Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

was Leo who was responsible, you see. Not the mantle.”
    Lily chewed on that a moment. “In a weird, lupi sort of way that makes sense. Leo
     took responsibility for his actions, so he’s personally culpable, which lets his clan
     off the hook. But Isen’s decision was about the mantle, which makes it about Laban.”
    “Some will see it that way.”
    “Is my head spinning? It feels like it’s spinning. And all that doesn’t explain why
     this new Rho is ordered to join us. Or why we should let him.”
    “You and Cullen and I are exposed to risk because ofLaban’s actions. Laban’s Rho will therefore be exposed to risk, too—and given a chance
     to help recover what his clan caused to be taken from Nokolai.”
    “Grandmother says that if you make an enemy lose face, you have to either kill them
     or give them a way to regain face.”
    “Laban is not our enemy, but otherwise…yes.”
    Lily fell silent, thinking that over. Or maybe she’d reverted to worrying about him.
    His fault. He hadn’t found time to have a word with her alone. He took her hand. She
     looked at him once, a slanted glance from under her lashes. She wanted to ask him
     questions, but she wouldn’t, not here. He looked away, stroking his thumb over the
     fleshy base of her thumb. He didn’t want her questions. Shame clung to him, vague
     and sticky as a spiderweb. He saw no reason for it.
    It had been a shock to learn he had otherkin. He hadn’t reacted well. No doubt some
     of that was due to the timing, falling as it had on Mick’s birthday. But he wasn’t
     shamed by his reaction.
    How did he feel now? That’s what Lily would ask if they were alone. Or perhaps not.
     Much as she loved questions, she did understand that some answers arrived more fully
     without tacking words to them. He was…curious. Yes, now that the shock was past, he
     wanted to know more about Machek. He didn’t want the man in prison, if it could be
     avoided—a goal Lily might help or hinder, and there was a question he needed to ask
     when they were private. But there was no real bond between him and this newly discovered
     kin, even if Machek had called him brother on the phone last night.
    But Jasper Machek was fifty-three years old. Rule knew this because Lily had asked
     Isen while Rule was still reacting. And while Rule might have been utterly unaware
     of Jasper Machek’s existence, Machek had known about Rule. So Isen had said just before
     Rule left the room last night. The man had had ample opportunity to call Rule brother
     before now.
    Easy enough to see what had changed. He wanted something.
    Rule roused from his thoughts, feeling Lily’s gaze on him. “Yes?”
    “I think we should be sure we’re all on the same page here,” she said. “Cullen wants
     his prototype back. I do, too, but even more I want to find out who has it and why.
     What’s your priority, Rule?”
    “Determining if Friar has any connection to the theft, of course. Which puts us very
     much on the same page.” He added very softly, “I’m okay, Lily.”
    She nodded, but not as if she believed him. More like she was willing to let him say
     that. “We don’t have any reason right now to think there’s a connection. This could
     be good, old-fashioned corporate theft.”
    “You said Ruben had a hunch you should be there.”
    “His hunch didn’t include why, though. It doesn’t mean Friar’s involved.” She drummed
     the fingers of her free hand on her thigh. “I’ve got two good witnesses, or will have.
     Your brother and what’s-his-name…the new Laban Rho.”
    “Tony Romano.”
    “Right. Tony and Jasper both had contact with whoever commissioned this theft.” She
     gave him a quick glance. “I’m assuming that information is part of this deal your
     brother wants to make.”
    “I think of him as my
alius
kin.”
    “Okay. I think of him as your brother.”
    He didn’t respond. Eventually Lily would understand, but she didn’t now, and he wasn’t
     inclined to explain while they had an audience.
    After a brief pause she went on. “But whatever label we give Jasper, he knows things
     we need to know. Talking has to be part of whatever deal we make.”
    “Obviously. Information is all he has to offer, if what he said about the device being
     stolen from him is true. I don’t know what he wants in return, but I’d guess that
     staying out of prison is involved.” He paused. “I would prefer that he not go to prison.”
    “I’ll