“A few weeks ago.My legal representation made the call to get Zukker’s death benefit.I am sure that it is what caused your mother to join with my aunt to put a hit out on me.”
Suuro paused.“She did what?”
“She tried to kill me.She tried it when Zukker was there, but I am immune to toxins, so she slowly starved me.I would gain weight when Zukker was home, and the cycle began again.”
Suuro was staring at the image of her with the cybernetic eye.“And then he died, and you were thrown to the Uraddans.Your Majesty, may I get copies of these images?There has been a lot of curiosity as to where Ival went after Zukker passed on.She tamed the untameable and was a bit of a national hero.”
Riimal chuckled.“She’s certainly good at calming a rioting soul.”
She smiled and leaned against him.He put an arm behind her and gripped her waist.
Suuro sighed.“You have moved on.”
“It has been twenty years.Riimal and I have been together a week.”
Suuro winced.“I see.”
“If it makes you feel better, he marked me eight years ago, right before he killed me.Don’t worry.I got better.Uradda had a resurrectionist.”She smiled.“I was never for you, Suuro.I could kill you with a bad mood, for one thing.”
He paused, “What about him?”
Riimal smiled.“I am resistant to her toxins.”
Suuro frowned.“Was Zukker?”
She sighed.“He had natural immunity, but I wasn’t toxic back then.I could just cure a headache with it.When I was starved and tortured and forced to defend myself day after day, the toxins got more effective.”
He looked at the image of her skinless in the tank.“I understand.”
“Yeah, getting all of the enlarged cells and glands off was important.I had to start fresh.”
He smiled at her with a watery gaze.“It explains why you look like you did twenty years ago.”
She laughed.“I do not recommend the treatment.”
Suuro looked at her sadly.“Will you share a meal with me?”
“No.”
He blinked.“Why not?”
“Because for over five years you watched your mother starve me, and you were part of those who said nothing.”
“She said you were worried about Zukker.”
“And yet, she forced me to sit and watch everyone eat.She even made extra servings, and anytime I would reach for something, she would move it away and threaten me.And you and your other siblings said nothing.I was in a foreign country, and your mother made sure to remind me that I could quietly disappear while Zukker was out, and no one would notice.”
Suuro whispered, “I thought she was joking.”
Himera looked at him.“You are a grown man, would you say that to your son’s wife?Would you accept that being said to your own wife?”
He looked at Ival.“I would not.Why did Zukker?”
Ival shrugged.“He was told that my ways were not your ways and that I didn’t understand Thorassen family hierarchy.”
He nodded.“Yeah, he would have believed that.Mom was always pretty and friendly when he was around.”
“Yup.”
