Riven sat by the hearth, flanked by warriors and advisors, posture crisp despite having been dragged from bed. He looked every inch the young tyrant trying desperately to project an old one.
Fin stood across the room arms crossed, owning the place without lifting a finger. Colonel Sterling, one of his officers, stood on the wall behind him.
Riven cleared his throat, pretending irritation wasn't crawling beneath his skin.
Fin pretended he hadn't just found a woman chained in this man's tower.
"Drink?" Riven said, forcing civility as he reached for the whiskey.
"Please," Fin replied smoothly. His tone held the exact warmth of a steel blade at room temperature.
Riven poured two glasses, movements controlled. Fin accepted his, nodding as though they were old friends instead of predators measuring each other's reach.
"We'll speak plainly," Fin said.
Riven smiled, thin and twitchy. "Plainly works for me, Shadowclaw. Say what you came to say."
Fin leaned back, whiskey in hand, perfectly at ease in a room that hated him.
"Here are the facts," he said. "You're bled thin. Your borders leak like a gutted boar. Your enemies are circling, and they've learned patience. They don't need to break you. They just need you to keep bleeding. And you believe a wedding will stop that bleeding."
"You need this alliance just as much," Riven replied, voice low. "Do not pretend Shadowclaw stands untouched. You fight on every front. Raiders. Rogues. Supply routes."
"Even a king as competent as you can only stretch so far before something snaps. You need our land. You need our routes."
Fin took a slow sip.
"You're right. I do need an alliance. I do not need you. That's the difference."
Riven's expression hardened. "You need our territory. Our supply routes."
"I need many things. Only one of us has an expiration date. You want this alliance to survive. I want it to stabilize the west. Different motives. Same need."
Riven exhaled. "Then we have agreement."
Fin's lips twitched.
"Not yet."
Riven blinked. "What else could you want?"
Fin set his glass down.
"There's one additional term. Nonnegotiable."
"And that is?"
"I'll take your sister, and someone else."
Riven's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"The girl in the east tower."
Silence.
"How," he asked quietly, "do you know about her?"
"I make it my business, to know what's inside the walls of any kingdom I negotiate with."
"Nova is not a matter for negotiation," Riven said too fast. "You say her name like it belongs here. It doesn't."
He straightened, posture stiff.
"On the contrary, it belongs exactly here." Fin murmured.
Riven's restraint cracked. "You presume too much. You walk into my keep and dictate my alliances?"
A sharp laugh escaped him.
"Shadowclaw is strong, yes. But you're not untouchable. You overreach, Finric. And I don't reward insolence."
He drew a breath.
"You'll take the alliance as offered. You'll take my sister. And you'll leave the tower girl out of this. She is insignificant. A diversion."
Fin lifted his glass, his voice low.
"If she were nothing, you wouldn't keep her locked in a tower. And you wouldn't care this much that I've seen her. So let's not insult each other with lies."
"So that's it," Riven spat. "You wake me in the night because you found her and decided you want her. And now you think you can claim what's mine?"
Silence.
"You misunderstand," he said quickly. "She's my bastard half sister."
"A lapse of my father's. My mother raised her out of pity. The girl isn't right. Her mother was a whore. She's illiterate. Disobedient. Not worth your breath. She has fits. Visions. Hurts herself. We keep her locked away for everyone's safety."
Fin gazed at him, expression unchanged. "If she were broken, you'd use her."
"But you don't. You hide her."
"Which means she's valuable."
"And that is why she's part of the deal."
Velora rose smoothly. "Alpha Shadowclaw, allow me to clarify."
Riven glared. She ignored him.
"The girl is a remnant of a shameful chapter, unfit for service or court, a liability Ashbane contains discreetly. Surely you won't endanger an alliance over someone without worth."
Fin remained still.
Riven slammed his glass down.
"You want her as your mistress. I won't allow it. You won't insult Meredith that way."
Fin turned his head slightly.
"A mistress?" he said quietly. "No. That's not how I operate."
Velora moved at once.
"Enough."
She silenced Riven with a glance.
"If you insist on taking her, we won't obstruct. She leaves temporarily and returns when summoned. Lowest omega rank. No privileges. And she serves Meredith."
"These terms are nonnegotiable."
Fin regarded them, then inclined his head once.
"Done."
Riven blinked. "Done?"
"You wanted an alliance," Fin said. "You have it. She leaves with me before dawn."