Business Arrangement

Part 22

CHAPTER 22:

Fraser studies me.

I purse my lips as his advisors sit around us in the private Bee lounge, far enough underground. When I took the tunnels down here, I made sure to watch my back at least a hundred times just to ensure I wasn't followed, when I located Fraser after the head Bee Guard let me in, I instantly told him and the advisors where I've been for the past two days.

Fraser scrutinises the ancient wall map of the world before us, and numbers, coordinates associated with Bee sites and our main headquarters, "Cecile is an enemy, not corrupted, but bred that way. How inconvenient for us." He says slowly.

I stand, "Have they become level three targets? We work in the same unit of classes here, if the dragon and wolf families begin taking over, Bees could obtain a destructive impact. They could eradicate colonies if surrender is not an option. We don't know their numbers." I emphasise, watching one advisor, his name unknown and private, stepping forward, next to Fraser.

"We need to inform the Royal board. You cannot be in this school, Hive." He sternly instructs.

Fraser waves him off, "I am not leaving my Bees behind. Eradicate that demand." He orders, eyeing the advisor down. Before looking towards another, he leans into the man's ear and whispers something, before each advisor steps out with a signal. I take a slow breath, moving to a seat on a brown leather love seat.

"Millennium-is he in love with you?" He asks me, slowly.

"I can't be sure. He's unlikely to be manipulated or seduced by me. He's careful, likes affection, but he's cautious. He won't give me important information, that and the idiot thinks I have his mother." I scoff. He pours a glass of whiskey on the rocks for himself, while I watch closely.

He doesn't turn to face me.

"You don't?" He asks me, eyes glancing over his shoulder.

"No, I don't. I know barely anything about the past of their cultures, their people." I respond.

He turns to lean against the vanity and studies me closely, "You're one of our strongest elite, Lyra. There's no doubt, when you listened to me, I knew you trusted me and you should trust me. I have your best interests at heart. My parents did things I can't agree with, they made us enemies of these rogue families that have returned to our society, becoming a new problem for our current factions. We have been releasing students, Lyra. And you'll be on the next transport out to headquarters." He tells me.

I stand, "I can't go back to headquarters, they have a damn map, similar to the one behind me. They know our sites. They may know others...from other families. Not to mention killers at this school, hunters on students. I'm not the first one they tried to kill, am I?" I ask him, he neither confirms nor denies.

I tilt my head at him, "You can't send a Bee to run, much less a Stinger. You need me." I point to him.

He gives me a pointed look, "Alive, protected. Not fucking in the line of fire." He coldly snaps.

I straighten at his source of emotion, his posture that tenses, his pursed lips and the deep lines forming between his eyebrows. He steps forward and cups my cheek, tilting my head up to him, "You are so stubborn beyond belief, kid. My job is to protect my family, being in the dragons vicinity is more than dangerous now. If not headquarters, then you must go off the grid." He whispers, I frown up at him.

"Why can't you treat me like a soldier?" I ask him, annoyed.

He gives me a soft smile, "I see myself in you a lot, you know. You're intelligent, witty, but what you need to be less of, is stubborn. I know you want to fight, I know you want to get out there, you've trained for years, you had Astrid teach you, you made allies in other families and it makes them hesitate, it makes them care and it's strong, it's important to do so, but it can sometimes make people form weaknesses for you. In your own kingdom, that is more than dangerous. You're going. Next week. No negotiations. Prepare yourself. The other groups are doing the same, I know Basilisk is." As if he could convince me that way.