Chapter 16: The Human Asset

The dining hall was now an open-air morgue, but nobody had the balls to leave. Kaelen was still sitting at the head of the table, swirling his wine like he was at a casual brunch instead of watching the aftermath of a decapitation. "So," he drawled, his gaze shifting back to me. "You think you're pretty smart, don't you, Elian? You just walked into a room of the most powerful predators on the continent and told them their business model is garbage." I swallowed, the crab cake suddenly feeling like a lead weight. "I just told the truth, Your Majesty. Most people are too scared of getting their heads removed to actually look at the numbers. I, on the other hand, am already used to being considered a ‘defective’ anyway. I’ve got nothing to lose." Kaelen leaned back, his eyes tracing the line of my throat. It wasn't the look you give a person. It was the look you give a rare, dangerous insect you’ve just pinned to a board. "Nothing to lose," he echoed, his voice dropping an octave. "Most people would be begging for mercy right now. You? You’re acting like you just aced a math test." "Maybe I did," I said, catching a glimpse of Ezra out of the corner of my eye. The British guy was literally shaking in his boots. "I’m just saying, if you want your empire to stop leaking, you need someone who doesn't smell like a nervous wolf. Humans don't have that biological ‘I’m about to shit myself when an Alpha looks at me’ reflex. It’s a competitive advantage." The entire room went silent. I realized, with a sudden, sinking feeling, that I was definitely pushing my luck. *Shut up, Elian,* my brain screamed. *You’re talking to a guy who uses necks as decorative ornaments.* But Kaelen didn't roar. He didn't snap my neck. He actually laughed. It was a dark, amused sound that made the hair on my arms stand up. "A competitive advantage," he repeated, clearly amused. He signaled the guards, who were still hovering near the door. "Get these other idiots out of here. Clear the hall. And take the... trash out." The guards moved quickly, practically dragging the remaining Alphas—including the terrified Ezra—out of the room. Sebastian hesitated, looking at me with wide, panicked eyes. I gave him a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. *Go.* When it was just the two of us, the silence in the banquet hall was deafening. Kaelen stood up and walked around the table, his movements fluid and unnervingly silent. He stopped right beside my chair, his presence so intense I felt like I was standing next to a nuclear reactor. "You're a strange one, Elian," he murmured, his hand settling on the back of my chair, his fingers brushing the fabric near my neck. "You’ve got no wolf, no pack, no protection. And yet, you’re the most interesting thing in this entire room." "I try," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. "Don't try so hard," he whispered, leaning down so his mouth was inches from my ear. His scent—cedar, ozone, and something raw and primal—filled my senses. "I have a need for someone who can read the books that everyone else is too busy killing each other to open. Tell me, little human… how much are you willing to risk to be the King’s new favorite advisor?" I turned my head, my face dangerously close to his. "Depends," I said, "how much are you willing to pay?" Kaelen’s eyes flared, a flash of pure, golden fire. He didn't pull away. Instead, he gripped the edge of the chair, his knuckles white. "I’m willing to pay with everything that matters," he said, his voice a low, dangerous promise. "But keep in mind, I don't just hire advisors. I possess them. Are you sure you’re ready for that kind of career change?" I should have run. I should have bolted out the door and never looked back. But as I looked into those golden eyes, I realized the trap had already been set. And I was the one who had walked right into it.