The One spoke bluntly, “I will offer the services of a few of my more powerful Guardians—giving them the choice, of course, to come here—so each of the Prodigies have greater protection in exchange for my Primal Diamond.”
“Hmm.” I again tapped the toes of my boots together. “I have a counteroffer.”
There was a small pause, then he drawled lazily, “I’m listening.”
There was more tapping of my boots as I quickly thought through my offer. “You do as you offered with your Guardians, and we’ll allow you to stay here with your people until this issue with Philip Masterson and Jacob Angel is resolved. I do believe you want them dead for what’s been done to you.” For the first time, I lifted my gaze from my boots and slowly leveled it on—Christ—silver eyes. I faltered for the barest moment, my breath hiccupping in my throat, before I inhaled heavily and bore down, staring calmly into his gaze. “From a purely political standpoint, I barely know you, so therefore I don’t trust you one hundred percent. I shouldn’t have handed the diamond over to you in the first place even under my King’s order. Giving you a possible weapon of mass destruction in exchange for,” I gestured air quotes, “‘protection of each of the Prodigies’ by men under your ruling and your orders, is utterly foolish.” I paused, staring into his now hardened, but intensely intelligent gaze. “I won’t do it.”
My attention moved to King Collins. “I’m truly sorry if this contradicts anything you may have already promised the One, but I don’t believe it to currently be the best course of action.” A shake of my head. “I won’t blindly follow along anymore. The Primal Diamond stays with me. If anyone is worried that I’ll be caught with it, just know it’s safe. I can’t be broken, because God knows that would have happened a long time ago if it were possible.”
“I do not agree with this,” the One stated fluidly. “She’s prejudiced against me, influenced by the previous actions of Jacob Angel. She has my property in her possession, and all I am asking for is that it be returned while giving you all benefit of protection for your Prodigies. I do not see how this cannot be beneficial for all of us.”
“Get out of the Temple more often, into the real world, then you may see the point she’s making,” Elder Jacobs countered steadily before his dark eyes turned to King Collins. “I retract my previous decision and stand behind Ms Jules’s counteroffer.”
My lips wanted to lift but I held them steady. I had won this battle. Not only was it two against one between King Collins, and Elder Jacobs and myself, but it was an Elder telling my King—politely—to agree with me. The Rulers were the heads of the people, but many times they were persuaded by the more experienced Elders when making decisions.
King Collins’s gaze ran over my face, and his lips twitched the barest bit so that no one else could see him. He turned his solemn attention to the One. “The counteroffer my Prodigy offered is our treaty. If you would like to continue staying here as our guests, and also be a part of the investigation into Philip Masterson and Jacob Angel, then we would like the use of your Guardians for the protection of our Prodigies. This is non-negotiable, and if you do not agree, then we would humbly ask you to leave within the next hour so that we may get back to business as scheduled.” A pause. “And we do thank you for your assistance thus far in the investigation.”
The One eyed him steadily. “Even if we choose to leave, she currently has my property, which I would like returned promptly.”
Blue eyebrows rose slowly. “I saw her steal nothing.”
“And if I press charges?”