He walked to her until he stood an arm’s distance away, not crowding her, but forcing her to deal with his presence. “Let me and my Clan protect you while we discover why you have been targeted. We can fight this enemy, your father cannot.”
Her head jerked toward him, eyebrows furrowing together and a suspicious cast crossing her features. “Why would you want to do that? Even if you’re right, why do you care I’m being targeted?”
This question he was not prepared for. Of course she would want details. She was naïve and protected, but his little human was not stupid or blindly trusting.
A heavy knock interrupted the moment. Never had he been more grateful for one of the constant interruptions on his time. He opened the door to see Malek. “Yes?”
Malek spoke in low tones. “The Council requires your presence.”
News of the human’s arrival had spread quickly it seemed. He said, “I will be out momentarily,” and shut the door.
Larissa was watching him with undisguised interest. He said, “I find I must go and talk with my Council.”
“Can I go home now?”
“I wish to finish our discussion first. This will only be a few minutes. I will not let it take any longer than that.” He gave a small bow. “Excuse me.”
“Wait.” She held out her hand to him. “My father is expecting me. If I’m not there soon, he’ll start searching for me. I promise I won’t say anything about tonight. I don’t want him to worry.”
It was a reasonable request. “I will have a phone brought so you may contact him.”
With those words, she smiled at him. “Thank you.”
He had seen her smile many times, but never like this, never so close. Worry and tiredness still lined her features, but the smile created a radiance the firelight could never replicate.
Another knock brought Terak back to awareness. “Excuse me,” he repeated and left the room.
Malek was waiting, along with another warrior. “Have a phone waiting for me when I get back,” he told the younger warrior. As he and Malek turned and walked down the corridor to the Council Chamber, he asked Malek, “What news?”
“Word of your guest has spread throughout the Clan and not all are happy she is here. She is the one the Oracle told you of, is she not?”
“Who else would she be?”
The displeasure Terak was feeling must have announced itself in his voice, for Malek lowered his head. “I live and die for you, Mennak. Please do not mistake my observations for censure.”
Malek did not deserve misplaced ire heaped upon him. Terak said, “Forgive me. I find I do not like being summoned like a youngling.”
Malek nodded, accepting the apology. “Your absences these last months have emboldened the Council.”
“They are my councillors, not my wardens.” That they assumed they could summon him with a moment’s notice meant they were bolder than Terak had suspected. That would be put to rights tonight. “Who is fueling tonight’s displeasure?”
“Valry.”
Of course. His future Meyla had hated his watching over the human from the first, had fought against the Clan acting on the Oracle’s prediction. And now she presumed she could openly go against his decisions.
That also needed to be put to rights.
Terak entered the Council Chamber, a large room with a round table and thirteen seats surrounding it. He did not bother to go to his seat. Krikus, the eldest member of the Council, rose and spoke. “Mennak-”
“I have only a few moments, so all here will listen well,” Terak interrupted, projecting his authority and banked anger into the tone. The members quieted in their seats. “You seem to forget who is leader here, though you still call me Mennak. Let me remind you. You do not summon me. You may seek my presence, you may ask for my decision, but never again shall you summon me. Is this understood, or are any here demanding challenge?”
Most lowered their heads and refused to look at Terak. Krikus held his hand up in apology. “We never wish to insult you, Mennak. But this news about the human was so unexpected, we needed to know the situation.”
“You only need know your Mennak has the situation under control. Any explanations will come when I deem them necessary.”
Krikus lowered his head. “If you wish for our counsel, we are always at your service.”
“And I do wish your counsel,” Terak said. His point had been made, now peace had to be restored. He did not want seeds of resentment and suspicion taking root because of this night. “There is a new development with the human. She was attacked by zombies tonight.”
An explosion of sound circled the table as the Council talked among themselves. Terak held up his hand for silence. “I do not yet know what it means, but I do know we cannot leave the human unguarded. We must remain with her.”