Page 47 of Naga General's Mate

Suddenly, heavy boots thundered around the corner, closing in on their position. Without another conscious thought, Brivul yanked Mila through the conference room doors, his combat instincts taking control. His tail wrapped protectively around her smaller form as they burst into the room.

Talis’s head snapped up from her papers, her blue eyes widening. Her fingers froze mid-motion over the documents on the obsidian table. The afternoon sun streaming through tall windows caught the jewels adorning her elaborate headdress, casting rainbow prisms across her startled face.

Brivul’s muscles coiled tight, ready to strike if needed. He positioned himself between Mila and the kingpin, his height allowing him to tower over the seated woman. His tongue flicked, tasting the air. No guards approached behind them, but that could change in seconds.

The silence stretched, broken only by the rustle of silk as Talis slowly straightened in her chair. Her gaze darted between them, calculating, assessing—the kind of look that had likely ended many lives.

Behind him, Mila’s breath came in short bursts, her heart racing against his scales where she pressed close. No matter what happened next, he would keep her safe.

Chapter 21

Brivul

“We come seeking alliance.”Brivul kept his voice steady and firm, his tail still coiled protectively around Mila. The scent of Talis’s expensive perfume filled the air—citrus and something darker, more exotic.

“Bold words from wanted fugitives breaking into my conference room.” Talis’s lips curved into a dangerous smile.

“You know who we are?”

“The former Niri general and the slave who escaped Kurg’s estate?” Talis leaned back, her jewels glinting in her elaborate headdress. “Your faces are plastered across half the district.”

Brivul felt Mila tense against him. His protective instincts screamed, but he forced them down. This was delicate territory.

“Then you know Kurg wants us captured.”

“Indeed.” Talis’s sapphire eyes narrowed. “He’s offering quite the reward.”

“We have something better to offer.” Brivul shifted his weight, ready to move if needed. “Information that could destroy him.”

Talis’s smile widened, showing perfect white teeth. “Now, that does interest me. That pompous slimeball has been a thorn in my side for far too long.”

“Then we share common ground.”

“Perhaps.” Talis drummed her fingers on the obsidian table. “Though I wonder why you’d risk coming to me rather than going to the authorities.”

“Because you hate him as much as we do.” Mila spoke up from behind Brivul. “And you have the power to actually do something about it.”

Talis studied them both for a long moment.

“You might be right.” She gestured to the chairs across from her. “Sit. Tell me what you know about our mutual enemy.”

Brivul kept his body angled between Mila and Talis as they took their seats, every muscle coiled and ready. The obsidian table reflected their faces like dark water, its surface cool and smooth beneath his fingertips.

“Kurg has been stealing from the Council of Seven.” Mila’s voice carried strength despite her fear. “He’s been laundering money through fake accounts.”

“Bold accusation.” Talis’s jeweled fingers tapped against the table. “Proof?”

Mila pulled out the data chip. Brivul tensed as she slid it across the obsidian surface. If Talis decided to betray them, that chip was their only leverage.

The holoscreen flickered to life, bathing them all in its blue glow. Numbers and transmissions scrolled past, each one more damning than the last. Brivul watched Talis’s face, noting how her eyes widened slightly at certain figures.

“This is…” Talis leaned forward. “These transmissions are authentic?”

“Downloaded directly from his private terminal.”

Talis’s smile turned predatory. “No wonder he wants you back so badly.”

A growl rumbled in Brivul’s chest before he could stop it. The thought of Kurg getting his hands on Mila again made his blood boil.

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