Quyn sat still, battling the instinct that demanded action to destroy the threat. The pistol centered on his face made it difficult to resist that primal urge to protect and defend.

The presence of his son, Hols, so many of his crew, and innocent customers at the cafe made it paramount to remain calm.

He would not feed the Taint. Not now, when he was finally feeling in control of his dog.

He couldn't backslide. His son deserved better.

"It's a tight spot, Titus," Quyn said. "Vael will take your heart, Hols will take your head, and that's the end of you. Is this what we've come to?"

"You've gone dog!" Titus snarled. "Ya crew should'a put ye down a'ready!"

"Titus!"

Forde came barreling into the cafe and slid to a stop, hands up and eyes wide. "What the hell...You drew on Quyn Kestryl? You lost ya snap!"

"We're having somethin' of a standoff here, Forde," Quyn explained, nodding at Titus. "I'm thinkin' your brother needs a furlough."

Forde swallowed hard, eyes twice their size, taking in a dozen weapons trained on his Boss, and carefully maneuvered himself to be out of the multiple lines of fire.

"Ty," he coaxed softly, "time to go. There's nothin' here for us. Quyn ain't gone dog, lookit him. He's just sittin' there, no savage in him, see?"

The pistol wavered and Quyn saw sweat fall into Titus' eyes. He tapped a finger on the table and Holis gave him a slow nod.

"Kestryl," Quyn said, putting authority in his words, "ease."

Every one of his crew relaxed, not completely, but enough.

Everyone except Vael. His boy did not move. The steel in his eyes and the steadiness of his hand holding that blade made Quyn's soul swell with love and pride.

"Pilot."

"He's got a gun locked and loaded in your face, Boss," Vael answered, cool as mint ice. "I stand down when he does."

Quyn smiled. Mona would be crowing with pride in her boy.

"You heard him, Forde," Hols said. "If Titus don't back down, Vael is gonna end him. He drew on our Boss unprovoked in public. We got all rights, here."

"Ty, you hear that?" Forde was growing frantic. "You wanna die here today? Put the Lords-damned gun down or I'll snap ya neck m'self!"

The gun wavered again, and Quyn launched to his feet, snatching the weapon from the other man's hand.

With a grim frown, he handed the gun to Holis and Vael eased his stance, keeping his blade in hand.

"Now then," Quyn sighed, resuming his seat. "I'd suggest gettin' Titus to a Wizard right quick, Forde. This ain't what his mama would'a wanted for him."

"I will," the other man breathed, shaking in relief, and pulling Titus back behind him. The Boss appeared dazed, and unaware of what he was doing. "All apologies for this, Quyn. Thank you for not killin' him outright."

"One day," Hols put in, "he'll push too far."

"Surely you're tired of apologizing for him?" Vael added eyes narrowed. "It's gotta be as old as hearin' it. Somebody not steady as my Boss is gonna blow his damn head off. He won't get another chance with us. See to it he knows that."

Forde drew a long-suffering sigh but held his peace as he dragged Titus out of the cafe.

Vael watched the Larimore men leave the cafe before he put his blade away. He sat back down and pressed his steepled fingers against his lips, giving Quyn flashes of his mother. Mona always did just that right before she tore into someone, usually Quyn. Or Hols.

Or Nic.

He knew a storm was brewing under Vael's calm exterior. Quyn silently commended him for keeping a steady face.

"So," his son said quietly, "what exactly is Titus Larimore's beef with you and Kestryl?"

"Titus fancies himself more than he is," Hols answered, just as quietly. "He's a mediocre Pilot, at best, sub-par as a ginny, and a complete fail as a medic."

"Which makes him a shitshow for a Boss," Quyn added. "He imagined my pop would see him as the bees and applied to Kestryl accordingly. Thing is that the crew already voted me up as Underboss.

"I offered Lead Ginny on the Battle rig to Forde, but I couldn't talk my pop into taking on Titus, even for scud work. He straight wouldn't do it, cuz Ty lets the little dog he has ride him, always beefin' with somebody about something, no chill to him.

"I knew it when I put it to Pop, but I did ask an' I did press for it, 'cuz I love the damn fool like a brother."

"Damn near fell out with Silas over it," Hols muttered.

"Damn near," Quyn sighed. "Ty didn't take it well, and Forde, well, he swore to Ty's mama and their pop, Joel, old Underboss out'a Dewar, that he'd look after Ty.

"So, Forde's second to his older brother on Larimore, when by all rights Forde should be Boss or at least Underboss on an Elite crew, and Ty should be nowhere near a rig. He ain't Roamer material a'tall but don't tell him that."

