"If you want," Lissa said. "And Reah will not be prevented from attending as well, if that is her wish."

"But she will be heavily guarded, I do not want any of those fools near her," Denevik blew clouds of smoke from his nostrils.

"How could Aldah even think it possible that Reah could do this?" Edan shook his head. "But then he is somewhat vindictive. He is the reason I left Desh's to work at Dee's."

"He is the least honorable difik," Jayd snapped.

"Difik?" Ilvan asked.

"Idiot," Lissa supplied.

Farla, Addah's second wife, elevated to first after Addah divorced Marzi, watched the vid repeatedly. One part in particular. Farla watched as Reah repeated, again and again, that Farla was a good mother and her sons didn't appreciate her as much as they should. Fes had called her shortly after he, Addah and Aldah had gone to Dee's. Told her he loved her. Farla had been shocked and more than pleased—she felt her sons ignored her most of the time. Something they got from their father, Farla knew. Addah only had one use for women, and if not for the fact that she might be cut off from her sons, she might have left Addah long ago.

There was little love in her husband, unless it was for cooking and making money. Now, Farla hoped her eldest son would wake. Without Fes, Desh's would likely die. None of the others had the talent in the kitchen like Addah or Fes. Edan looked to be a rival, but all along, it had been Reah making Desh's number two so successful. It had crashed shortly after she'd been conscripted by the Alliance, and now number two struggled against two other successful restaurants in Shirves.

Reah was no longer a member of the family—she'd separated herself legally five years earlier. None of the family had any pull with her, and Aldah, the fool, had accused her of killing Addah when date-stamped, tamper-proof vids showed her with Teeg San Gerxon on Campiaa at the time of the murder. Who knew she was married to that one? And still she was engaged to the King of Karathia as well. Reah had done more than well for herself. Had powerful friends, mates and allies. Farla could only see disaster coming for the Desh family. Addah kept the best recipes to himself, suspicious of his children, even, and so refused to share his knowledge. All that died with him.

"Farla, the constables are here again," Teena, now second wife, walked into Farla's sitting room. Teena, Indiva, Hilde and Baretis had each borne five sons for Addah. A few had some skill, but most worked on the business side of the restaurants. Desh's number three, in Cardon, was barely keeping its head above water, although Baretis' eldest, Halde, was very good at stretching a budget.

"What do they want?" Farla stood, prepared to answer even more questions regarding her husband's death.

"They've arrested Aldah. Rane turned him in."

"Just stay back while Karzac wakes her—you don't want to tangle with Farzi and Nenzi." Tory was trying hard not to smile as Edan and Ilvan shrank back after spotting the two lion snakes in Reah's bed. Nenzi was coiled beneath Reah's chin, Farzi was draped over her waist. Both had lifted their heads and spread their hoods when Tory brought Reah's uncles into the room.

Both reptanoids knew Karzac now. They also knew that Karzac would only protect Reah, as they sought to do. Retracting their hoods, they moved aside so Karzac could wake Reah.

"Huh?" My voice was thick with sleep and my mouth was as dry as a desert.

"Reah wake now." Nenzi kissed my chin—he'd just turned from lion snake.

"Sweet man," I wrapped my arms around him. Farzi was hugging me from behind now, so I turned my head and gave him a sleepy peck.

Tory cleared his throat nearby. I hadn't realized he was in the room. "What, hon?" I asked.

"Your uh, father and uncle are here."

I turned to see Edan and Ilvan standing with Tory, both not far from my bed.

"Are you awake now? Where's my help in the kitchen?" Radolf stalked in, mock indignation all over his face.

"What are we making?" Farzi and Nenzi scooted off the bed and trotted toward my bathroom—they were naked. Edan and Ilvan watched them go, a bit of shock consuming them, I think.

"Did you explain they're shapeshifters?" I glared at Tory.

"No time," Tory grinned.

"They won't hurt you as long as you don't threaten Reah," Radolf explained. "Now, are you coming to help? I'm trying to put that duck thing together."

"I'll come help with the duck thing if you'll give me something to drink." I came off the bed while Karzac watched silently.

"My heart's love, you sound as if I'll leave you parched." Radolf had a fist at his heart.

"Let me get changed. And since Edan and Ilvan are here, maybe they'll help too." I offered Radolf a big smile.

"I'll come watch, as soon as Reah gets some decent clothes on," Tory grinned.

