“Please, sit,” he said, still smiling so brightly. “I’ve brought food from home. I’m sure you’re hungry for a taste of it after so long. J’tll.”
No one moved. They all remained right where they were until Tanin half turned his head and gestured with his chin. Silent permission. That was all that was needed and they filed in to take their seats. All but the twins, Sorbet and Tebros, who remained standing at their backs. Guarding them the way six lvtl males were doing for the others on the opposite side.
Tanin sat to the right of this unknown male, calmly holding out the chair for Garnet to sit as well. Beside her, Vytln sat. Haven happily took the seat next to him. Then, Goldie and Trove, Sway and Grace, and Rok all the way at the end, the chair groaning under his weight as he looked around, his expression blank.
The only one remaining standing was this new lvtl male who smiled, like he’d won something, and gestured to the others.
“Bring out the food. This is a happy occasion! My dear, older brother is finally back amongst us. We need to celebrate. Isn’t that right, Yl’ln?”
His brother. This must be Kldyn, Haven realized. And if that was Kldyn, and that female was Yl’ln, then…
She looked at the beautiful, darkly smirking lvtl female with new eyes. Because if that was Vytln’s brother, and that was his mate…
Then that was the female that had once been in her place, in Vytln’s trap. Who had played brothers against each other, then picked her favorite one, only to then help destroy the other. Now, she sat there, clearly enjoying her life, smug and victorious as one of the lvtl males approached and put a plate of food down before her. She made a face, like the literally burning offering was subpar, but she was still being served like a queen.
Haven hated her.
Her own bowl of flamingsomethingwas placed in front of her. Even if she was dumb enough to eat something an obvious enemy placed in front of her, she wouldn’t be able to consume literal fire. And judging by the spoonful – the black stuff was liquid, apparently – that Yl’ln lifted to her lips, it was meant to be eaten while still on fire.
Aside from Grace, who poked at the food with a carefully controlled look of curiosity – until Sway put his hand over hers and moved it away – no one on their side attempted to eat.
Kldyn, grinning, took a seat. He didn’t eat either, but he didn’t look away from Vytln, who was glaring right back at him. His glare molten.
“You look good, J’tll,” Kldyn said, grinning. “Doesn’t he, Yl’ln?”
The smug lady lowered her hand and gave Vytln what was very clearly an appreciative look. “He looksverygood.”
Haven’s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. Yes, she hated her. Everything from her bejeweled headband over her bald, ugly head to that tight, sexy dress on her stupid body.
Driven by anger towards her, by the sudden need to throw her flaming soup in her face, Haven jumped back to her feet, catching the eye of everyone in the room.
Including Smug McBitchface.
But she didn’t throw soup at her. Despite how much she wanted to. They couldn’t do anything to each other. There were still peacekeepers crawling all over this station.
Fine, instead…
Keeping her gaze, Haven put a hand on Vytln’s shoulder. She pulled and, obligingly, he leaned back, giving her room to perch right there on his lap, her arm around his neck. Glaring right back at the annoying lvtl lady who looked first surprised, then annoyed.
Then, Vytln put a hand to her back, pulling her against him. All the while, he continued glaring at Kldyn, not even glancing at Yl’ln.
But Kldyn certainly noticed her.
Chapter 23
Vytln
Giving themdg tyvltsoup was a backhanded insult no one but him would comprehend fully. Sure, they probably knew that few species outside of his could eat fire, but the cultural ties to the soup were ones that would go right past the others.
Dg tyvltwas a soup traditionally fed to prisoners on the morning of their execution. Considered a delicacy when cooked right, when prepared incorrectly, it turned heavily sweet on the tongue then left the eater with extreme stomach pains. The idea was to make their death as painful as possible.
And while it was possible that they’d made this wrong, they must have known it wouldn’t be eaten. No, it was more likely the symbolic threat they were giving right to Vytln.
Ironically, the reminder of home was pleasantly nostalgic. He’d fed allies and prisonersdg tyvltbefore. It was a promise of certain death he’d enjoyed giving to others. It was the first time it had been served to him, but the familiar smell was enjoyable.
What was insulting was the charade Kldyn was playing. Putting on an act that wasn’t meant to fool anyone but was meant to mock him. To show Vytln everything he had lost.
Command of the family. The power to servedg tyvlt. Yl’ln’s timelessly beautiful sensuality. All the wealth that went into forcing this meeting.
