although once he'd called me the daughter of his heart. He'd lied. Many times. "King Jayd," I said, still chuckling humorlessly, "If you can't see what's in front of your face until somebody points it out to you, then you aren't much of a King."
At that moment, we heard the first roar. Eldevik, unless I missed my guess. I skipped to Lara's bedroom, finding my child, her neck bloodied, lying on the sheets of the bed. Eldevik had been rough with her. Karzac was behind me, as was my father, Edan, and both moved to work on Lara, healing and cleaning her up. Kifirin appeared right behind me to survey the aftermath of the claiming.
"Say anything and I'll punch you," I growled as I stalked out the door. Another roar came. I walked into Kara's room. She'd been left in better shape. Only a bit of blood left on the back of her neck where Sheldevik's canines had held her. Raedah and Tara were there behind me, moving to tend their sister. "Keep me updated on their recovery," I told them, giving them a brief hug.
"Mom, do you have to go?" Tara asked.
"I'm going," I replied and skipped away.
* * *
"You don't have to say it's my fault. I know it's my fault." Garde was back in the kitchen, helping himself to more bourbon. Kifirin had pulled up a barstool and was having a drink, too, something he seldom did.
"One of my better decisions," another creature appeared, shining brightly before he dimmed his light as the others present couldn't bear the brightness of it, "One of my better decisions," he repeated, "is not allowing love to be forced. It is either given freely or it isn't love. Otherwise, all three of you would have forced Reah back, wouldn't you? Love must be coaxed. And once it comes, it must be nurtured and protected. I do not interfere with personal decisions. Or generally the consequences of such."
"To whom are we speaking?" Jayd asked carefully, not wishing to offend.
"This is the one who made me," Kifirin drank the rest of his bourbon and poured another.
* * *
"Here is the newest version comp-vid we give to our field agents," Lendill handed it over. I was shocked to see that Ry had come with Lendill, and even more so when I learned that he'd volunteered to work the assignment with me. A part of me was glad; I hadn't worked an investigation in twenty-six years. I was also glad that my new hotel room had two beds; Ry had brought two bags filled with clothing and necessities. I would have to go out and purchase clothing the following day unless I wanted to ask questions dressed like a farmer.
Ry got a comp-vid as well, and we both received the latest technology Ranos pistols and rifles. The rifles came in three parts that fit together easily and quickly, breaking down to fit inside a small bag if necessary. Both of us carried ID that allowed us to have the weapons Lendill handed to us. "My father wishes you to visit when this assignment is over," Lendill said.
"I'll do my best." And I would. I liked Kaldill Schaff, even if he was very plainspoken at times. I preferred the honesty, actually.
"And we'll take some time when this is over. I promise." Lendill leaned in to give me a kiss.
"Lendill, don't make any promises you can't keep."
"Reah." He took my face in his hands. "I swear it, breah-mul."
"Fine." In twenty-six years, Lendill hadn't taken a vacation. I guess it was a good thing he was immortal. On his father's side.
"I have to go." Lendill kissed me again and folded away.
"Well, Ry," I said, looking at my warlock investigative partner, "which bed do you want?"
Chapter 4
Ry did a little catching up whtheile I went out to buy clothing. We were in Quezlos, the capital city of Surnath. Darletta and her father lived on a wide expanse of land just outside the city. Dantel Schuul had given up his political career a few years earlier in favor of making more money than anyone had a right to, manufacturing comp-vid components. He had the newest technology and everybody bought it.
I figured Darletta had
At that moment, we heard the first roar. Eldevik, unless I missed my guess. I skipped to Lara's bedroom, finding my child, her neck bloodied, lying on the sheets of the bed. Eldevik had been rough with her. Karzac was behind me, as was my father, Edan, and both moved to work on Lara, healing and cleaning her up. Kifirin appeared right behind me to survey the aftermath of the claiming.
"Say anything and I'll punch you," I growled as I stalked out the door. Another roar came. I walked into Kara's room. She'd been left in better shape. Only a bit of blood left on the back of her neck where Sheldevik's canines had held her. Raedah and Tara were there behind me, moving to tend their sister. "Keep me updated on their recovery," I told them, giving them a brief hug.
"Mom, do you have to go?" Tara asked.
"I'm going," I replied and skipped away.
* * *
"You don't have to say it's my fault. I know it's my fault." Garde was back in the kitchen, helping himself to more bourbon. Kifirin had pulled up a barstool and was having a drink, too, something he seldom did.
"One of my better decisions," another creature appeared, shining brightly before he dimmed his light as the others present couldn't bear the brightness of it, "One of my better decisions," he repeated, "is not allowing love to be forced. It is either given freely or it isn't love. Otherwise, all three of you would have forced Reah back, wouldn't you? Love must be coaxed. And once it comes, it must be nurtured and protected. I do not interfere with personal decisions. Or generally the consequences of such."
"To whom are we speaking?" Jayd asked carefully, not wishing to offend.
"This is the one who made me," Kifirin drank the rest of his bourbon and poured another.
* * *
"Here is the newest version comp-vid we give to our field agents," Lendill handed it over. I was shocked to see that Ry had come with Lendill, and even more so when I learned that he'd volunteered to work the assignment with me. A part of me was glad; I hadn't worked an investigation in twenty-six years. I was also glad that my new hotel room had two beds; Ry had brought two bags filled with clothing and necessities. I would have to go out and purchase clothing the following day unless I wanted to ask questions dressed like a farmer.
Ry got a comp-vid as well, and we both received the latest technology Ranos pistols and rifles. The rifles came in three parts that fit together easily and quickly, breaking down to fit inside a small bag if necessary. Both of us carried ID that allowed us to have the weapons Lendill handed to us. "My father wishes you to visit when this assignment is over," Lendill said.
"I'll do my best." And I would. I liked Kaldill Schaff, even if he was very plainspoken at times. I preferred the honesty, actually.
"And we'll take some time when this is over. I promise." Lendill leaned in to give me a kiss.
"Lendill, don't make any promises you can't keep."
"Reah." He took my face in his hands. "I swear it, breah-mul."
"Fine." In twenty-six years, Lendill hadn't taken a vacation. I guess it was a good thing he was immortal. On his father's side.
"I have to go." Lendill kissed me again and folded away.
"Well, Ry," I said, looking at my warlock investigative partner, "which bed do you want?"
Chapter 4
Ry did a little catching up whtheile I went out to buy clothing. We were in Quezlos, the capital city of Surnath. Darletta and her father lived on a wide expanse of land just outside the city. Dantel Schuul had given up his political career a few years earlier in favor of making more money than anyone had a right to, manufacturing comp-vid components. He had the newest technology and everybody bought it.
I figured Darletta had
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