There was a strange tension in the air as you walked through the halls of the Council the next day with Jayce. Your footsteps echoed off the walls.

You weren't usually the one to be introduced to other people. You were usually the middleman. But Jayce had asked to meet with someone before the newly convened meeting.

That's why you'd left extra early, partly so no one would see you together and the guest wouldn't be recognized. Everything had to remain secret.

At the moment, the mood in the council didn't seem to be good anyway. After the evening at Medarda's, you could imagine that the general opinion of you and Jayce had suffered. Many people favored her by a wide margin over all the other council members.

"I hope the evening didn't ruin our chances.", you muttered in his direction.

Fleetingly, Jayce glanced over his shoulder. Shadows clutched his face, the sharp edges and chin growing more beard than the day before. He wasn't bad looking. Maybe you could persuade him to grow a beard.

The look on his serious face made you grin. Frowning, he tilted his head and asked a question without opening his mouth.

You shook your head. Teasingly, you tilted your chin to bump your nose softly against his. The gentle touch of his tanned skin made you sigh. Jayce smirked.

"The way you're behaving, I think you're getting tame.", he purred.

His hand slid over your lower back to hold you down. Rolling your eyes, you had to suppress a grin. You've been doing that a lot lately. You had to smile so often that it almost felt like a compulsion.

At the same time, you couldn't imagine how happy you were. Disgusting, you said back and had to laugh anyway. Your hands came to rest on his broad chest. Muscles pressed against the inner surfaces.

Again you thought about what it was like to explore his bare skin, how the heat seeped into your body and set everything on fire. Without thinking about it, your head jerked up a little.

Lips opened a crack to let out a breath. Jayce's green eyes immediately jumped to the spot. As if listening to a song, he stared at her, forced to swallow hard.

The shadows of the high walls embraced your bodies, shrouding you in a mystery that only the two of you knew. Finally, after an agonizing eternity, he leaned down and kissed you.

The touch of his lips was soft, warm. Loving. A sigh caught in your throat as he pulled you tighter against him. You could feel the beating of his heart as it jumped excitedly and threatened to break out of the prison of his ribs.

You were so absorbed in each other that you didn't notice the footsteps approaching.

"Pleasant to see that the connections in the Council won't be any less complicated in the near future.", the voice of Cassandra Kiramman gave you such a fright that you jumped away from Jayce.

His eyes widened as surprised as you were.

"Councillor Kiramman.", he bit his tongue. "Caitlyn."

With an amused smirk on her lips, the dark-haired daughter of House Kiramman nodded at Jayce.

"That's why you've been so busy.", she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Like her mother, the young Kiramman had a taste for good clothes. Her slim, tall stature was dressed in a sort of suit of blue, white and brown. She also wore high leather boots.

She was a beauty, simple but pretty. You had already spoken to her a few times and knew that she was clever. Apparently so smart that she wanted to meet you.

But who you didn't recognise was another woman, shorter than Caitlyn, with muscular shoulders and a fierce expression in her pale blue eyes. She wore less formal clothes, but had a hood pulled over her scarlet hair.

Jayce frowned at the sight of her, too.

"This is Vi.", Caitlyn introduced her acquaintance with a wave of her hand. "She'll be able to help us."

At these words, she took the young woman's hand without any fuss. You raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Then Jayce and I aren't the only attraction the Council has to offer.", you remarked.

Cassandra crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"I do have to ask.", she sighed and brushed her greying hair out of her eyes. "We have more important things to discuss."

"Besides, you shouldn't piss off your future allies.", Vi growled.

Something stirred in the back of your mind. She wasn't a child of the Topside. She had too hot a temper for that. And she was snappy. Like a dog that had to fight for a life in the alleys.

"Ah...", you breathed and looked at Jayce.

He nodded.

"We have allies on our side and those who still need convincing.", he gestured to the three women. "They can help."

"Salo already seems vulnerable enough.", you remarked.

"Salo is unpredictable.", Cassandra interjected. "He always has been. As soon as his mood towards you deteriorates again, we'll have a problem."

"We'll never be able to win Medarda.", you crossed your arms in front of your chest.

"Nobody can win Medarda.", Caitlyn shrugged her shoulders. "She's her own person."

Annoyed, Vi rolled her eyes.

"Politics.", she growled.

Jayce smiled sheepishly.

"I'd like to avoid it too, but we don't have a choice.", he cleared his throat. "How about going somewhere more... private?"

The bright eyes of Cassandra Kiramman wandered through the shadows of the long corridor.

"If you think we're not already being overheard, you don't belong here.", she frowned but turned to look at you. "I have heard information."

You raised an eyebrow.

"Which would be?"

She smiled politely.

"Official representative of the House of Hoskel. It's practically a chair at the table."

You took a deep breath. Your father had more or less given you his place on the council less than a week ago. The fact that she already knew about it revealed a lot about her abilities.

"House Kiramman looks forward to future co-operation. Beginning today.", Caitlyn smiled. "We will help. Be prepared for tomorrow. And stand by our side."

Your gaze jumped to Jayce. He looked at you hopefully.

"To good co-operation.", you offered her a hand.