pure warmth.
The clanmates she’d devoted her life to invited humor and disbelief. Vax’s fathers were a beefy lot in comparison, powerfully built thanks to their survival adventure business. Even Imdiko Graler had scars that would make a non-military Nobek proud. He’d once fought off a zibger with just a knife. That he’d survived at all, and with only a set of shallow claw marks on his right shoulder and bicep, was a testament to how tough the man was.
Note to self. Imdiko does not equal pushover. Bacoj was awed by the story.
Bacoj had few memories of his own Dramok father Rilb. He found himself wondering how similar Rilb might have been to the ruggedly handsome Batris. The clan leader radiated authority, with everyone else paying close attention when he spoke. Bacoj had no intention of learning to climb cliffs with bare hands and feet and no safety ropes as Batris was famous for, but he’d have given almost anything to wield the older Dramok’s natural self-assuredness.
Ondeg was obviously a Nobek’s Nobek. He was strong and fierce, with no sign of holding back his enthusiasm for whatever situation he found himself in. His roaring laughter made Bacoj’s ears ring. He was openly affectionate with his clanmates and Vax, hugging them when the notion took him. He’d slung his slab of an arm around Bacoj’s shoulders at the groceries joke, squeezing hard. Ondeg reminded Bacoj of his own Nobek parent. Deehur had often asserted that any Nobek not capable of making his feelings known to those he cared for was no man at all.
The three men were tough, but they were also friendly to a fault. They were already talking about taking Vax and Bacoj on a trip to the jungles in the south of the continent when the pair returned from military service.
With every passing minute, Bacoj’s nervousness at having dinner with Vax’s parent clan eased. That they assumed he would continue to be a fixture in their son’s life forced him to wonder what Vax had told them. His hopes he’d be around long after he and Vax came home from service were growing by the second.
Standing in the mirrored bar area, Ondeg regaled them with a tale of the latest expedition, on which they’d led a dozen first-time adventurers. One man had been decidedly out of his element. “Who brings a rechargeable beard groomer on a survival trip?” he guffawed.
“Who brings a razor of any kind? We’re not out there to impress the wildlife or trees with our silky smooth skin or hair. You heard me; the lunatic brough hair gel too,” Batris snorted. As everyone burst into laughter again, the door announce buzzed. “I’ll get that.”
He went to the door and greeted the newcomers. Bacoj’s jaw dropped as Batris ushered his parents into the room.
Sadiv bowed to the gathered and held out a bottle of shel to Batris. “Good evening. Forgive us for being late.”
“Not at all, Ambassador! Matara Felac, High Commander Deehur, welcome to our home.”
Bacoj stepped forward. “My parents…I had no idea you were coming.”
“No? How could you not?” Felac glanced at Vax.
The Imdiko grinned at Bacoj. “It may have slipped my mind to tell you they were invited.”
“Vax, really?” Udi’s soft rebuke had no sting. She closed in on Felac. “Young men can be so thoughtless when it comes to decent manners, don’t you find? I’m delighted to meet you.”
Vax’s expression grew more impish as he nudged Bacoj. “Do you wish to do the formal introductions?”
Bacoj did so, his mind whirling. It was a big deal for two young men to meet each other’s parents. To bring the family clans together—that was a monumental step in a relationship. It all but announced an intention to clan. Was Vax growing as certain as Bacoj that they should do so?
Don’t make a bigger deal over this than it should be. But his racing heart told him it was too late for that.
Chapter Eight
“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you.”
Respel’s tone was conversational, his manner casual. That was a bad sign, as were the four goons posted in his black-walled office, two of whom had dragged Karil in. The slight smile Respel wore was worse. The Dramok was at his easiest when spilling an enemy’s blood was to be done. The more agony he dealt, the more content and relaxed he behaved.
Karil wasn’t worried about dying. The idea of not having to struggle through another day, another hour, was a relief to imagine. Better than anticipating his next