“I don’t know why you play her games when you disagree with them,” Mave said softly, stepping closer to her brother, going around the table. “But if my king is hurt by this, you’ll both pay for it. Is that clear?” She stopped in front of him.
“I’m going to assume you being his Champion is worth more than my being your brother.” Seanev was angry now. Whatever hurt he had when they had finally met was gone. Now he was pissed, and Mave knew the cause. She still picked others and everything over him.
“No. Him being my brother is worth more to me than you being my brother,” she corrected, smiling. “Because unlike you,”—Mave reached out and adjusted her brother’s chest piece, noticing it was a little off-center from the trip—“he put me first. He puts everyone first. You only see Leria. You only see what she wants and what she believes is best.” Mave held the chest piece now, pulling him closer. “Even when you disagree with her, you would rather make your king, your sister, and everyone here fighting for the Andinna, miserable than piss off your wife. That’s why Alchan means more to me. He’s a better brother.” She shoved him back, letting him stumble into his guards. “As for Lilliana? We’ll hold him to the same standards we hold him to with Rain. If he tries to do anything to her that she isn’t okay with, we’ll kill him. Because I know Alchan well enough to know he would do it himself once he crossed that line.”
“My Champion knows me too well sometimes.” Alchan’s voice swept over the room once she was done. “Seanev, you’ll tell Leria if she ever tries to meddle in the life of her king again, I’ll strip her of her title as mativa, exile her from Anden, and leave her territory to be chopped up among the lower mativas. You’ll be more than welcome to go with her. As it stands, tell her when this is all settled, Allaina will be the capital’s mativa, and Leria will not be allowed to grow her territory any further until my fury has subsided.”
“Yes, Sir,” Seanev whispered. “How is Lilliana?”
“It’s now Lady Lilliana. Something in this world needs to give her the power your mativa obviously tried to strip from her. Go get your warriors settled in. We’ll talk more tomorrow,” Alchan dismissed him.
Mave didn’t move, waiting for Alchan to step up beside her. A hand wrapped around and touched her shoulder and pulled her to his side as they both stared at the door Seanev used to leave.
“Thank you, sister. You know I’ll hold you to that promise.” His voice was soft and low.
“I do. How is she? I’m sorry for my reaction to her. Please let her know I would never hurt her.” Mave felt it needed to be said, and when she angled to look at Alchan, there was amusement in his eyes.
“I know you wouldn’t, and she understands how dominant females react to her. Can I have everyone but the Company clear out?”
The rest of the high-ranking Andinna left, Andinna she barely knew, leaving her only with her favorite faces.
“What are we going to do with her? We can’t send her back to Leria,” Nevyn was the boldest, asking what they all wanted to know.
“Rain is currently getting her settled in our spare room. As much as I respect and appreciate the leadership of the females here, she’ll be staying with me to keep tensions from rising as everyone tries to fight their own instincts. I’ll find her something to do that has nothing to do with my bedroom. I’m sure Leria will be very excited to hear her ahren will help the rebellion.” The sarcasm dripping off Alchan’s tongue made everyone in the room either chuckle or growl. “I have no intention of trying to woo her, so don’t ask. She’ll be allowed into the village with free rein, something she’s never been allowed before, though I asked her to keep Rain with her. He’s with her right now, getting his old room cleaned up. If anyone can help me, we need to find her things, so she’s comfortable.”
Nevyn and Varon stepped forward. Kian was next. Mave smiled at her father, and he smiled in return. He was too good a male to leave a female with little help.
“Tomorrow, we’ll begin the preparations to send Seanev and five hundred warriors out to the