Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

as well. She wouldn’t be getting to sleep anytime soon. “So
     he’s playing some kind of dominance game?”
    Isen headed off toward the kitchen, so it was Rule who replied. “More a way of balancing
     dominance and status. The two are connected, but they aren’t the same thing. Leo’s
     status is subordinate to Isen’s, but he’s dominant, so he prefers to be the one calling,
     not the one called upon.Isen tolerates this, and generally Leo is careful not to test that tolerance. He calls
     back quickly. You may have noticed that Isen didn’t leave a message.”
    “That matters?”
    “I could leave a message for Leo, if I were calling as Lu Nuncio. If Isen did, it
     would send the wrong signal. As if their status were equal.”
    Lupi status games made her head hurt. “You think he’ll call back, though. Even though
     he must suspect it has to do with Hank. He has to wonder if he’s in a lot of trouble.”
    “Leo is sometimes foolish, but he’s Rho. His clan is potentially at risk. He’ll call.”
     Rule sank onto the long sofa that faced the fireplace. He leaned forward, propping
     his elbows on his knees.
    Lily settled next to him. She could hear Isen talking to Carl—a dispute over which
     of them would make the coffee. Isen might be Rho, but the kitchen was Carl’s territory.
     She turned her head to look at Rule.
    He was weary. Weary and worn and barely aware of where he was, and that wasn’t like
     him. Sure, it was past midnight, but Rule was a regular Energizer Bunny. He never
     needed much sleep. So whatever was eating at him, it wasn’t physical…which left plenty
     of other possibilities. It might fall to him to carry out whatever sentence Isen passed
     on the Laban Rho.
    But what she saw on his face didn’t look like dread of an ugly duty. It looked more
     like bewilderment.
    She was missing something.
    “You suspected Laban all along, didn’t you?” he asked abruptly.
    “If money was the motive, yeah. They fit.”
    “But Vochi’s the one who cares about money.”
    “No, Vochi understands money.” How to put it? “Subordinate clans have to re-up every
     time they have a new Rho, right? And Vochi’s Rhos have been doing that for hundreds
     of years. Same decision, over and over. They must like things the way they are. Why
     would they risk losing that? They’ve
got
money. They know what it can do and what itcan’t. While Laban…” She shook her head. “They’ve been subordinate to Nokolai for
     less than three decades. Not long in your eyes, maybe, but plenty long enough to see
     that having money has helped Nokolai. That money can mean strength. They may not understand
     finance, but they understand strength. They had a lot more motivation than Vochi.”
    Carl emerged from the kitchen. He was wearing pajama bottoms. It was the first time
     Lily had had any inkling there was a lupi anywhere who owned pajama bottoms. “Eat,”
     he said with his customary brevity, and handed Rule a plate with two thick sandwiches.
     He looked at Lily. “Need anything?”
    “Ah—no. No, I’m good.” She hadn’t Changed twice the way Rule had. Lupi needed fuel
     after Changing. She should have thought of that…but so should Rule.
    Carl headed back toward the kitchen. His room was off it. Isen passed him, bearing
     thick pottery mugs.
    Lily frowned at him. “What’s going to happen to the Laban Rho?”
    “Undetermined.” He handed her one fragrant mug. “Until I speak with Leo, I won’t make
     that decision. Though I know part of it. He will attend Brenda’s
seco
.”
    That was fair. Leo ought to witness the consequences of his actions. “That won’t be
     all, though.”
    “No.” Isen set another mug on the floor by Rule, who was working his way through the
     sandwiches—not as if he wanted or even tasted them, but as a chore he needed to finish
     quickly. Isen took his own coffee to the armchair set at right angles to the couch.
     “I can require his death, of course. That would be simplest and possibly best.”
    “You seldom settle for simple.”
    “I won’t discuss this with you, Lily.”
    His voice was as pleasant as it was implacable. She believed him. She sipped coffee
     and thought. After a short silence she said, “Do I get to question Leo?”
    Isen’s eyebrows lifted. “Of course you would ask that. I should have expected it.
     I am not at my best tonight. Things keep happening that I didn’t anticipate, but should
     have.”
    Rule set his empty plate