Chapter 23
Vytln
Giving them dg tyvlt soup was a backhanded insult no one but him would comprehend fully. Sure, they probably knew that few species outside of his could eat fire, but the cultural ties to the soup were ones that would go right past the others.
Dg tyvlt was a soup traditionally fed to prisoners on the morning of their execution. Considered a delicacy when cooked right, when prepared incorrectly, it turned heavily sweet on the tongue then left the eater with extreme stomach pains. The idea was to make their death as painful as possible.
And while it was possible that they’d made this wrong, they must have known it wouldn’t be eaten. No, it was more likely the symbolic threat they were giving right to Vytln.
Ironically, the reminder of home was pleasantly nostalgic. He’d fed allies and prisoners dg tyvlt before. It was a promise of certain death he’d enjoyed giving to others. It was the first time it had been served to him, but the familiar smell was enjoyable.
What was insulting was the charade Kldyn was playing. Putting on an act that wasn’t meant to fool anyone but was meant to mock him. To show Vytln everything he had lost.
Command of the family. The power to serve dg tyvlt. Yl’ln’s timelessly beautiful sensuality. All the wealth that went into forcing this meeting.
All of it was a show to flaunt to Vytln what he didn’t have. And it was working. Vytln felt his rage building, burning, growing.
He wanted to break that little smug smile off Kldyn’s face. He wanted to show him the Brute Rik-Vane had forged him into. He wanted to destroy all of them and remind them why Vytln had been the power in this family far before Kldyn and his trickery.
Then, Haven’s hand was on his shoulder.
He moved at the slight pressure she applied. Automatically making room for her to climb all over him, as she was wont to do. He didn’t even think about it. Or about the fact that, in this tense meeting that was obviously a trap, Haven was choosing to sit on his lap. He just made space for her.
Space for all that he gained since he lost everything Kldyn was flaunting.
Things he didn’t even want anymore. He’d barely glanced at Yl’ln.
He never liked wearing fancy suits like that.
He didn’t get along with or respect anyone in this room outside of his crew.
And all the credz in the universe couldn’t make up for the simple trust he held in those around him.
For all that Grace nattered him, for all that Goldie annoyed him, for all that Garnet bothered him, for all that Trove irritated him – they were more his family than the blood he shared with everyone else at this table.
He put a hand to Haven’s back, holding her tight. Making sure she was safe and secure on his lap. And he was angry when Kldyn glanced her way and dared to look appreciative.
“Is there something you wanted to talk about?” Tanin asked, his calm, unimpressed voice cutting through the tension in the room like it wasn’t even there.
There was nothing that phased Tanin. He’d seen the worst the universe had to offer, had grown up in it.
Kldyn and all his flaunted power must look so childish to him.
“I wanted to greet my brother,” Kldyn smiled, not even glancing Tanin’s way. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen him.”
“Hardly seems worthy of all this trouble,” Tanin continued. “But if it makes you feel better, I’m glad for you. Now, you’ve said your greetings, can we go?”
Kldyn laughed. “Surely, you won’t separate estranged brothers so soon. You want to stay, don’t you, J’tll?”
Vytln didn’t respond. He glared at him. He held onto Haven. He let his captain talk. Tanin was in control of what they did. Vytln would kill them all right now, but Tanin wouldn’t let him. At least, not in a place with so many witnesses.
Doubtlessly, that’s what was holding Kldyn back as well.
All of this show was just that – a show.
He couldn’t harm them without being caught any more than they could.
The peacekeepers were too numerous here.
The area was too public. He was just proving to himself that Vytln was J’tll and proving to them that he knew it.
Performative. Dramatic. Meaningless.
That’s why Tanin wasn’t reacting. He wouldn’t waste his energy on a show. If Kldyn wanted to bring it that far, he’d defend himself first so they’d get to claim right of self-protection. But neither of them were willing to start it here.
“We’re very busy,” Tanin answered. “We have other deliveries to make. I’m sure you understand, being a delivery company yourself.”
Kldyn snickered. “Too scared to answer me yourself, J’tll?”
Vytln still didn’t respond. Not just because he wasn’t dumb enough to answer such an obvious provocation.
Not even because he wasn’t J’tll anymore and wasn’t responding to that name.
