The room felt smaller than it should have.
Alpha Rowanfall sat across from Alpha Ashmere, staring at him like he had suddenly begun speaking another language.
They had stayed here as guests for two days now, and when he demanded they leave. Ashmere wasn't buying the idea.
The conversation had started politely but now, it no longer was.
"If I could have managed this without you, I would have done so."
Ashmere's tone remained level, practical, and reasonable, as though they were discussing grain shipments rather than someone's daughter.
Rowanfall stared at him. "And what of your personal animus against my daughter?" he asked. His voice sharpened. "Why inconvenience her with this political farce of yours?"
Ashmere ignored the accusation entirely.
His attention remained on the documents spread across the desk.
That somehow made it worse.
"Oh, damn it, you insufferable fool." Rowanfall cursed, and pushed to his feet. "What do you want from her?"
