Free Web NovelChapter 304: Chapter 304
"She was his only daughter and his favorite among his four children," Aeron replied. "You cannot fault him for being sentimental when it comes to matters concerning her. Hairan was her betrothed, after all."
Nheera hated the reminder. Lately, it seemed like that fact has been the reason for her troubles.
"But they were never married," she countered smoothly. "And even if they were, my son is still very young. Is he meant to remain unwed forever simply because Laheir refuses to let go of the past?" Her tone sharpened slightly.
Aeron studied her for a long moment, his sharp eyes searching her face for cracks in the façade. "Is this the real reason you asked me here?" he asked at last. "To air your grievances with my brother?"
"It is part of it," she admitted, "but not the only reason." She straightened subtly, her voice lowering. "Last night, my son and his betrothed were attacked. Hairan escaped unharmed, but Elka was seriously injured." She paused deliberately. "Though I imagine you already know this by now and I believe the attack was your doing."
Aeron leaned further back in his chair, an amused glint entering his eyes. "May I ask how you arrived at that conclusion?"
"I am familiar with the way you conduct your operations," she said coolly. "You have never been subtle. And I have reason to believe Laheir asked you to arrange it."
"And why would I do that?" he asked, never once breaking eye contact.
"To hurt me for a perceived slight," she replied without hesitation. "Why else?"
Aeron laughed, the sound harsh and openly mocking, echoing through the chamber.
She gave no outward reaction. Where her lips might usually curl in distaste and her eyes blaze with fury, she forced herself to cling to the serene composure she had perfected for moments like this. Still, it did not stop her hands from curling into tight fists beneath the table, her nails biting into her palms.
"Nheera," Aeron said once his laughter subsided, his voice suddenly cold, "if I wanted to hurt you, you would already be dead. You are gravely mistaken, since you are still very much alive." His smile returned, slow and unpleasant. "But the same cannot be said for your lady-in-waiting. Such a ghastly affair. Murdered and left in the forest like refuse. What was her name again?"
His words dragged her back to the horrors of the previous night. Irah’s lifeless body flashed vividly in her mind. Her eyes were clouded to a dull, milky white, her skin drained of all color as though death itself had leached her dry. She had barely resembled the woman Nheera had known for decades, yet she had recognized her instantly. She had known it was Irah as surely as she knew her own name. The memory made her chest tighten, not from grief or any form of emotional attachment. But instead from rage at the fact that someone had gone against her in such a way.
She remembered stumbling back to her chambers afterward, her mind reeling. And it was then that word had come of the attack on Hairan’s carriage.
"What kind of allies would we be," Nheera said at last, her voice steady despite the storm inside her, "if we continue to strike at one another over every perceived provocation? Call off your assassins." Her expression hardened. "I will not escalate this conflict but make no mistake, my children’s lives are not chess pieces for you and Laheir to toy with."
"No," Aeron said simply. Then he smiled.
"Better yet beg," he added lazily, " If you do it convincingly enough, I might reconsider."
Her gaze turned glacial in an instant, the temperature in the room seeming to drop with it. The sight only deepened his amusement.
"I have shown you nothing but courtesy since the moment you walked through that door," she said icily. "And you have spat at my every attempt at civility. Do you truly intend to make an enemy of me? Because I assure you, that would be a grave misstep. I am far more valuable to you as an ally."
"It has been many years since you have been of any real benefit to me." As he spoke, his eyes trailed slowly down her form, the implication heavy and unmistakable.
Her mouth twisted into a scowl. "And I am perfectly content to keep it that way," she snapped. "Call off your assassins, Aeron. If Laheir has an issue with me, he can confront me himself. Stop indulging his childish resentment."
Aeron’s smile widened. "I will be sure to pass along your message the next time I speak with him." He rose from his chair with unhurried grace, leaving his cup of wine forgotten. "Unfortunately, I have more pressing matters to attend to. If that is all, I shall take my leave."
"One more thing," Nheera said, stopping him. freёweɓnovel.com
He paused, glancing back at her.
"I need to know," she continued quietly, "did you kill my lady-in-waiting?" Her eyes searched his face. "The state of her body was unnatural. Both I and the guards who retrieved her believe magic was involved. You are the only one I know who dabbles in that sort of thing."
Aeron’s expression did not change at all. "Then you must think very highly of me, Nheera," he replied lightly, though there was an unmistakable edge beneath the amusement. He straightened, smoothing an invisible crease from his sleeve before continuing, his voice almost cordial. "We should get together like this again sometime in the future."
He paused, turning his head just enough to glance back at her. "Give my regards to Lady Elka and her family. I have no quarrel with her, and I never intended for her to be injured." His gaze sharpened, the warmth draining from his expression as his next words fell with deliberate cruelty. "If anything, that arrow should have been meant for your son."
With that final remark hanging heavily in the air, Aeron turned on his heel and walked away.