"And then, there was Desmona," Hols shook his head.

"Yeah, Mona," Quyn shook his head. "Ty wanted Mona fierce, and he went at her hard. She put him off gentle at first, but when he kept at her, even after she had my Sweetlock, she ripped him a new one. That's when things went to shit 'tween us for good."

Vael nodded and arched a brow. "So, I'm a reminder that he lost Desmona to you, which would be his beef with me, I reckon."

Quyn shrugged. "I couldn't change Mona's heart if I wanted to. She liked Ty as a brother, we all did. We ran the Stead together raisin' hell as young'uns. Even Dora Windemere would sneak out'a the Manor to run with us. We was just kids, but when we grew up an' took on our work, Ty never could let go'a his crush on Mona."

"Or on you," Hols grunted.

Quyn smiled. "I never was that way with Ty, you know this, Hols."

"I know it, but he never did. Then it was Mona an' Nic, then me with your Sweetlock. That 'bout shattered him."

"It just wasn't in the wind for him, I reckon," Quyn said quietly.

"S'not your fault Quyn," Hols said. "He went a good way towards puttin' us all off him forever beefin'. We tried to stay friends, but he wouldn't let anythin' rest, ever."

"I feel for Forde," Vael remarked. "He's trapped, cleanin' up his brother's mess, day in and out, stars. It'd drive me to drink, I'll say."

"One day Forde will have enough," Hols sat back. "And that'll be the end of Clan Larimore or a new beginnin' for Forde."

"Ah, here's our next," Quyn nodded at the Roamer approaching their table.

***

Zayn arranged to meet up with the contractor after he took Selene to the money house. He wanted to get started on renovations as soon as possible.

As much as he loved his sister, she needed her own space when she visited him.

He wanted her close, but he told his yearning heart that he needed her in her own space. Having her so close would be a sweet torment, but he couldn't help himself.

Selene had no trouble shifting most of her funds into a new account. Darin Klasse was quietly happy to do it for her with a gleam in his light gray eyes.

"Here we are, milady," he sighed with a satisfied grin. "All under Lady Selene Corinthia Talbot."

"Thank you ever so much, Mr. Klasse. You've taken a great weight off my mind."

"My pleasure milady, never you mind."

They wandered the market a bit before Zayn steered her to the cafe. He hoped Vael was there and smiled when he saw him in a booth with Quyn and Holis inside.

Selene stumbled beside him, and he caught her with a frown, seeing Titus Larimore rushing into the cafe.

"Lords," he muttered.

"Oaf," Selene groused. "He fair near knocked me over."

"I don't think he even saw you, Mini."

"Shut it," she snapped. "I mean honestly-"

"Oh shit!"

"Language!"

"No, Lords, he's got a gun on Boss Kestryl!" Zayn whispered, looking around frantically. "Forde!"

The Roamer approaching the cafe at a leisurely pace turned to him and frowned. "I know you?"

"Never mind, get your Boss out of there before he kills someone!"

"What? Where?"

Forde sprinted into the cafe and Zayn held Selene in place while he waited.

Vael stood with a deadly gleam in his eyes, blade out and held with lethal intent on Titus.

"Damn," Selene whispered. "He's bloody gorgeous, isn't he?"

"He is, Lords," Zayn agreed.

Vael looked steely and calm, with an amber glow in his dark eyes that left no doubt of his focus and resolve. Zayn was entranced and had to remind himself to blink and breath. His crush on the Roamer was expanding into so much more.

They both breathed a sigh of relief when Forde led a dazed Titus out of the cafe.

"What would drive him to do such a thing?" Selene wondered.

Zayn shook his head and took a seat at his favorite table outside. Selene settled next to him.

"Apparently, he's got some beef with Boss Kestryl. Vael didn't know much about it, but I think he wanted on Kestryl crew, but Quyn turned him down. Although, I'm sure he'd take Forde on if he'd come."

"Stars," Selene wrapped her shawl around her. "I never knew things were so exciting out here."

He chuckled as Betsy came over with a platter of cinnamon rolls and mugs of chocolate.

"Your Roamer's in, milord," she winked, "if you're a mind to see 'im."

"Oh, he's busy, I'm sure, but thank you, Betsy," Zayn fought a blush. Was his fascination with Vael so obvious? "This is Lady Selene. Mini this is Betsy, the crafter of these amazing rolls."

"Milady, my pleasure," Betsy dipped a curtsy.

"Charmed, Madam Betsy," Selene nodded with a smile. "These rolls look magnificent. Zayn sings their praises often."

