Page 49 of A Lion's Heart
“I know,” Kalina said as she pulled back and looked in her daughter’s face. “You are capable and knowledgeable and you’re fine. But you are also my daughter, so allow me the time to fuss and assuage the worry.”
Nisa smiled into her mother’s hazel eyes. She’d never seen a female as beautiful as the woman standing in front of her at this moment. Everything that Nisa aspired to be was inspired by this person.
“Whatever you say, First Female,” Nisa said using the term that shifters not related to Kalina called her.
Her mother smiled and did that tilt of her head that had long since served as a warning to Nisa.
“Yes, she’s fine,” Kalina stated. “Sassy as ever. And you?”
Kalina was looking at Decan who had remained close to Nisa as they’d entered. He’d remained close to her since lifting her into his arms last night. Nisa wasn’t complaining, but she wasn’t thinking too hard on that fact either. What it meant, what anything about last night between the two of them had meant for that matter. Now, just was not the time.
“I am fine, First Female. Things did get a little rough last night, but I can assure you and the Assembly Leader that once the situation was under control, I kept a close eye on Nisa. She was not injured in any way,” he told her.
His voice was stilted, almost as if he were nervous for some reason. Probably because her father’s jaguar eyes had appeared and a low angry grumble was coming from where he stood.
“Then I thank you,” Kalina said, ignoring her mate and approaching Decan. “For taking such good care of my daughter and of yourself. I know that the Assembly Leader thinks highly of your abilities.”
“As do I,” Jace interrupted. “So, if we can move to another conference room, I believe the leadership needs a debriefing from Decan.”
“That means they’re kicking us out,” Kyss said to Nisa.
She swept her legs from the table and stood. Today she wore a gray one piece outfit that molded over her slim curves and a waist length yellow jacket. Her yellow polka dot boots came to her knees and this time her hair was wrapped in a messy bun and piled atop her head. Nisa momentarily looked down at the dark blue jeans and fuchsia off the shoulder blouse she’d thrown on in the ten minutes Decan had given her to run to her room and change. They’d left that cabin as soon as Decan thought it was safe that morning, but he’d insisted they take a very long route to find another entrance into Oasis.
“I’m not leaving,” Nisa said and looked directly at her father who had yet to say anything to her. “I was a part of this mission. I should be present for any debriefing that takes place.”
Jace folded his arms over his chest and looked at Rome. Gold wisely remained silent while Kyss looked thoroughly entertained.
“Shya came with us,” Nick offered. “She’s in one of the guest rooms and I know she’s anxious to see you.”
Nisa gave him a knowing look. “Shya can wait until after the debriefing, Uncle Nick.”
“She does have information that could help,” Decan said and Nisa almost took a step back toward him.
It had been that way all morning. He kept close to her and she felt an overwhelming need to get even closer to him. It was weird and took a great deal of strength to resist as they stood in the room with so many people.
“We all have information that can help,” Kyss continued. “The guy that was all hands, groping me like a horny teenager, he told me that Ewen Mackey was there last night and that he’d had a meeting with his shifter friend that’s why he hadn’t been seen at the gala.”
Jace turned to Kyss. “So are we thinking that the shifter that’s working for the Ruling Cabinet—”
“Lial Johansen,” Decan injected. “I have it on good authority that Lial was working for the Ruling Cabinet. But that he is not officially working for them now. But Lial wasn’t there last night and neither was Dorian Wilson.”
“Good authority?” Rome asked. “Whose authority?”
Decan nodded and looked to Jace.
Nisa watched them both, wondering if Decan was going to share with all of them who the person with “good authority” was. She hadn’t had a moment last night to ask him where he’d been or how he’d known where she and Kyss were. They’d been talking about and doing other things. Now, it seemed imperative that she know the answer.
“Maybe it’s time we all sit down and get things straight,” Kalina suggested.
Her mother walked around the long table to take a seat next to the chair at the very head of the table. Jace had been standing next to that chair, but with a nod of his head to the First Female, he moved to take the seat across from her. Nick glanced at hiscompanheiroand the Lead Curandero at Oasis, Ary, and then took the seat next to Jace. Ary followed hercompanheiro.
Nisa jumped as she felt Decan’s hand at her elbow. When she looked up at him, it was to see his stoic features. His eyes were clear today, his bearded jaw squared. That same face had looked softer last night and in the early morning hours. His beard was softer than she’d figured it would be and her body immediately warmed as she recalled how soft it was when it rubbed against the sensitive skin of her inner thigh.
Nisa sat next to her mother and Decan next to her. Gold and Kyss remained standing, along with the Assembly Leader who everyone now looked to.
Rome moved slowly to take the seat at the head of the table. He rested his elbows on the edge of the table and clasped his fingers together. “Tell me everything that happened last night. What we now know. What we still need to find out. And what our end game is going to be,” he said in his deep rumbling voice.
They’d told the Assembly Leader everything, Decan thought as he walked out of the conference room.
