Page 37 of Aria's Desire

“Wonderful news. Sit, please.”

After they’d taken seats around the table, Ishtal waved the males standing at attention along the edge of the room forward, gesturing for them to begin serving food.

“You slept well, I hope? Your rooms are to your liking?”

Had she slept well? Ha.

Aria schooled her features and replied evenly, “They’re beautiful. Slept great.”

Turning when she caught a whiff of kashka, she zeroed in on one of the approaching males. Sin and Rellik immediately went on alert, tensing, prepared to take him down at her signal… until they caught the scent of the tea he was carrying. She saw the amused look they exchanged, but ignored it, keeping her gaze on the male.

“I’ll take that, thanks,” she prompted.

The male, looking wary as hell at being the center of her focus, approached slowly, set the carafe on the table in front of her, then quickly retreated out of reach, much to her men’s amusement.

Once she’d poured herself a cup, Rellik caught her eye, his expression wryly questioning, silently asking if she was going to growl at him again if he reached for the carafe like she’d done in their room. Smirking, she slid it to him.

“Such generosity, mysarasha,” he whispered under his breath so only she could hear.

Sin, looking curious as to what the fuss was about, reached for it next. Aria watched his face as he took a sip, waiting to see his reaction. He’d made it black, which is how she and Rellik were drinking it, but, much like coffee, it was bitter. To her, it was a good bitter, like expensive dark chocolate, smooth and earthy, but it wasn’t a flavor everyone enjoyed.

His eyes widened a little before his lids fell to half mast, an expression of pleasure spreading over his face as he made a rumbly sound in his chest.

Absurdly pleased he liked it,and a little turned on by that look, Aria hid a smile behind her cup and leaned back in the chair. When she did, she caught Ishtal watching them with an almost confused expression.

Seeing that Aria was looking, she remarked bemusedly, “You treat them as equals.”

Reminding herself of the cultural differences so she didn’t get too offended on her men’s behalf, Aria kept her response to a simple, if a bit clipped, “They are my equals.”

Ishtal hummed, flicking an inscrutable gaze at first Rellik, then Sin, before launching smoothly into small talk as they ate. It wasn’t until they’d finished that she leaned back, giving Aria a contemplative look.

Finally.

Aria had known from the moment they walked in that the Queen had something on her mind, evidenced by both her hesitation at seeing Sin and Rellik, and her stream of small talk that came in fits and starts, punctuated by long moments of silence and thoughtful expressions.

“Leave us.”

Within seconds, the room was empty, all the males standing along the edge of the room filing out wordlessly. When the door closed behind them, Ishtal let out a soft breath and relaxed her carefully composed expression.

“I am told you may have come across my daughter, Salesh.”

Ah, so this is why the private breakfast.

Aria understood, now. Letting it be known the person she was trying to forge an alliance with had been responsible for her daughter’s death, or at least knew who was, very likely would’ve been seen as a weakness, if it wasn’t accompanied with some form of revenge or recompense. Ishtal was already rocking the boat. That knowledge could easily push those against the alliance into outright mutiny.

“We did, yes.”

“Does she live?”

“No. I’m sorry.” Aria hesitated before offering more. “Do you want to know?”

Ishtal’s expression twisted with pain. “Want? No. But, perhaps, I need to, if only so I do not hate you.”

Nodding, Aria began. She didn’t hold anything back or spare Ishtal the details, but she did make her voice quiet, gentle. She did it out of consideration. Salesh had caused Aria’s people a lot of pain, and that was partly Ishtal’s fault. But, regardless of the fact that Salesh was a sadistic bitch who’d needed killing, she was still this woman’s daughter, and learning of her death hurt. So, yes, Aria spoke in a soft murmur as she told the Queen of her daughter’s crimes, as she recounted her death.

When she finished, Ishtal remained silent for long minutes, staring blankly out the window.

Eventually, she turned to them again, looking tired.

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