Betsy tittered, her plump cheeks blushing a becoming pink. "Oh, it's my honor, milady. Please do enjoy."

"You've gained a follower for life," Zayn mumbled around a warm mouthful of the cinnamon roll.

"She's a sweetheart," Selene chuckled, taking a bite of her roll. Her eyes fluttered closed. "Lords this is decadence."

"I eat them every day," Zayn nodded.

"He really does," Vael added, joining them at their table. "Oy, Madam Tidbit."

Zayn choked on his chocolate when Selene snarled at the Roamer. His placid smile didn't help.

"I am wrong. You are, in fact, a giant, not in form, but surely in spirit," Vael challenged softly.

Somehow, she managed to look down her pert nose at him, angling her face away from him as she daintily sipped her chocolate.

Chuckling, the Roamer claimed a roll and peeled it apart before taking a bite. "Was it you sent Forde in?" he asked Zayn.

"Ah, yes, I saw him out here."

Vael sighed. "He's about the only one can talk sense into his brother, I'll say."

"Forde and Titus are brothers?" Zayn shook his head.

"Same pop, Underboss out'a Dewar, different mamas," Vael shared. "Titus's mama was a baker, Forde's mama is a seamstress, but Roamer stock, her mama was out'a Landau."

Selene shook her head, her irritation forgotten. "Lords, how do you keep track of these things?"

"Every Clan, Roamer or Steader, has a Chronicler," Vael explained. "Keeps the bloodlines straight. Got to, cuz sometimes we cross over, like my mama and Pop. Both Roamer stock, RoShae and Kestryl. They crossed before, but Desmona's line has no ties to Quyn's, so it was okay."

"And you track the Steader lines as well?"

"Yeah sure," Vael dusted his hands and leaned back in his chair. "Steader stock is solid, too. We'd run out'a bloodlines if we never crossed outside the Clans."

"I never knew things could get so complicated," Selene murmured.

Vael shrugged. "S'not, if you consult the Chronicler, Li'l Highness."

Zayn snickered as Selene went back to ignoring Vael.

"Ada, welcome." Vael stood and offered his chair to a pretty blonde with large blue eyes. She carried a portfolio and wore her hair in a tight top bun.

"Meet Lord Zayn Nicodemus and Lady Selene Windemere," Vael introduced. "Your Graces, Madam Ada Leland, the contractor I told you about."

"My honor to meet you both," she said, dropping a curtsy. "I do hope I can deliver what you're looking for."

"Oh, it's all on him," Selene demurred. "I'm just visiting."

"Nonsense, Mini," Zayn shook his head. "Madam Ada, please sit down. I can't wait to see your ideas."

Seeing her settled, Vael wandered back to his father's booth.

***

Adelia idly worked her fan while Eudora stalked around her office and ranted.

What a coup, she mused, to have both her youngest siblings escape from their overbearing mother.

When they managed to pull it off, she and Letty would truly prove themselves capable of running the Stead.

Now, it was a simple matter of making it clear to Eudora that she had no means to recapture Zayn. So long as he remained away from the Manor, even the Guard could not seize him.

And, really, besides his attachment to his sisters, what did he have to come back for?

It was an unexpected blessing that Zay's father was alive and clever enough to fix his son's inheritance, so it was out of Eudora's reach.

Truly, sublime.

"Are you listening to me?"

"Afraid not, Mother," Adelia sighed. "I'm simply beside myself with worry for dear Zay. Lenie's gone to look in on him."

"Rubbish," she sneered. "You care about nothing more than my Seat."

Adelia arched a brow and leveled a cool stare on Eudora. "Now don't be hurtful, Mother. You know we all dote upon Zay. He and Lenie were always close. At least they're spending some time together away from here. It'll do them both so much good."

"You know exactly where they are, and you will tell me at once!" Eudora raged.

A humorless smile curved Adelia's lips as she rose. "Mother, you know where Zay spends his time, we all do. He couldn't contain himself when he found he could claim his father's flat. It would seem to me that they both realized you were trying to marry them off and they're making a break for it.

"Lenie reaches her majority in a year, and Zay will have his majority within two months of her. They will both escape you, accept it. Carrying on in this undignified manner will gain you nothing.

"What did you expect they would do, especially Zay? You treat him horribly. No wonder the dear boy wanted nothing to do with Manor life. It's unbearable for him here."

Eudora spun away from her and paced to the open balcony doors. "The more you speak the less sense you make. That boychild needed to know his place, and Selene has no right to go dashing off with no word."

"But she did leave word, Mother, with me," Adelia pointed out, resuming her seat. "You were preoccupied, and I saw no reason to chain her down. She's in full possession of her faculties and she had no pressing engagements to attend here.

