Page 66 of Bloody Business

Julep found her talk of making an alliance to strengthen the family disturbing, but Gal assured her that she wouldn't choose anyone she didn't like.

“After all, he has to be good looking if I'm going to sleep with him,” she said, making Julep blush.

Goblin teenagers were in a league of their own.

“Zac’s not coming,” Artur said.“He has a project he's working on.”

“Is that something he and Tashi are doing?”She knew the boys collaborated, and Zac was often occupied, dealing with his trading business.

“He didn't say, but he'll be back around dinner.”

She raised a brow.Most parents wondered what trouble their teenagers were getting into.She worried that hers was working too hard.Overall, she had it easy.

Gal noticed her frown.“You're not going to start fussing about him having fun again, are you?Because he's going to join me at the Bitter Old Crone's bar buster tonight.It's throwing axe night.”

“Oh!That sounds fun.I'd go, except we're having dinner with the little ones at In'shi's tonight.”

“Sounds fun,” Gal said, completely uninterested.

“Aunt In'shi's teaching me how to control my shadow bear better,” Noemi said.She adored In'shi.

“Good idea,” Gal said.“Since everyone's going to be gone tonight, why don't we practice your reading after lunch?You're doing so well, before you know it, you'll be reading contracts and starting a business!”

Business contracts, trading and war.That was goblins for you, Julep thought, bemused.

Her life was odd, but satisfying.She had her own small business, creating niche herbal products and taking care of the kids.She and Artur had a circle of friends.

Artur's business wasn't something she worried about.Yes, sometimes things happened that were unsettling, but mostly he was like any other businessman, and despite the cave bears, their family was like any other.

They were happy, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Epilogue: Beginning to Crumble

Zul called his brotherin, feeling grim.Things were ugly.His health was failing.

He wouldn't have figured out why if he hadn't moved into a salt cave for a couple of weeks on his doctor's advice.

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