Page 84 of Heartless Enemy

“And what would those matters be, Miss…?”

She jutted her chin out. “Parliament Member Nikita Dreary.”

“Dreary?” A slow smile spread across Levi’s lips.

Her cheeks and neck flushed bright red, and she huffed out something incomprehensible.

Since everyone else was only looking between her and Levi, I assumed that she had been chosen as the spokesperson for this meeting. As opposed to city states like Eldar, Malgrave didn’t have a Chancellor who led the parliament. All twenty-five parliament members held equal power, so they needed to choose someone to lead during each session or meeting. Though why they had chosen someone as easily flustered as Nikita Dreary was beyond me.

“Well,MissDreary,” Levi said, deliberately disregarding her proper title. “You wanted to talk.” He lifted his broad shoulders in a nonchalant shrug. “So, talk.”

It took her a few more seconds to compose herself. At last, she cleared her throat and sat up straighter, apparently choosing to ignore Levi’s slight. “Christian White, the worldwalker from the north, is on his way here with an army.”

“I know.”

She started slightly, as if she hadn’t expected him to also be aware of that. Then she gave her head a short shake before continuing. “Yes, well, then you understand why we have called this meeting.”

“Enlighten me.”

“We need to postpone our internal hostilities until the external threat that the worldwalker poses has been neutralized.”

“Or I could join forces with him and wipe out the entire north side.”

Deafening silence fell like a death shroud over the tent. It was so intense that I could almost feel it vibrating in the air.

Half of the parliament had blanched visibly as they stared at Levi in open-mouthed shock and horror.

“What?” Nikita Dreary at last managed to press out.

“Christian White and I have no issues,” Levi lied smoothly. “I gave him another healer last time he was here. He and I are good. So I assume he’s here because he wants a larger area of influence.”

“He would be encroaching onyourarea of influence.”

“No. We’ll just split the city between us. I’ll keep the south and give him the north.”

She slowly shook her head. “You wouldn’t.”

“Are you under the impression that I have a conscience? Or that I give any fucks at all about your side of the river?”

Worry flickered in her brown eyes, and she opened her mouth but then just closed it again.

“I can make a deal with him and help him wipe you out,” Levi said, his voice as unyielding as the metal he commanded. “Or I can make a deal with you and help you wipe him out. Your choice.”

Clothes rustled faintly as the Parliament of Malgrave twisted in their seats to exchange nervous glances.

“What do you want?” Dreary asked carefully as she shifted her attention back to the King of Metal.

“The south side. Formally cede it to me.”

“Absolutely not!” she and several more people blurted out at the same time as others snapped, “Out of the question!”

Noise broke out inside the tent as all the parliament members started speaking at once. Ulric was on his feet, trying to calm several of them down while the constables along the walls did the same.

I flicked a quick glance at Levi. The corner of his mouth twitched in a barely perceptible hint of amusement as he watched the chaos unfold. Then that merciless expression was back on his face as he quickly summoned a small sheet of metal and slammed it into the stone bridge below our feet.

The bang it produced cut through the noise like an axe.

Magic flared to life from all the constables, and they fell into battle stances, ready to defend the parliament members. But Levi had already let the metal fade out again.

---