Jason barely had time to protest before the council members settled in as if they owned the table.
There were five of them - Hannah Thicket, Mira, Len, and two men Liana vaguely recognized from council gatherings long ago. The men greeted Liana with courteous nods, polite enough to pass as civil, before their attention slid easily to Jason. Chairs scraped. Laughter followed. Within seconds, they were deep in conversation with him, speaking of patrol routes and pack affairs as though this had always been the plan.
Mira and Len offered Liana stiff nods, their smiles brittle and obligatory.
Hannah didn’t look at her at all.
She sat with effortless elegance, crossing one leg over the other, lifting her hand to summon the waiter as though Liana weren’t even present.
Jason stiffened instant
