#Chapter 353: If I Lose You I Am Also Lost

“If you will please excuse us one moment, Ambassador Zale,” I said, and tugged at Nicholas’s sleeve. At the same time, I lowered Elva down and took her hand instead. Ambassador Zale dipped his head in acknowledgement, so Nicholas, Elva, and I stepped back a few feet to speak more privately. I spoke in hushed tones, not wanting the merfolk – or Elva, particularly – to hear. “You cannot stay in our room.” “Like hell, I will allow anyone else to,” he said. His voice was also low, but the slight volume did not conceal his conviction in this. “I’m not suggesting anyone else do it either,” I said. Though if it had to be someone, maybe a woman would be a good place to start. “You have to realize what the optics of this are going to be.” “I don’t care about optics.” I just barely caught myself before I could roll my eyes at him. “If you spend nights in my room, Nicholas, even if you make clear it is only to protect us, even if we say that Elva was there the whole time, people are