“We need to take control of this situation before it gets worse,” I said, squaring my shoulders as I faced Elias. My voice didn’t tremble. Not anymore.
Elias stood at the far end of the war room, his hands gripping the edge of the long wooden table like he wanted to crush it under his palms. His eyes were stormy, colder than I’d seen in days. He wasn’t angry at me. He was angry at the position he was being forced into.
“You think I don’t know that?” he muttered, jaw clenched. “You think I haven’t tried to stop this rot before it spread?”
I stepped closer, not backing down. “Then let me help. Stop shutting me out.”
Elias looked up sharply. “This isn’t about shutting you out. It’s about protecting you.”
“I didn’t ask for protection, Elias. I asked for partnership,” I snapped. “You told
