Page 8 of Elven Lies

“One of those ways,” Rebecca continued, “was that he didn’t tell anyone what he was up to. Ever. Even when it endangered every other member of this task force. And that’s something I’m also trying to change. Sure, accepting Harkennr’s invitation might endanger Shade too, but it’s still the smartest option for now.

“Plus, for something like this, I want a group of magicals I trust to already know where I am and what I’m trying to do. Which also means, if something happens to me and this plan goes to shit, you’ll all know about that too. It’s more prep than we ever had when Aldous ran things.”

“The plans may fall apart,” Maxwell said, “but you willnotbe walking in there alone. I’m coming with you.”

At first, his declaration stunned her into a longer silence than she would have liked. Rebecca hadn’t factored Maxwell’s reaction into all this, but of course this was his response. Why hadn’t she seen this coming?

She turned toward him, achingly aware of that tingling energy flaring up between them as she did. Suddenly afraid of getting lost in the sensation and in her Head of Security’s glowing silver eyes, she stopped just short of meeting his gaze before lowering her voice for a quick, “You and I can discuss that later.”

Even without looking directly at him, she noted his deepening scowl. She would have noted it even with her eyes closed. She couldfeelit.

“What I’m trying to do here, first and foremost,” Rebecca continued, addressing the rest of the group again, “isnotto repeat some of my predecessor’s worst mistakes.That’swhy you’re here. Everyone in this room has proven their competence and reliability under pressure. If something were to happen to me, I have every confidence in this group’s ability as a single body to handle making the hard decisions in my absence. WithShade’sinterests as a top priority.”

Then she looked directly at Bor and Zida sitting side by side. “True, you two aren’t field operatives, and I don’t expect that to change. But I trust your knowledge and experience, and I want you to be prepared with all the necessary details. Just in case.”

Bor raised his one bushy eyebrow, the other removed beneath the enormous scar stretching across his face. The expressionlooked enough like consent to satisfy Rebecca, and she even thought the old giveldi looked a little impressed.

Zida scoffed and shook her head before adding dryly, “Fantastic. Another council I didn’t volunteer for. Never thought I’d end up on one ofthoseagain.”

Bor’s snort sounded vaguely like a struggling chuckle. “Wisdom does come at a high cost. You of all folks know that.”

“Speak for yourself, you hunchbacked relic,” she snapped.

Twin smirks flashed across both old-worlders’ ancient lips.

Finally, smiling didn’t feel like so much of a chore.

“I didn’t have an official council in mind, necessarily,” Rebecca added, “but if that’s what you wanna call it, fine. Does anyone else have any useful comments to share?”

When Maxwell choked—or maybe forced a cough; Rebecca couldn’t quite tell—she fought back a laugh of her own.

The old-worlders kept their mouths shut, though Whit and Rick shook their heads.

“Okay.” Rebecca nodded. “Then that’s the end of this meeting. Just so you’re all aware, I’m leaving for Harkennr’s basetoday. If all goes well, I’ll be back today too. Then we’ll go from there. Thanks for your time.”

All four remaining magicals stared at her expectantly until Rebecca couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Yeah, this is the part where you’re dismissed.”

Chairs screeched across the floor as they slid away from the table. Rick and Whit were the first two out the door after acknowledging their Roth-Da’al with a final nod and looking to Maxwell for any sign that he might have wanted something else from them afterward. Apparently, there was nothing else.

Bor and Zida helped each other up out of their chairs in their own brusque way before shuffling off together into the hall. No one bothered to close the door again behind them, for which Rebecca was instantly grateful.

Because now it was just her and Maxwell, alone, in her empty second-story office, and he wouldn’t stop staring at her.

Great. Just what she’d been trying to avoid.

But she didn’t tell him to stop, either.

In seconds, the weight of his intense gaze brought a hot flush to Rebecca’s face and neck. She hated herself for never being able to control that reaction, but shecouldforce herself not to swipe at her face or push up the sleeves of her plain plum-purple shirt when it felt like someone had cranked up the heat in here by a deadly degree.

Then she couldn’t take the combination of his unflinching stare and the deafening silence any longer. “You did hear the part where I said dismissed, right?”

All she got for that was a deadpan stare.

With a sigh, she rolled her chair out from under the desk and stood.

“You have to know I won’t let you go in there on your own,” he said, standing with her, though whether to head her off or because protocol dictated he stand when the Roth-Da’al stood, she couldn’t tell.

“I feel like we’ve had this conversation before, Maxie.” Rebecca noticed her strident tone but couldn’t change it beneath the weight of her responsibility—of what she was about to do and the residual frustration from the way her meeting had almost erupted on itself.

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