a warning look at the glass of water in front of him.
Nakoa and Neve were on the other side, watching the proceedings, and Eliza was with them.
“Perhaps if the Fire Prince would bother to show up to a meeting, he could negotiate properly,” Prince Azrael said, staring down his nose at all of them from his place at Talwyn’s right.
Glancing up, Briar caught Ashtine’s stare where she sat across from him, straight and poised. Nasima was at her shoulder, and the princess tilted her head, clearly hearing the winds.
She’d learned much these past months, and they made it a point in their stolen time together to give her time to practice the balance with the winds rather than simply letting them have their way with her.
He’d learned much too. Communicating with her was getting easier, but it still took conscious effort.
Learning what made her body hum, however, was a different story.
“Do fees need to be decided today?” Ashtine asked, looking away from him and at her queen. “The weapons have not been created yet. Perhaps that should be the primary focus.”
“And who is funding these weapons if fees are not decided beforehand?” Cyrus demanded. “Furthermore, the Earth Court creates their own weapons. Why do they need those of the Fire Court?”
“This argument is trying and old,” Ashtine lilted. “Fiera steel is only found in your Court, just as skystone is only found in mine. This war already brings division. Adding to it will only serve defeat and death.”
Cyrus made a face telling Briar he had no idea what she meant by that, but Briar knew.
“I believe the Wind Princess is saying that we should be working together rather than finding more reasons to bicker among ourselves,” Briar supplied. “This coming war will divide the realm enough, and we will not survive it if we cannot figure out some way to find peace among ourselves.”
“Then perhaps the Fire Prince should be attending these meetings instead of sending his Second and Third,” Talwyn gritted out.
Her gaze slid to Cyrus, winds stirring around her and energy sparking off the silver bracelet coiled around her wrist. “Tell him that should he ignore my summons again, I will collect him myself.”
“With all due respect, your Majesty, you are queen of the Eastern Courts, not yet of the Western Courts,” Rayner replied, his voice deep and solemn.
“I will talk to Sorin,” Briar cut in. “In the meantime, I think we move forward with all Courts producing weapons. Fees can be discussed when we reconvene. Sawyer and I will have a better idea of how many weapons can be imbued at the Springs in a given time period by then. We can also begin the inter-Court trainings.”
Talwyn looked at Ashtine. “You are still amenable to your forces training with the Water Court?”
“I have no feud with the Water Court that needs to be considered,” Ashtine replied.
“Right,” Talwyn muttered. “Do you need assistance working out those details?”
“That is not necessary.”
“Great. Anything else, or are we done here?” Talwyn demanded.
When no one spoke, she stood, Azrael and Ashtine standing with her. The three of them left the meeting room, and Briar pushed out a long breath. That could have been worse.
“Can I get a portal, Drayce? I need to go punch Sorin in the godsdamn dick for making me deal with this today,” Cyrus said.
“Tell him I will visit tomorrow,” Briar answered, conjuring a water portal.
Cyrus waved him off as he and Rayner stepped to their Court.
Turning to his brother, Briar started to speak, but Sawyer cut him off. “I will keep watch and give you as much time as I can.”
They left the room together, taking the familiar paths through the White Halls. But when they reached the main foyer, Briar slipped down a corridor used by the staff. She was already waiting for him, a small swirl of wind at her fingertips.
“How do you fare, Briar?” Ashtine asked, head tilting back as Briar never slowed, walking right into her space.
He didn’t answer. He only took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. His tongue dipped between her lips, desperate and wanting. He’d been waiting for this moment all day. She hadn’t been in his bed for over three weeks.
“Not nearly as well as I will be after tonight,” he answered when he finally broke the kiss. “Our plans remain?”
“They are unchanged,” she agreed, hands slipping from his shoulder and falling to his chest.
“Thank the gods,” he replied, before capturing her mouth with his once more.
His hands slid around her hips, gripping her thighs and hoisting her up.
Pressing her against the wall, her legs wrapped around his waist. Each stroke of his tongue and caress of his hands made promises of what was to come tonight, and the small sounds coming from her told him she was as desperate as he was.
The warning dusting of flurries from Sawyer came far too soon, and he lowered Ashtine back to the ground, brushing the snowflakes from her hair. “Tonight?”
“Tonight,” she agreed, brushing one more kiss to his lips.
She took a step back, but he caught her hand, sky-blue eyes finding his in the dim lighting.
“The winds? You are well?” he asked, studying her.
She smiled, a small, soft thing that only made him want to tug her back to him all over again. “They speak of a genesis.”
“What does that mean?”
“I suppose time will tell,” she answered. “Worrying about it now steals the joy from the moment.”
His lips tilted up. “That is does, my dear.”
“Be well, my heart,” she said, and then she was gone among the winds.
And he was left counting down the hours until she flitted back into his rooms and wondering how long he would be content with stolen kisses and touches. But it was enough for now.