65. Kate

Alpha Austin’s triumph was obvious. The way he carried himself taller, spoke louder to the people around him. Knowing seeing me had forced Dex upstairs was the victory he had been craving.

As a servant passed with refreshments he whispered. “Eat and drink, you look faint. This is going to be a long day. Now.”

Silently I took juice and sandwiches from the servant. I couldn’t go anywhere in the room without feeling dozens of pairs of eyes watching me. /The worst is over now, the first meeting was always going to be the worst/ Raya tried to comfort me as the small sandwich stuck in my throat.

The air was thick with perfume, masking everyone’s real scents. Everywhere I looked little conversations and nuggets of discussion were underway. It almost seemed as though the real negotiations were happening right now, not around the formal table.

“Eduardo!” Austin cried, slapping his hand into the older tanned gentleman’s palm. He was cooler, more considered in his reply. “Austin, good to see