Completion of the Whisper

Chapter Twenty-Eight.

In silence I followed Aaran into another room a floor upwards while I tried to shut out the voice in my head.

'Nysh, please. Stop it. I won't be able to talk with Aaran if you continue like that.'

He was silent for a short moment, while one of Aaran's guards, another massive Lyrarn opened the door for us and once we were inside, the door fell shut with a loud noise. I'd tried to keep myself from flinching, but when Aaran chuckled darkly, I knew I'd not been overly successful with it.

'Okay, but please remember, that Aaran has a debt. I can use this debt.'

Biting my lower lip, I took in my surroundings. The room itself was dark, there was a table in a corner, a few books sprawled across it, but nothing else. Aaran now leaned against said table, his broad arms crossed in front of his chest and he was staring me down.

Probably trying to intimidate me.

Well, it kind of worked.

Asshole.

He'd never gotten physically violent against me – but probably just because Nyshard had always been nearby. But now, he wasn't. And I would be incredibly stupid to not be cautious of the tall Lyrarn.

I took a few breaths to calm myself down and finally asked "I think you wanted to talk?"

He only narrowed his eyes, tilted his head to the side and said "You created a loophole. What do you gain from this?"

My mind raced, but before I answered, he pushed himself of the table, and slowly came closer. "You're a stupid woman, thinking with her heart, aren't you? You've fallen for the Lord of High Ilryn, and you're either trying to protect him with this loophole, or you are trying to control him with it. But I say, it's the first."

His dark eyes travelled down my body, and I shivered, but stayed still, holding his gaze as his eyes met mine.
"The King of Kalash will come after you, that's a fact. Maybe, he already knows of your existence, maybe not. But even I see, that using Nyshard's power to defeat the King may benefit us all. He can be a weapon, but with the loophole you created you just took control over him. He can protect you, for as long as you see it fit. And not any longer."
He took another step closer and was now towering over me, his sheer presence intimidating. I would lie if I wasn't aware that he was incredibly physically strong. He was maybe even a bit taller than Caaln, and he had the title of Lord of Hym Laarn for a reason. It was gained in battle or duel, not inherited.

Problem was, Aaran hated me for my very existence.

"Will you vote to lift the seal?", I asked, my voice steadier than I'd hoped for.

"I might", he grinned "but since you want something from me, it would only be fair if I get something from you, wouldn't it?"

Trying my very best to not back away when he made another step, his dark eyes still focussed on me, I asked "And what would that be?"
A low chuckle erupted from him "I could ask for a lot of things, halfling. Maybe, I could ask you for a binding promise to never ever mate Nyshard."
I swallowed.

"Maybe, I could ask you to mate me instead. Because... I already told you: Gnys is important while you are not. I think I could oversee the fact that you are a weakling while I bed you."

Now, I took a step back, then another one, my heart pounding high in my chest.

No.

Nonono.

I fought the urge to call for Nyshard in my mind.

If I called for him, he would rush here and all chance for a negotiation with Aaran would be in vain.