CHAPTER 228: DIPLOMACY

Aiden reached into his Treasury of Dark Objects and Artifacts and pulled out a set of cuffs.

These were not ordinary restraints.

They were among the strongest items in his treasury, forged specifically to suppress magic and physical strength at levels far beyond what normal mana-dampening cuffs could handle.

He snapped them onto Cassian’s wrists.

The demon grunted as the cuffs locked into place, and immediately his body sagged further under their weight.

The blue flames flickering around him dimmed and then extinguished.

Aiden stepped back and crossed his arms as he stared at the restrained demon. He needed to decide where to keep Cassian.

He still needed more information from him, that much was certain.

The obvious choice would have been his Pocket Domain. It was secure, isolated, and under his complete control.

But he hesitated.

The demon woman was already there, and so far she had been doing sociably well. She hadn’t caused trouble, hadn’t tried to escape, and seemed to be adjusting to her situation as best as anyone in her position could.

Introducing another demon into that space, especially one as hostile and dangerous as Cassian, might agitate her unnecessarily.

Aiden didn’t want to risk that.

He let out a slow breath and made his decision. He turned slightly and a time variant materialized beside him.

He instructed the variant to stay here in this dimension and keep watch over Cassian until Aiden decided what to do with him.

The variant nodded in understanding.

Aiden stretched his hand forward and a blue portal opened in the air before him.

He walked over to where Lysandra lay unconscious on the sand and lifted her carefully into his arms before stepping through the portal.

The gateway sealed shut behind him.

—

Aiden appeared back inside Ursula’s sitting room with Lysandra cradled in his arms.

Helena shot to her feet the moment she saw them, her eyes widening as tears immediately began streaming down her face.

Lucas turned from the window sharply, and for the first time since Aiden had arrived earlier that night, his expression softened entirely.

"Lysandra," Helena whispered, her voice breaking as she rushed forward.

Aiden lowered Lysandra gently onto the cushioned seat near the hearth, and Helena dropped to her knees beside her daughter immediately.

She reached out with trembling hands and brushed the white hair away from Lysandra’s face, checking her breathing, her pulse, anything to confirm she was truly alive and safe.

Lucas moved closer as well, standing just behind his mother with his hands clenched at his sides.

Helena looked up at Aiden with tears still running down her cheeks. "Thank you," she said, "Thank you so much."

Aiden nodded without speaking.

He turned toward the door to leave but paused mid-step and glanced back at Ursula instead.

He was going to say something but Ursula immediately understood.

"I’ll watch over her until she’s recovered," she said.

Aiden nodded again, satisfied with her statement and continued toward the door.

Just before he stepped out entirely, Ursula called out behind him. "Aiden."

He stopped and turned his head slightly to look back at her.

"What was that from earlier?" she asked. "When there were multiple copies of you in the sky?"

Aiden’s expression remained neutral. "It’s a problem that has been dealt with."

Without waiting for a response, he stepped through the doorway and disappeared into the night.

—

The next morning, Lady Arnarra arrived at Dragonhold’s gates with her envoy.

The envoy was more than just a small group of attendants. It was a mini army of elves, each one armored and armed.

Their presence made it clear that Arnarra had come prepared for trouble if it arose.

Oberon stood at the entrance to the palace courtyard with Thamoryn beside him, waiting as the elven ruler approached.

Arnarra dismounted from her horse gracefully and stepped forward.

Oberon spoke first. "Lady Arnarra," he said in greeting.

Arnarra met his gaze. "Lord Oberon."

Oberon’s jaw tightened slightly and his voice grew firmer. "You stand in the very continent where the kingdoms answer to me. Yet you mistake my title."

He paused, and added. "I am to be called King, not Lord."

Arnarra’s expression didn’t change. "Elandria doesn’t recognize you as king."

Oberon’s eyes narrowed and for a moment his tone was raised. "You would dare stand in my kingdom and disrespect me? Even when your fatherless children are in my palace?"

One of Arnarra’s daughters, who had come with the envoy and had not been among those rescued, made an immediate move toward her sword in anger.

But Lady Arnarra raised one hand immediately. Halting any further attempts.

The daughter froze mid-motion and stepped back reluctantly.

Oberon laughed, though there was no humor in it. "Does she think the soldiers she came with would be enough to save her from the repercussions?"

Arnarra’s gaze remained steady as she spoke again. "Simply let me leave with my children, Oberon. Or are you trying to wager them in all of this?"

Oberon stared at her for a long moment.

He reminded himself that there was no need for a scuffle right now.

Not when the situation with the demons was still unresolved, and not when other rulers were watching closely to see how he handled himself.

He let out a slow breath and gestured toward the palace entrance. "Come inside if you please."

Arnarra inclined her head slightly and followed him into the palace without another word, her envoy remaining outside under the watchful eyes of Dragonhold’s soldiers.

—

Inside the throne room, Arnarra’s elven wards were ushered in from their quarters.

The moment they entered, Arnarra’s daughters rushed forward toward their mother, and for that brief moment she was no longer a ruler but simply a mother embracing her children tightly.

She held them close, with her hands trembling slightly as relief washed over her face.

After a long moment, she pulled back and looked each of them over carefully before turning toward Oberon with a single nod.

Then she proceeded to leave with her children without saying another word.

Oberon said nothing either. He simply watched as they walked out of his throne room together.

Thamoryn stepped closer once they were gone and spoke quietly beside him. "You’re doing the smarter thing, Your Grace."

She paused before continuing. "With this gesture, Arnarra won’t want to attack Dragonhold at least not for now. And when the whole demon situation has been resolved, we can deal with Elandria squarely."

Oberon’s expression remained unreadable as he stared at the empty throne room entrance for another moment longer.

Then he finally spoke.

"Precisely."