After Shadow Court ended, Alexia had hoped to have a longer break before she got dragged into overseeing yet another petty dispute between the clans, but, alas, here she was in her audience chamber, stuck inside on an otherwise beautiful evening, trying her best to listen politely to the argument raging before her.

On one side of the room was Mathisen Idir, the Griffon ambassador. Behind him, the full array of the dozen members of his staff that followed him everywhere. Idir was tall and loud and often just his presence in a room was enough to give Alexia a headache. She had no idea what combination of politics, favors, and threats he’d leveraged to gain the position of Imperial ambassador. Honestly, the next time she had the Lords Suri alone and relaxed in a room, she needed to suggest they find someone better to represent their clan. Alexia, certainly, had run out of patience for him.

On the other side, Faust Klara, the Wolf ambassador, stood alone except for her ever-present bodyguard, Rima. Klara was not a large woman—especially for a Faust—but her frustration and impatience were radiating so strong, Alexia couldn’t understand how Idir could keep talking. The man was an empath. Surely he had noticed.

“The Wolf have no authority!” Idir thundered—the fourth time he’d said this.

Patiently, stubbornly, Klara repeated her own response. “Not authority, but responsibility.” She stood with her arms crossed, her face locked in an expression of chilly calm that reflected none of the swirling anger inside her.

“This is nothing but a threat. The Wolf trying to bully the other clans.”

“Bully them into what? Escorts—that’s all Lord Faust is offering.”

“Insisting on,” he interrupted.

Klara kept going. “Our ships won’t interfere with your business in any way.”

“Except to monitor our travel, record every destination, intercept our communication.”

“Make up your mind. Are we bullies, or spies?”

They were a contrast, the two ambassadors. Idir might be brusque in manner, but his appearance was utterly polished. His skirted robe was beaded and embroidered with the intricacy the Griffon loved. His boots were polished to a mirror shine. His hair waxed and ironed into a tall, sweeping wave that gave him an extra eight inches of height.

Klara, on the other hand, could probably be described as the most refined Wolf in the empire, but that wasn’t a high bar to clear. Her jacket and scarf were both of fine, colorful silk, but the patterns didn’t quite work together. The delicate fabric above was at odds with the rougher, heavier fabric of her pants. Her leg braces were painted and jeweled, but not to match this outfit. She was, sartorially, a mess, as had been every Wolf ambassador before her.

Alexia let her head fall back against the support of her throne. She closed her eyes. That didn’t help. She could still hear the argument, could feel the nima whirling, agitated, stirred nearly to a frenzy by the clashing emotions in the room.

Which only reminded her of the estate, of the nima after Vivek had twisted them. That thought did nothing to improve her mood.

Two legionnaires flanked Alexia’s throne. Neither of them were Kristoph. Which was a pity. Alexia could use Kristoph right now, if only for unspeaking support and the possible exchange of an ironic glance or two.

“All we want,” Klara was addressing Alexia now, forcing Alexia to open her eyes again, “is to keep people safe.”

“The eclipse is over!” Idir’s volume increased every time Klara looked away, as though he didn’t notice they were all still in the same room together. “The Wolf would have us believe that no one understands darkspace like they do. That we need them to hold our hands. Our pilots are just as capable—”

Rima, behind Klara, rolled her eyes so hard Alexia was surprised she didn’t go over backwards.

“—and we’ve seen no evidence to support the Wolf’s claim that the demon threat is any greater now than during any other interval.”

“That’s because we’ve been patrolling in triple shifts to keep the demons off your back, you bloviating churl!”

“Ambassador Faust.” The reprimand came out weaker than it should have. Probably because Alexia agreed with her.

Now Idir was even louder. “If the Wolf insist on imposing their military upon us, the Griffon can take no responsibility for—”

“Yes, we all know about Griffon responsibility. Tell me, how is Prince Naveen these days?”

That was it. Alexia couldn’t take this any more. These people. These petty, angry people who couldn’t just let her have a day of peace when she was still—

“We’re done here,” Alexia said abruptly, standing up to make her point. “I’m done here. This is a clan matter. Resolve it between yourselves. I make no ruling.”

“My Emperor—”

“Highness, I—”

Alexia swept out through the door behind the throne and the nima summoned a burst of wind to slam it behind her.