ena'

the estate jus

yer on retainer who worked fast and asked few questions. By the tim

s left was

o get throug

rough the corridors, the smell of something from the kitchen, the low murmur of the family gathering. I

Velvet and starte

er-in

ame from the sit

the particular expression she reserved for moments when she thoug

ped. "

said it like an accus

d err

, uninvited, which was very much her style. "I was actually loo

go," Ky

lking. "W

oor-length, designer. And the matching accessories, obviously." She said it the way she said everything, as if the answe

ped wa

a step ahead, and

ually do,"

it before." A small shr

d for, asked for and received without once thinking to say thank you, and who was now stand

aid, "I'm not

nked. "

I said again. "Or anyth

nce in her face flickere

his morning, nothing from my family's assets moves without my written authorization." I kept my

stare

do that,"

lready

other w

end of the quarter." I had made sure of that. Whatever happened next, I wasn't going to

irritation, then the particular fury of someone who has never had to calc

t allow this

er Ashthorne assets," I said. "Th

e of Virella." Her voice

hout a contract, a discussion, or a thank you. That arrangement has ended." I ti

d her mouth

tion of the main hall with the careful pace she used when she had bee

al authority. "Come into the sittin

t," I said. "But the de

she had not survived the collapse of this pack's finances and the death of her son

she said,

ollowed, still flushed with indignation.

usual chair. I s

ges to the accoun

ques

es

onsulting

ere transferred under the condition of the marriage. Given wha

"And the household operationa

g vendor commitments through the end of the month. After

here between a laugh and

amily for three years," I said.

ed to her grandmother. "Gr

aelis's voi

I watched her doing what she always did. Weighing o

" she said carefully, "this family

said. "

be part of this

iage," I said. "That conversation is still available to him." I

ment. Something moved behind her

e underest

ht this throu

ghly,"

in her face curdling into something sulkier. "I can't believ

d from the doorway.

e looke

flinch. "Wi

'll be in my room. If Kaelen wants to s

lked

something approaching s

ot over