Mostly, it was because Haven’s fingers were tracing nonsense shapes along his neck, and he was suddenly distracted by her touch.
Little pest. He should be focusing, and she was making it difficult.
He pinched her side. A tiny punishment that made her grin out of the corner of his eye. Oh, he was going to rip those clothes from her body later and take her to task her for her cheek. There were so many ways to torment such a soft, sensitive body.
“Ctch!” Kldyn snapped, slamming his hand onto the table. The old, familiar call was a very disrespectful way to address someone.
Vytln turned his eyes back to him. Annoyed now that he was getting in the way of all the fantasies he had of binding Haven and making her come until she cried. But he wasn’t surprised. Kldyn never tolerated being ignored or dismissed.
Tanin, once again, spoke, “Vytln is a very busy person too. And if you’ve not got anything to say, we’re going to leave.”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Kldyn snarled, eyes flashing, as he glared at Tanin.
His equanimity was, no doubt, just as infuriating as Vytln’s distraction.
“You lied to me. That is my brother, and he was sent away to serve his family. If he’s here, then he’s betrayed the family, and there is a cost for that. ”
“I’ll be sure to let J’tll know you said so if we ever run across him. But as I said, that’s Vytln. He’s a valuable member of my crew, and we don’t owe you anything.”
Kldyn laughed, throwing his head back, holding his stomach. “You really think that will satisfy me? Do you even know who he is? Where I sent him? He was banished to Rik-Vane! What do you think about that?”
Everyone fell silent. Looking at them. Vytln’s family watching.
Waiting for their reaction. No doubt, expecting shock and horror and disgust. Claiming that someone was from Rik-Vane was accusing him of being the worst kind of person.
The kind normal people would be afraid to associate with.
The kind they would immediately turn against.
Haven wasn’t able to completely stifle her snicker at the expectant silence. Vytln pinched her again, but it just made her laugh harder. She struggled to smother it behind her hand.
Kldyn snarled, infuriated. “You don’t believe me?!”
“Vytln has no record of ever having been to Rik-Vane.” Tanin said simply.
“He is not Vytln. He is J’tll! And he is from Rik-Vane!”
“Perhaps you haven’t seen your brother in so long you’re confusing him for someone else.”
“I know that is J’tll! I gave him those scars!”
Kldyn’s voice, louder and louder, rang out in the room. Evidence that couldn’t be denied. A confession that said a great deal about their relationship. About the torture Vytln faced at his hands before he’d finally been taken to Rik-Vane. There wasn’t any way to dispute that.
Yet-
“Maybe they’re just similar,” Tanin said, his voice still calm. His claim was ludicrous but spoken with such simple confidence, it actually gave Kldyn pause. Like maybe it was possible that Vytln really was a different person with identical scars.
Then, reality caught up with him and Kldyn snarled, pulling back his arm, claws at the ready to tear through Tanin’s face.
“My love,” Yl’ln finally spoke, her voice low and husky and seductive. Exactly as Vytln remembered it being. Though, strangely, it didn’t seem to have the same effect on his body that it once did. She reached out, touching Kldyn’s arm. “Let’s not resort to that, hm?”
It sounded sweet, almost pleading. But it was actually a steely reminder that this was not a safe place for him to lose his notorious temper. Lest they all get in trouble.
Kldyn’s jaw tightened, but he lowered his hand. Gathering himself, he straightened his black suit before fixing a smile back on his face. Though, this time it was noticeably strained.
“Forgive me,” he forced himself to chuckle. “I sometimes let my temper get away with me.”
Yes, that was why Vytln was meant to lead the family. And would have if not for Kldyn’s trickery and the others’ willingness to turn against him.
“I’m sure you’re just stressed,” Tanin said, not a single hint of understanding in his dull tone. “We’ll leave it at that, shall we?”
He wasn’t asking this time as he got to his feet. And none of his crew waited for Kldyn’s response or permission to get up as well. Vytln stood, still holding onto Haven who giggled as she made herself comfortable against his chest.
Kldyn didn’t attempt to stop them this time. He sent Vytln a smile that promised pain and retribution for this and any other perceived insult he had. “I’ll be seeing you soon, my dear big brother.”