"That's what she said," Garde agreed, doing everything he could to keep smoke from pouring from his nostrils.

"I'm here, baby." I was in the room bare seconds before Lara flung herself into my arms. Taller than I, she could knock me over if I wasn't prepared. None of my girls had the white hair that Glinda, my mother and I had been born with. They all favored Tory, with dark brown hair and gray eyes.

"Mom, tell me it'll be all right."

"Honey, it will be. You'll just have to let Karzac and Grampa Edan take care of things afterward, all right?" I did my best to reassure my daughter, but there was pain lying ahead for her. Days of it.

"Are you ready, young one?" Karzac came forward.

"I guess." For a moment, she was four again to me, and needing comfort after a scraped knee or a disappointment of some kind. I leaned forward to kiss her forehead before Karzac placed the healing sleep. Garde carried her to the bed. I waited until both males were out of the room to remove the simple robe that wrapped her body as it lay on the bed. Eldevik would only rip her clothing away if he found her dressed. Smaller Thifilathi or no, in the heat of claiming they were beasts, plain and simple.

"She's ready," I walked out of the bedroom, finding Garde, Jayd and Karzac waiting outside with Eldevik, who was blowing curls of smoke from his nostrils. "Hurt her afterward," I poked a finger in his chest, "and I'll kill you myself." I flung away Jayd's hand and walked stiffly to the bedroom next door.

Kara was frightened but didn't say it. She'd always been more composed than Lara. You always think the older one might be calmer for some reason. Not so with my middle born. "Baby, Sheldevik will treat you well, I think." Sheldevik was one of only a few Croth that still lived. When he learned that he'd been selected as Kara's mate, he'd wept, never thinking that a female High Demon might come to him.

"Mom, how long will I feel bad?" Kara knew pain was coming. She'd talked with Glinda and me. Plus, she'd listened to her older sisters. She knew what to expect.

"Forrde0">&quo a few days. Baby, if you hurt, ask Karzac to take care of it, all right? Sleep through as much of it as you can."

"But Glinda told me you were leaving tonight."

"I know, honey. An old friend who works for your Uncle Lendill has come up missing. I need to find him if I can."

"But you won't come back here. Not to live."

"Honey, the other night I woke up and found myself staring at the same crack that's been in my bedroom ceiling for more than twenty years. I think it's a good bet that Garde doesn't have a crack in his bedroom ceiling. I'm tired of it. It's time for me to move on. Your younger sisters are away at school; you'll have a new husband and a new life. Mom doesn't have to be around that much, anymore."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, honey." I kissed her forehead, too. Karzac, who'd stood by with Garde and Jayd this time, came forward and placed the healing sleep. Garde carried her to the bed. I removed the robe. Sheldevik was waiting outside the door, a worried look on his face.

"Treat her as carefully as you can, Shel," I said, and patted his arm. Jayd lifted an eyebrow at me but didn't say anything.

"It won't take long." Garde walked beside me as I headed toward the massive kitchen inside the palace to get something to drink. At that moment, straight bourbon sounded good. Garde was correct, it wouldn't take long before both Thifilathi would be roaring from the top of the palace or some other, similarly ridiculous place. As if they'd accomplished something. The females had accomplished something in my estimation, surviving the claiming.

"Reah, it seems I have a lot to apologize for," Garde began as I poured three glasses of bourbon. Jayd downed his right away.

"Garde, if you think I'll listen to apologies now, you are sadly mistaken," I said and gulped my glass of liquor.

"Tory asked about you."

"I don't care." I poured another helping of alcohol and drank that.

"Reah, you're still a citizen of Kifirin," Jayd said.

"If you think I'll ever bow my head to you again, you are just as mistaken as your brother," I snapped.

"That isn't what I meant," Jayd said. "I was letting my brother make the decisions where you were concerned, because I saw him as your kin. I see now that was a mistake. I should have stepped forward and protected a citizen of my realm. When you're done searching for your friend, come and see me. I will make sure that one of Kifirin's treasures is treated with proper respect and given what is due to her."

I laughed. He'd called me Kifirin's treasure. Even Kifirin didn't see me as that, although once he'd called me the daughter of his heart. He'd lied. Many times. "King Jayd," I said, still chuckling humorlessly, "If you can't see what's in front of your face until somebody points it out to you, then you aren't much of a King."

