#Chapter 178: The Treaty

Aria Darren and I stepped out of the car and faced the sprawling estate that was the human president’s home. My chest still ached faintly from my wound, the stitches long gone but the pain lingering. Beside me, Darren subtly favored his left side when he moved, still healing from the hole in his chest. We were well enough now—our accelerated healing had seen to that, and only a couple of days in the hospital were necessary before they released us—but I couldn’t shake the flutter of unease in my gut as we approached the heavy oak doors of the house A pair of suited guards nodded us through, and my eyes flicked to the guns holstered at their hips. Just the sight made my stomach lurch. Darren, sensing it, took my hand and laced his fingers through mine. Inside, the president’s home was just as grand as I’d expected. A butler, flanked by two more guards, gestured for us to follow him. He led us down a long hallway lined with portraits of stern-faced men. He didn’t