I leaned back in my chair, letting the silence stretch for just a moment longer — long enough for both of them to feel it pressing against their thoughts.
"Cooperation," I said finally, my voice low but cutting through the stagnant cave air. "That's what this is. Whether you like each other or not doesn't matter. Whether you trust me doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that we walk out of here with the same target and the same goal."
Velra arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "And you're the one who decides the goal?"
"I'm the one with the plan," I corrected smoothly. "Which means I'm the one who decides the path. The destination is something you can both agree on — survival, victory, and for each of you, the chance to get exactly what you want."
Amelia's lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes flicked to Velra for a brief moment — not out of respect, but as if gauging just how much she'd have to tolerate before this was over.
