Page 73 of Bloody Business

Married

His teenage brotherwas getting his butt kicked.Tashi watched with interest as Xal blocked a wicked overhand swing and then got his legs swept from under him by a second attacker.He fell, rolled and leapt back up.His expression was controlled fury.

“You started him on two opponents?”

Their father, General Zir te Yal, grunted.“Three, sometimes.It's not as if opponents come to you in neat batches in battle.Multiple opponent skirmishes are once a week.He needs to practice his core moves.The spear is atrocious, and he needs to learn when to lose his temper.”

Thanks to his human mother, Xal was a berserker.“Isn't losing his temper his superpower?”

“Won't do him any good if he can't use his brain when he needs it.There's a time for everything.”

“Hm.Speaking of which, I'm getting married.”

His father gave him his full attention.“To who?”

“Lily, Kan's heir.”

His father gave him a long stare, evaluating the situation.“How did this come about?”

“She came to me after Hurdle's funeral.Kan was so mad, he ordered a hit on her.”

“Does not explain why you're marrying her.”

This was his father.No one knew him better.“I want her.I've wanted her for years.”

Yal taught his children how to think, notwhatto think.“Sounds like you've thought about it.Have you told your mother?”

Tashi's relationship with his stepmother had evolved over the years.His own mother had died when he was young and he hadn't wanted to call Ashi ‘mom’.She had earned the right however, and in time he'd settled on calling her the more formalmother.“Not yet.”

Yal grinned, wolf teeth gleaming.“This should be fun.”

It was a beautiful sunny day, and they found Ashi in the side yard, informing the kids it was almost lunch time.The gaggle of siblings, fosterlings and the supervising nanny formed an orderly group and hustled into the house to wash up, trailing dust and noise.

“Tashi!”she said, as she noticed him.She leaned over the arm of his chair and gave him a hug.“I haven't seen you in days.Did you come for lunch?Cook is making the marinated mushrooms you like so much.”

“Sounds delicious,” he said, “but I actually came with news.I'm getting married.”

Ashi's eyes opened wide with surprise.“What?When?Who is it?Do I know her?I've never heard you talk about anyone.”

Yal laughed.“I told you so.”

Xal watched the show with interest.“Three, two...”

Tashi ignored him.“It's Lily, Zul Kan's heir.”

“One,” Xal mouthed.

Ashi's face froze.“Zul Kan?The thug who fought Artur Bloodhand for years?The mobster?”

“He's dead now.Lily ran away from him and he ordered a hit on her.”

His mother was a protective woman.She didn’t like to see a woman in danger.However, Tashi was her son.“This is a bad idea.”She spent the next hour telling him why, point by point.She was very calm and very intense.

Finally, her husband put his arm around her and gently squeezed.“Tashi isn't a fool.He's thought about this.”

She looked up at him, eyes wide with stress.

“We'll keep an eye on the situation,” he murmured in her ear.

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