At that moment, we heard the first roar. Eldevik, unless I missed my guess. I skipped to Lara's bedroom, finding my child, her neck bloodied, lying on the sheets of the bed. Eldevik had been rough with her. Karzac was behind me, as was my father, Edan, and both moved to work on Lara, healing and cleaning her up. Kifirin appeared right behind me to survey the aftermath of the claiming.

"Say anything and I'll punch you," I growled as I stalked out the door. Another roar came. I walked into Kara's room. She'd been left in better shape. Only a bit of blood left on the back of her neck where Sheldevik's canines had held her. Raedah and Tara were there behind me, moving to tend their sister. "Keep me updated on their recovery," I told them, giving them a brief hug.

"Mom, do you have to go?" Tara asked.

"I'm going," I replied and skipped away.

"You don't have to say it's my fault. I know it's my fault." Garde was back in the kitchen, helping himself to more bourbon. Kifirin had pulled up a barstool and was having a drink, too, something he seldom did.

"One of my better decisions," another creature appeared, shining brightly before he dimmed his light as the others present couldn't bear the brightness of it, "One of my better decisions," he repeated, "is not allowing love to be forced. It is either given freely or it isn't love. Otherwise, all three of you would have forced Reah back, wouldn't you? Love must be coaxed. And once it comes, it must be nurtured and protected. I do not interfere with personal decisions. Or generally the consequences of such."

"To whom are we speaking?" Jayd asked carefully, not wishing to offend.

"This is the one who made me," Kifirin drank the rest of his bourbon and poured another.

"Here is the newest version comp-vid we give to our field agents," Lendill handed it over. I was shocked to see that Ry had come with Lendill, and even more so when I learned that he'd volunteered to work the assignment with me. A part of me was glad; I hadn't worked an investigation in twenty-six years. I was also glad that my new hotel room had two beds; Ry had brought two bags filled with clothing and necessities. I would have to go out and purchase clothing the following day unless I wanted to ask questions dressed like a farmer.

Ry got a comp-vid as well, and we both received the latest technology Ranos pistols and rifles. The rifles came in three parts that fit together easily and quickly, breaking down to fit inside a small bag if necessary. Both of us carried ID that allowed us to have the weapons Lendill handed to us. "My father wishes you to visit when this assignment is over," Lendill said.

"I'll do my best." And I would. I liked Kaldill Schaff, even if he was very plainspoken at times. I preferred the honesty, actually.

"And we'll take some time when this is over. I promise." Lendill leaned in to give me a kiss.

"Lendill, don't make any promises you can't keep."

"Reah." He took my face in his hands. "I swear it, breah-mul."

"Fine." In twenty-six years, Lendill hadn't taken a vacation. I guess it was a good thing he was immortal. On his father's side.

"I have to go." Lendill kissed me again and folded away.

"Well, Ry," I said, looking at my warlock investigative partner, "which bed do you want?"

Chapter 4

Ry did a little catching up whtheile I went out to buy clothing. We were in Quezlos, the capital city of Surnath. Darletta and her father lived on a wide expanse of land just outside the city. Dantel Schuul had given up his political career a few years earlier in favor of making more money than anyone had a right to, manufacturing comp-vid components. He had the newest technology and everybody bought it.

I figured Darletta had gotten tired of Tory and was searching for new blood. Surnathans lived around one hundred fifty years, and Darletta was around forty-six or so—in her prime and likely looking for a little spice. Although Alliance law held here, Surnath frowned on multiple mates. Therefore, there was plenty of divorce. I'd looked into the state's records regarding Darletta and Tory's writ of detachment, and they'd mutually agreed to separate, leaving one another's property with the original owner. In my opinion, Tory should have held out for a settlement. He'd been married to her for twenty-five years, after all.

But that wasn't why Ry and I were there. Bel's last known communication had come from Quezlos. We were planning to go through Bel's hotel room and look through any belongings he left behind. Lendill had managed to quarantine the room, although it had been more than a month and the hotel manager was a bit grumpy over the whole thing.

"I need working clothes, not that." I shook my head as the salesclerk tried to sell me a dress. Pants, shirts and plenty of underwear was what I needed. I wanted new leathers, too, but Falchan was far away and I didn't have time to wait on them to be made.

"Yes, several pairs of the denim, plus some good slacks that won't fall apart if I wash them," I said, waving the girl away. She was a girl to me, in her late twenties. I was more than twice her age. My High Demon immortality would ensure I always looked young, but inside I felt older than I should.