Tao had gone into this believing he was opening himself up to a major weakness. Exposing his true house was beyond dangerous. Having to relive his sister's and his own breaking was something he dreaded. No, more than that, he feared it more than being exposed.
What he hadn't expected was to feel the need to watch over the shifter. It wasn't from any weakness shown, far from it. He had no doubts whatsoever that Wolfram was capable of being the leader of his murder, the alpha, or Ard Ri as he called it. He had the strength, not only physically but mentally. Power was just an added bonus. It was the memories. The ones he'd received as well as the ones he bestowed that had him wary of watching over the shifter.
He nodded, "You do not need to treat me any differently than you had at our first meeting. You meant this as simply a business transaction, I do not expect anything more than that." He had gotten good at managing expectations. By expecting less, you could only be pleasantly surprised and not disappointed. He had a reputation of being dangerous when disappointed.
"Hmm, that is assuming he does not win the first two challenges. I do not know what they are but I believe if there is any way to, tamper, with them, he will do so." Tao leaned his elbow onto the table and watched him eat, almost as if gauging that he had eaten enough. "It was not his treaty with me that kept him in power. Simply fear. I'm sure those that know they are more powerful also know he would not hesitate to use anything at his disposal to be rid of them, or garner power over them."