CHAPTER SIX

            Nyra woke up before her alarm sounded. She gazed at the ceiling for a few seconds and listened to the quiet apartment.

           Then she remembered Kael, the contract, the council, Ryker, and she immediately sat up. Today was the first day.

            She dressed simply. She wore a crema blouse on black trousers, aand the only pair of heels she owned that hadn't been taken when Ryker's lawyers cleared out her apartment. She tied her hair back and looked at herself in the mirror.

          She no longer looked like a Luna. And it was good, cause she wasn't one anymore.

          She grabbed her bag and then took off.

          Kael's headquarters were at the top floors of Drax Holdings, a building that looked like one designed to make visitors feel small. The lobby was crowded, but the moment Nyra walked through the entrance, the receptionist straightened.

"Miss Vale?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Drax is expecting you."

           Of course he was.

            The elevator carried her right to the executive floor. The doors opened and she saw Kael standing next to a glass conference table, reading a document.

           He glanced at her watch.

"You're early."

"By three minutes."

"That's still early."

           Nyra put her bag down.

"You said we were starting today. I assumed you meant today."

           His face showed something almost resembling approval.

"Sit," he said but she didn't.

"What exactly am I doing here?

           Kael placed the documents on the table.

"The council meets in twenty-six days."

"I know."

"Your father's territory will be discussed."

           Nyra's expression hardened.

"My family has held that land for forty years."

"Thirty-eight."

           She turned to look at him.

"You checked."

"I check everything."

"Apparently."

           Kael pushed another folder toward her.

"Ryker intends to have your family's claim dissolved."

            Nyra opened the folder. The first page contained a list of council members. The second showed voting patterns.

            The third one made her stop. She recognized some names. Names of people who had once dined at her family's table. People who had called her father a friend.

"They are all supporting Ryker?"

"Not all."

            Kael pointed to three names.

"These haven't decided."

            Nyra looked carefully at them.

"That's not enough,"

"It can be."

            She looked up.

"How?"

"That's what you're here to figure out."

            Nyra frowned.

"I thought you were going to tell me what to do."

"I am not looking for a wife who follows instructions."

              The word irritated her.

"Then why refer to this as a marriage?"

"Because the council understands marriage alliances better than business partnerships."

"So I'm a political cover."

             Kael's gaze remained steady.

"You're a political player."

             There was a distinction. She was not sure she believed it yet. 

             Kael shoved another folder towards her.

"These are the three councillors yet to make up their minds."

            Nyra said the names.

"Councilman Eamon."

"His son is being investigated for embezzlement."

             She quickly looked up.

"You know that?"

"Yes."

"Then why haven't you used it?"

"Because blackmail makes people obedient until they get a better deal."

            He tapped the folder.

"Find something that would make them want to support you."

            Nyra gazed at him.

"You want me to negotiate with them?"

"I want you to win them."

"And if I can't?"

             Kael leaned back.

"Then you lose your father's territory."

             It was a simple and cold speech, but strangely, Nyra preferred it. She closed the folder.

"Give me the names."

"They're already in front of you."

"I mean their personal interests."

             Kael's expression slightly changed.

"Why?"

"Because people don't vote for land. They vote for themselves."

             There was silence for a while. Nyra pointed at the first name.

"Eamon cares about his son. The second councilman cares about the interest of his business. The third is afraid of losing her position."

             Kael watched her.

"Keep going."

"If Ryker wants their votes, he will certainly give protection, money, or power."

"And what will you give?"

             Nyra smiled softly.

"Something superior."

             Kael smiled for the first time that morning.

"Now you're thinking."

             Nyra had three meetings scheduled by noon. 

             Her first was with Councilman Eamon. He didn't make any attempt to hide his skepticism as she came into his office.

"Nyra."

"Councilman."

"You've become bold."

"I've had a difficult month."

"I heard."

              His eyes briefly moved to her left hand. The contract ring wasn't there.

"You're actually doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Joining Drax."

             Nyra sat opposite him.

"I didn't come here to talk about my marriage."

"No. You came here because Ryker is taking your father's land."

"He's trying to."

           Eamon gave a humorless laugh.

"You believe you can stop him?"

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have come." 

           The elderly man stared at her for a few seconds.

"Your father would have handled this differently."

"My father isn't here."

            That made him quiet. Nyra leaned forward.

"His land isn't yours to give away."

"I never claimed it was."

"But you will vote to dissolve his claim over it."

            Eamon's face hardened.

"Ryker is Alpha."

"So?"

"So people follow power."

            Nyra rose.

 "Then perhaps you've been following the wrong person."

            She left before he could answer. She stopped as she found Kael waiting outside the office.

"You followed me."

"I knew you wouldn't need me."

"Then why are you here?"

"I wanted to see what you'd do."

"And?"

"You didn't threaten him."

"No."

"You didn't beg."

"No."

"You made him uncomfortable."

           Nyra raised an eyebrow.

"Is that supposed to impress you?"

"It does." 

           She walked past him.

"Don't get used to it."

           Kael followed after her.

"You have two more meetings."

"I know."

"And you have an hour."

"I know."

"And you're going to win them."

           She stopped.

"Do you ever say anything that isn't an order?"

"Occasionally."

"When?"

"When I'm wrong."

           Nyra almost laughed. Then her phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw it was an unknown number.

 "Hello?" She answered but there was no response. "Who is this?"

            A man's voice finally came through.

"You're making a mistake, Nyra."

           Her expression changed.

"Who are you?"

"You should have stayed away from Drax."

           The call ended and Nyra lowered the phone. Kael had noticed.

"Who was that?"

"I don't know."

"Give me the phone."

"No."

           His eyes narrowed.

"Nyra."

"I said no."

          For a moment neither of them moved. Then Kael nodded.

"Good."

         She frowned.

"Good?"

"You didn't hand it over."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because three weeks ago, you would have."

          That struck deeper than she expected. Kael turned away.

"Find out who called."

"You can do that?"

"I can do almost anything."

"That sounds arrogant."

"It wasn't meant to."

          She watched him walk away. Her phone vibrated once more, but this time, it was a message. Just one sentence.

'Ask Kael what happened to your father.'

          Nyra's breath caught. She read it twice. Then a third time.

          Her father had died two years ago. Kael had never mentioned him. And suddenly, the contract she'd signed no longer felt like a simple alliance.

          There was something Kael hadn't told her. Something about her father.

           And she intended to find out what it was.