There was a long silence after Aries's remarks. Ismael kept his eyes on her, noticing the contempt in those pairs of opalescent eyes.
She was basically telling him this wasn't an invitation to an alliance. Aries was asking him to work for her and hand over the little power that was still left in him.
"What about my people?" he asked under his breath. "My brother Carlos, what will happen to him?"
"Hmm… the report I received before your arrival is that the crown prince's sword arrested him for his involvement in illegal gambling operations," Aries briefed, watching Ismael breathe out heavily. "Sadly, I can't do anything about it anymore and even if I had means of getting him a lighter sentence, why would I?"
"You..."
She tilted her head to the side and sneered. "Don't tell me you had forgotten what he had done to me? Wasn't he gloating about bedding me to confirm my identity?"