The garden no longer echoed with venomous pressure or contempt. Instead, the atmosphere had shifted into something much stranger. It was intimate, even cozy in the most uncomfortable ways.
Talia sat nestled in Tessa's lap, still sniffling softly as the negotiations continued. Even though she was practically the same height and build as the woman cradling her, she somehow looked small. Tessa gently stroked her hair while humming a lullaby.
Across the table, Diaz had yet to say a single word. His soul might've fled the plane ten minutes ago. His empty eyes watched Talia, the renowned smith and respected leader of his guild, do a complete 180.
Meanwhile, the other side of the room wasn't faring much better.
