Serena rose up slowly, smoothing the fabric of her dress with both hands before stepping toward Livia. Elen glanced between them, her brows pulled together in subtle concern. Serena made a small, reassuring gesture– palm tilted down, to keep her seated.
Livia’s smile was tight, all restraint and no warmth. She closed the distance and caught Serena’s hand in a discreet grip, tugging her in with a practiced motion. Her words came low, like the hiss of steam through a closed valve.
"Where did you go? I have been at my wit’s end looking for where you ended up," Livia said.
Serena flinched beneath her hold, then lowered her eyes, guilt rising like heat to her cheeks. She hadn’t meant to wander. Livia had left her side first. Follow current novels on novel·fire·net
"I turned around and... I couldn’t find you again," she confessed.
Livia looked at her and then rolled her eyes, she glanced back at the woman there and she recognised that she was part of the Dawnbreak party. Livia turned back to Serena and she gasped.
"You were conversing so casually with one of them?" Serena asked.
The blonde woman blinked slowly and then gave Livia a half-hearted smile. "Is that so bad?"
Livia’s grip tightened like a warning. Serena’s smile dropped instantly. She lowered her gaze again, pulse ticking in her throat. Of course it was bad, in the real sense of things, Serena knew that much.
"Oh so you already know the answer... so why are you working against our wishes?" Livia asked with a raised brow.
Serena glanced up at Livia expecting her hostile gaze but this time it was something more softer and pained. In that moment Serena was ashamed of her decision, if only she had just stayed put inside.
"I am sorry, she just looked sad and I-" Serena began.
Livia made a shushing motion and turned her head away to the door and exhaled slowly. She turned back to Serena with her mouth set in a thin line.
"Are you just foolish or your kindness dictates your every move?" Livia asked.
Serena bit down on her lip and dropped her gaze to the floor. Maybe it was foolish. Maybe that’s why no one took her seriously. A hot flush spread across her cheeks, but she looked back up, shoulders squaring.
"It was... it was a mistake. It won’t happen again," she said, voice firmer this time.
Livia let go of her hand and then pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear in an irritated fashion. She folded her hand and then glanced at Serena. The woman stared at her in silence and then finally sighed.
Serena waited in awkward silence and then caught movement in the side of her eye. Serena turned and saw Elen with her head down approaching them. Livia’s posture shifted immediately. Her arms dropped to her sides and a pleasant smile spread across her face like nothing had passed.
"Good evening," Livia said with a graceful bow.
Elen gave a nervous laugh and returned the bow, stiff but polite. Her eyes flitted to Serena, and she offered a soft, apologetic smile. "I’m sorry. I did not mean to inconvenience you wolves."
Serena waved her hands quickly in front of her, dismissing the thought, then reached out and gently held Elen’s hand.
Livia stepped forward. "Please let me know if there’s any way I can help you."
Elen scratched her chin and then nodded. "Thank you but-"
"Elen," a voice boomed.
The three women turned and then Serena gasped. It was the delegate Riven, he stood there with a scowl on his face. Little wonder what sort of foul mood he had found himself in.
Beside her, Elen’s hand trembled faintly in Serena’s grasp. Startled, Serena turned to her, only to find that the woman had instinctively shifted behind her shoulder, shrinking in on herself like a scolded child. So it was true, they’d dragged her all the way to the West. But why? If she was this frightened, what use would she be in a negotiation as tense as this?
Serena swallowed and she instinctively stepped forward. Livia bowed and then gave Serena a knowing look and somehow the trance was broken. Time moved as normal and the tall man stepped forward, he was alone.
"I can see you, Elen," the man said.
The woman squealed and then she moved from behind Serena and then stepped forward, she mouthed a sorry and then hurried to the man’s side.
"Have I not told you to stay with the others and learn?" the man hissed but it was loud enough for Serena to catch.
Livia tugged on her sleeve as a sign for her to remain where she stood. Serena felt helpless watching the conversation but she told herself to be wise. These people knew themselves better than she did, a stranger. It would be foolish to go running to someone’s rescue and then risk her head.
Serena turned away and sighed. Recklessness would not serve her, not this time.
"I apologise, your excellency," Elen murmured, almost inaudibly.
Riven huffed and turned toward Livia, who offered him a perfect, polished smile. He didn’t return it. His eyes slid instead to Serena. The blonde woman dipped her head and offered a tight, strained smile. Her pulse drummed in her ears.
His gaze lingered, just long enough to curdle the moment, and then dropped back to the girl beside him. He clicked his tongue, and without another word, placed a heavy hand on Elen’s shoulder, guiding her back to the Keep.
"See, they are strange," Serena said once she was sure no one but Livia would hear her words. "That woman nearly looked like she was in tears."
"That is none of our business," Livia said curtly.
Serena pressed her lips in a thin line and then sighed. She wanted to believe this would be the last of her encounters with Dawnbreak, but deep down, she knew better. Still, she hoped Elen would be alright.