Perhaps sensing that it would be wiser to address the more grounded party first, or at least the party she was a lot more familiar with and thus could better anticipate their moves, Talia shifted in her seat and turned her gaze to Tessa.
"What is it that you propose?"
Tessa didn't hesitate for a single second, having already decided on it before Talia even made the reservations for the restaurant.
"A full alliance. Runewoven and Nova Circuit, equal partners. Military coordination. Joint research divisions. Shared financial ventures, marketing campaigns, and political lobbying. Everything."
The implications rang loud and clear across the table.
An alliance in every sense of the word.
Talia's face didn't immediately change, but her eyes…
They darkened.
Not with surprise. With calculation.
Nova Circuit, proposing an equal alliance? Now?
Her fingers, still resting against her goblet, tapped once… then stopped.
