Once most of the group had left, I sat in the chair Stretch had vacated and pulled her down into my lap. I swore I could feel her discomfort while they'd been here. It felt like fire ants under my skin. Not reaching for her, comforting her, defending her, had been a struggle. One I wasn't eager to repeat.
She curled her long legs up as she cuddled against me. "I don't like them," she whispered.
I smiled, kissed her hair. "Then once this is all done, you don't ever have to talk to them again."
She sank into me. "Good."
"Goddess Hollyn, we would still like to discuss an alliance with you," Esmerelda said.
Stretch sighed, pushed herself up from my lap. "Of course, Elder. As I mentioned previously, we would be honored to have you fight beside us." She looked at the other elders. "But as