All of us ended up in the kitchen—Edan, Ilvan, Farzi, Nenzi and Tory. Lok walked in with Lendill, Drake and Drew. Lok looked as if Drake and Drew had been sparring with him.

I put a fruit drink together for all of us, while Radolf and I got five stuffed ducks into the ovens.

"Is this a new recipe?" Ilvan asked. He'd helped put the stuffing together while Edan trussed the ducks afterward.

"We cooked it together for the first time on Karathia," Radolf said. "It turned out great—it just needed minor adjustments. We'll see if we got it right this time."

"Reah?" Denevik walked into the kitchen.

"Em-pah?" I went to give him a hug.

"How's my baby?" he whispered.

"I'm all right," I said, bumping my forehead against his chest. He gave me an extra hug and accepted the drink that Radolf handed over. "How is Jusef?" I asked. "I've missed both of you."

"Jusef is fine and busy herding the help around in Glinda's palace kitchen," my grandfather smiled.

"He's a good cook," I said.

"Jusef?" Radolf asked.

"Amterean Dwarf," I said, pulling Denevik toward a barstool at the island. Tory, Drake, Drew and Lok were already there, having their drinks and a light snack.

"Reah," Lissa and Gavin walked into the kitchen, "your name has been cleared. The police on Tulgalan just arrested Aldah for his father's murder."

Chapter 10

The breath caught in my throat and I was paralyzed for several ticks. "But—how? Why?" I couldn't understand this. Fes and Aldah had always been Addah's prize pupils.

"His brother—Rane? Is that right? Turned him in," Lissa explained at my nod. Edan and Ilvan were both just as stunned as I was.

"Did Rane see it?"

"No. He caught Aldah washing one of his cooking knives off in the house," Lissa said. "He saw blood. Aldah didn't see him, and Rane didn't say anything at first. But with Fes in the condition he is, Rane said he wanted justice for his oldest brother."

"That had to be a kick in the stomach for Rane," I muttered. Addah had always belittled him, so Rane settled for doing Addah's books.

"Is it safe to go back to Tulgalan?" Ilvan asked.

"You're still welcome to stay here if you want," Lissa smiled at him.

"I could use a couple of good assistants," Radolf remarked, tossing a hand in the air dramatically.

"Are you serious? Work in this kitchen?" Ilvan sounded thrilled.

"I'm willing, if you're serious about the offer," Edan nodded. "I'd prefer to go back to school and get a medical degree so I can practice medicine again, but since I have no funds, this is the next-best thing."

"What did you just say?" Lissa came around to stare at Edan.

"I'd like to practice medicine again?"

"Yeah. That's the one. Karzac!" Karzac was there in a moment, his light-brown hair a bit ruffled, as if he'd ripped a surgical cap off quickly before folding in.

"Lissa?" He lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Do you have room in your teaching classes for this one? He wants to practice medicine again." Lissa nodded toward Edan.

"What sort of medicine did you practice before?" Karzac was sizing Edan up.

"Pediatrics," Edan admitted. "I worked with a group that provided free medical care to indigent worlds," he added.

"Good enough. I'll fit you in," Karzac said.

"But I can't pay—I have no funds."

"Not a problem," Karzac waved it off. "Tuition here is free to all residents. Cook if you want to earn your pocket money."

"I'll help." The words were out of my mouth before I thought.

"Reah, no. Let me do this on my own," Edan was there and pulling me into a hug.

"Can we plan to go to Addah's funeral?" Ilvan was next to us, hugging us both and sobbing.

"Ilvan, honey, it's all right," I was rubbing his back. This had hit him harder than I thought. With Tory, Drake and Drew helping, we got Ilvan onto a barstool and a stiff drink in his hand. I was rubbing his back still, while Radolf offered a towel.

"I can arrange to send flowers and monetary assistance." Wylend folded in with Corolan and Erland.

"Would you?" I looked at my Karathian Warlock mate.

"Done," Wylend said.

"I'll handle it," Erland agreed.

"I'll write the card," Corolan offered.

"Farla, there's a mountain of flowers in the entry, and this came with them." Indiva handed a thick card to Farla. The envelope was addressed to her and the Desh family. It also bore the royal crest of Karathia.

We wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family, the card read. We hope that this contribution will assist you in some way during your time of grief. Sincerely, Wylend, King of Karathia and Reah, Queen to be. Inside, nestled in a protective wrapper, was a credit chip worth one hundred thousand Alliance credits. Farla fainted.