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his arm around Madame Almoss. “While the matriarch has the final say, until you pay for your transgressions under our roof, you are no longer my son.”
    Xeric nodded. “Keep an eye on him while I call the peacekeepers.”
    Lemko was grovelling at his mother’s feet, begging for leniency. Madame Almoss’s lips tightened. “Miss Zel, show me your arm.”
    That was easy. Lilia lifted her sleeve and the darkening mark was readily visible.
    Lemko’s eyes hardened, and he got to his feet, lunging for Lilia. This time, she didn’t pull her punches.
    She struck hard and fast at the pressure points she had taken the trouble to learn when she first arrived. He was paralyzed and twitching on the floor in a flurry of strikes.
    Madame Almoss blinked, and her husband smiled slowly. “Miss Zel, you seem to be able to defend yourself.”
    Lilia rubbed her fingers. “Madame Zel insisted that I learn as my obvious differences would make me a target in certain circles. She hired a trainer for me, and I learned.”
    Xeric returned and looked at his brother, who was still straining to breathe. “Why didn’t you do that to me?”
    She sighed and ticked it off on her fingers. “First, I was falling out of a tree; second, I was tired; and third, I was tied up. Fourth, we had an agreement.”
    He grinned. “We do indeed.”
    Madame Almoss came forward and extended her hands. “Welcome to our home, Miss Zel. May we start over?”
    She nodded. “We can. I am pleased to be here, Madame Almoss.” She took the woman’s hands in hers and clasped them briefly before doing the same to Xeric’s father.
    “Call me Yeena; this is my husband, Xarit.”
    “I am glad to be here, Yeena, Xarit. Xeric has promised me the opportunity to work with your business, and I am eager to get started.”
    Yeena blinked. “Aren’t you tired?”
    “I am exhausted, but I am awake now, and it is best to start when you want to and rest when you need to.” Lilia smiled.
    Xeric smiled. “I will take her to the office, and she can begin there.”
    Lilia looked down at Lemko. “Shouldn’t we tie him up?”
    Xarit nodded. “I will manage it. He will leave with the peacekeepers and no one will intercede this time.”
    The subtext was that someone had helped cover up Lemko’s bad behaviour before. Yeena looked embarrassed, and Lilia pegged her as the culprit. A mother wanted to protect her youngest, even when he was approaching his thirtieth year.
    Xeric nodded and gestured for her to walk ahead of him out of the family sitting room. She did and he followed so close she could feel his body heat.
    “I am sorry that my brother tried to assault you.” His words were whispered, but his deep voice carried them through the hall.
    “I am sorry that I had to defend myself. I really don’t like doing it.”
    He placed his hand on her waist and steered her through the halls to an elaborately arched doorway where the office of the family company was waiting for her. With a sense of anticipation, she slid behind the terminal and started pulling up the data that she wanted on the large screens. Since it was a family terminal, she got right into the finances and found what she had dreaded. Lemko was indeed draining the company dry. On the plus side, there was still a profit to be had, but if they didn’t turn the financial habits around immediately, there wouldn’t be for long.
    A tray of snacks appeared at her side during her investigation, and she nibbled as she went.
    When she had a solid picture of the Almosses’ finances, she stopped and yawned. It was time for bed.
    She got to her feet, and Xeric rose from his crouching position near the doorway. Surprised, she asked, “Have you been there the whole time?”
    “We have already seen that you are not safe here, so I am going to be at your side for the next three days.”
    She quirked her lips. “That isn’t going to be very practical.”
    “Leave the practicality to me. I have had the servants prepare my