Kenith Adveric stood in his father's grand office, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. The weight of the conversation was beginning to wear on him, but he refused to back down.
"Father, you're being too cautious," Kenith argued, his voice laced with frustration. "You've already put them under the vow. What more do you need to feel secure? Fenrir and Mary Ann are not the threats you think they are. In fact, they could be valuable allies."
Russell Adveric sat calmly behind his ornate desk, his hands folded neatly in front of him. His sharp, calculating eyes studied his son with the same scrutiny he reserved for his council members. To Russell, trust was a liability, and every move had to be carefully calculated.
"You're naïve, Kenith," Russell said softly. "You speak of trust and alliances as if the world works that way. It doesn't. You haven't seen what I've seen."