Long after the war council had ended, Jian still sat at the table. His gaze hadn't left the map for nearly a half hour.
Neveah watched him in silence. Finally, she sighed and said, "Are you mad at me?"
Jian glanced up then, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"For bringing up the Fae portal." She explained, "You haven't said much since then."
Jian's expression turned apologetic, "You were right to bring it up." He said, "I'm not displeased by it. Just at my own pettiness."
Neveah's lips twitched, "You don't want to have to ask a favor from the Fae, I know that." She walked over to him, "Especially since in the absence of an alliance, it would be a request and not an order."
Jian grunted beneath his breath. "They are ungrateful and deplorable. When you were gone, none of them could even pretend to care. Couldn't pretend to acknowledge the sacrifice you made to keep their undeserving population safe."
