“He’s right, you know.”Dakshi stretched, a long lithe movement, and dropped across the grey linen couch theirliraisaid she liked so much.
Erik didn’t think she was being quite honest about that particular preference, but if the lady was pleased to try a little misdirection, so be it.“Hm?”He leaned against the bedroom door, his shoulders warm against the baffle, and hoped a little brother wasn’t about to start making good sense.
“She should be sealed.”Robert, standing at ease near the fireplace, was paging through a glossy architecture magazine.His weapons harness, old-fashioned but evidently nothing he felt the need to update, was soundless as he rolled one shoulder, then the other, settling himself for a long article.He kept asking Liv about her clothing preferences, obviously used to more fashionablelirai.“To at least one of her primary trio.As a bare minimum.”The fire, eating well-seasoned wood, sang a soft, popping, crackling song.
At least she seemed to likethat, so they made sure there was always a blaze going.Flame was mortal, but could still drive away the shadowbeasts.
“When she settles in, she’ll choose.”Erik glanced at the windows.No help there, only the failing light of a winter afternoon.If only there was something to fight, he could have put an end to this whole conversation.
“It’s dangerous.”Dakshi might look like a lounging feline, but he was tense and ready.They were both solid soldiers, and even if Robert didn’t quite have Ignatius’s dry humor and Dak didn’t have Jake’s fey battle-rage, they were at least Sons, very good at mayhem and ready to defend hisliraito the death.
She needed another permanent trio.She made absolutely no move to select them, though Erik had begun sounding her out for preferences.Liv wanted time, and he would give it to her.
As much as she needed.As much as was possible.
“Everything’s dangerous.”The conversation was getting old, fast, and the fact that it happened just about every time Liv went to bed wore on his nerves.“Especially forlirai.”
“You’re trying to protect her.”Robert turned a page.The fire added counterpoint, a soft pop and shower of sparks.
“Aren’t we supposed to?”And I’m getting tired of chewing this same old meat.Either find a different subject or shut the fuck up.
He couldn’t say as much, but they could probably tell his temper was wearing thin.Not that it mattered; nobody cared whathethought.
“She’s safer sealed.”One dark eye peered past the edge of the magazine, and Erik realized Robert was pushing, ever so gently.Ever so delicately, as if Erik himself waslirai.
Which was ridiculous.His shoulders were full of iron rods; the muscles along his spine had transformed as well.“It’s not enough that we’re criminals marked byhim, we have to be rapists as well?”
For a moment, even he couldn’t quite believe he’d said it so baldly.It wasn’t like the familiar corralling of Jake’s enthusiasm; this was aFather.Providing guidance, even if unwelcome.
“It’s not like that,” Dakshi said, but he’d paled a few shades.He rubbed at his left wrist; the more active the temple, the more active the mark, and the brief moments of respite in alirai’s presence sometimes made the throbbing worse by contrast.It did no good to wonder what form the whispers took for another man, but was sometimes impossible not to.“It really isn’t.”
No, it wasn’t.But for Erik, well, close enough.Maybe he was old-fashioned, or more modern—given male behavior through the ages, he couldn’t decide.
There was so little a Son could take a stand on.He was just fine with this one.
“You’ve been out of touch for a decade at least.”Robert’s tone couldn’t possibly be any drier or more academic, but Erik got the sense the tall, spare, iron-haired man was choosing his words with care—and the spaces between them, too.“For whatever reason.Things have changed, Elder.”
“Our lord Daniel’s the oldestliraion this continent.”Dakshi kept Erik in his peripheral vision, dropping his hands onto his chest, interlacing long capable fingers.“If he says?—”
“She needs time,” Erik said.Softly, but each word held an edge.They were having trouble pinpointing just who Islington’s control liaison had been; records were damaged and the sudden coordinated attacks ten years ago had kept everyone too busy.
There were no records of Islington’s funding requests, requisition shipments, or anything else—even the recent purchases for their found potential.The money had to come fromsomewhere, but…
“it would behoove you to listen, my Elder.”Robert matched Erik’s quiet—a good tactic, mirroring and de-escalating at once.“Everyliraiwe’ve lost since the disaster has been unsealed.We don’t know ifheis responsible, or if it’s simply chance.”
Erik was very still.“Every one?”
“I thought you knew.”Dakshi sighed, settling back into feline stillness.“I hate to say it, but maybe communications to your temple weren’t simply cut, big bro.In any case, you’re clean, and the best thing you can do is seal her.Just in case.”
Don’t you think I’ve considered as much?Erik’s jaw had turned to iron as well, his teeth aching.All of him was metal, cold and brittle.“How many times am I going to have to betray her?”
The answer, of course, wasas many times as necessary, to keep her safe.Thankfully, neither Father nor Younger said it aloud.
“Your dedication isn’t in question, Elder.”Robert turned another page.Ignatius had never sounded this kindly, even in the first few days at Islington.“Neither is your capability.”
At least a few sessions in the sparring room had taught his fellow Sons to respect Erik’s professionalism, not to mention his reflexes.They didn’t quite look at him sidelong—if aliraisaid you were clear, you were clear—but a man was an unknown quantity until you fought him.
Always.
