Crucible of Fate

hollow, and I felt the anger rise fast. “Constantine fought you while you were bleeding?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why were you bleeding?”
    “Because Hakkan allowed weapons into the pit,” he said gently, moving forward, and only then did I notice that he was moving more stiffly than normal.
    He bent and our foreheads touched, both of us standing there together, quiet and still for a moment before Kabore came up beside me.
    “My lord.”
    Breaking my communion with my mate was hard, but Kabore needed to speak to me. “Yes?”
    “Apparently, Yuri had communicated to Ehivet Milar, Garai’s father, that you were sending him here to see Hakkan, and now he has arrived.”
    “Why?”
    “It seems he had a communication from someone here this morning that you had taken Hakkan into your custody.”
    “Okay.” I took a breath. “Find Constantine for me.”
    “Is he here somewhere?”
    “He fought Yuri in the pit yesterday.”
    “I’m sorry?”
    “I want him,” I said softly. “Now.”
    “At once, my lord,” he said and was gone before Yuri could turn me back around to face him.
    “It’s not his fault. Please don’t punish him for—”
    “I’m not going to punish him; I’m going to kill him.”
    “Domin,” Yuri inhaled sharply. “You—”
    “Everyone should always be most afraid of me,” I announced. “Now, come with me to speak to Ehivet and tell him what’s happened to his son.”
    “Oh God,” he groaned. “I became his champion when I got here, but there was nothing I could do about what went on before I arrived.”
    “No, there wasn’t,” I soothed him. “Where is Garai now?”
    “There.” Yuri pointed, and I saw him running.
    Garai Milar was beautiful and lithe with flawless skin and dark emerald-green eyes. I had seen him inside, standing close to the dais, before we evacuated the fort. Once we were all walking out, he had clung to Yuri’s arm, not wanting to be far from him until Jin had spoken to him and sworn that no one would ever touch him again without his permission. When Jin Church looked you in the eye and promised, there was never any doubt that whatever he said was gospel.
    Now Garai was flying toward a group of people, and I saw an older man emerge, throw open his arms, and receive the younger man who hurtled into him. Tears were instant in both men, and it was obvious I was looking at father and son. I watched Ehivet tighten his arms around his son, stroke his hair, and speak into his ear.
    “Shit,” I groaned, stopping, not wanting to intrude.
    “Come on.” Yuri put a hand on my shoulder, squeezed gently to get me moving.
    When we were close, Garai noticed us.
    “Oh, Father, the semel-aten.”
    The delegation from the tribe of Tegeret all went to their knees at the same time.
    “No, please,” I said, moving in close to them and putting a hand on Ehivet’s shoulder to get him to stand.
    He didn’t move, and because the semel did not, no other member of his tribe did.
    “Please, Ehivet Milar, rise.”
    He did so, taking his son’s hand immediately and then lifting his eyes to mine. “I can never repay what you’ve done, my lord.”
    “I was late,” I confessed.
    “No, my lord,” he said sincerely. “As soon as you were settled, those in your household sought to help you in your reign. Each took the duty of their station to heart. Your mate, your maahes, your sylvan, and your sheseru all resolved to help their tribe and then those beyond. You acted on the advice of your mate; you became involved when no one else would have. I have no idea how you are supposed to police the whole world, but you started here, at home, with me. It was my fault that I waited to contact you; I know now you would have moved just as expediently. You understand the law and Tarek’s breach of it, and so came here with the intent to free my son. You are a man of principle and I will be loyal from now until the end of your reign, my lord.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Know that my house will always stand behind you, ready to protect you and be counted as your humble servants.”
    “Your words honor me.”
    “I am in your debt, my lord, for all time, and know that the tribe of Wepwawet will also fall in line and support you.”
    “Wepwawet? That is—was—Rahab Bahur’s tribe.”
    “And it is now Zaki Bahur’s, his younger brother’s. My sister is godmother to my son and mated to Zaki Bahur. I reported what you did, and now Garai has conveyed the enormity of your mate’s