"How ever she chooses to spend her day, I say bless and enjoy."

"Well, you're not her mother, are you?"

"Pity," Adelia shot back and smiled at Eudora's gasp of outrage. "Come now, it's not as if you've won awards. Lords, you hardly look at any of us. We are tools for your ambition, and you wouldn't even afford Zay that distinction. Stop pouting and move on. Zay is gone, and if he has an ozim of sense, he won't be back."

"I am not," Eudora hissed, "pouting."

"You are," Adelia sighed, rising. "And it's beginning to show. You should see your cosmetic about those lines, Mother."

She left Eudora spluttering and nodded to the footman that let her out of the office.

The moment she claimed the title, she was tossing every ostentatious bit of frippery in that room on a heap and burning it.

She descended the stairs from Eudora's tower and smiled at Letty.

"How was it?"

"More of the same," Adelia sighed, linking arms with her. "Have you heard from them?"

"Lenie sent word they were seeing the contractor today," Letty reported happily. "She also says Zay's Roamer friend is a giant who insists on repeatedly commenting upon her size."

"I like him," Adelia laughed.

***

"Only dear Del can make the word Mother sound exactly like bitch."

Vael sat back laughing as Lady Selene finished her story. He never knew Manor life could be so vicious.

"She really can," Zayn added. "Letty doesn't even try to hide how little she cares for Eudora, and Mini just avoids her almost as much as I do."

"Until I can't," Selene pouted. "The witch has servants watching me."

"I don't understand how she's still Matron if you all despise her so," Vael settled, crossing his legs.

They were all seated on the floor in the living room of the flat. Between them, they had a platter Vael picked up from the Stomp piled with braised ribs with a tangy sauce along with creamy potatoes and crisp greens.

Zayn provided fresh cinnamon rolls for dessert and Selene contributed a light and tangy fruit wine to their indoor picnic.

"Oh, the Enclave," Selene shook her head in disgust, finishing her wine. "She has enough aristos tucked up her knickers that they'll never vote her out unless she does something truly heinous that their delicate sensibilities cannot bear."

Vael was mystified. "If a Boss is legit inept and disliked by crew, they don't need Quorum approval to vote 'em out. It only takes one to put it on the table, one to second it for a vote, and a majority to carry."

"That's the way Enclave is supposed to work!" Zayn declared, passion burning in his light eyes. "But Eudora has bastardized it."

"It's a bloody massacre, I'll say," Selene muttered, filling her wineglass. "There's no point to opposing her on anything. She favors those who stroke her ego and give her what she wants and ruins those that try to stand against her in even the smallest way.

"She's a bloody tyrant, Lords, and it's despicable to watch her manipulate and bully everyone around her."

"Why don't you remove whatever hold she has on enough aristos to make it a fair forum again?" Vael proposed.

The siblings looked at Vael like he spoke in tongues.

"Well," Selene said, frowning, "we would have to know what she has over whom first."

"So, ask them," Vael suggested. "Then help them."

"Lords," Selene rolled her eyes and drained her glass. "These people have deep dark secrets, desires, faults, and flaws," Selene explained. "Eudora ferrets out their greatest shame and holds them hostage with it."

"Shame is nothing but fear of being known," Vael shot back. "If you face that fear, shame has no power over you. You tellin' me you're content being ruled by a small-minded, self-serving, manipulative bitch backed by cowards?

"At least until your sister finds a way to depose her. How long will that take, hm? How many suffer while you dodge her and whine about how hard your life is?"

Selene's eyes snapped with anger as she clutched her empty wineglass. "You know nothing about it!"

"Nah, I don't," Vael laughed, without humor, "cuz I'd never stand for it. No luxury, no comfort, no ease is worth living under an unworthy leader, left unchecked and corruptin' the balance of power.

"You are complicit, complacent, and far too comfortable being Lady Selene Windemere to step up and fight for change 'cuz then you'll have to make all those decisions and handle all that life yourself."

"You wouldn't dare say such things to Zayn!" Selene raged.

"I don't need to, Your Grace," Vael smirked. "As soon as he knew what the Matron was doin' to him all these years, he got out."

Selene flinched away from Vael's darkly glowing eyes. She pressed her lips together and lowered her face to her hands.

"Mini," Zayn knelt beside her, frowning at Vael.

Shrugging, Vael gathered their plates and the platter and took them to the kitchen.

"He's right," Selene whispered, "Lords damn him."

"He is," Zayn agreed, peeling her hands away from her tear-filled eyes. "So, what are we going to do about it, Mini?"

She bit her lips. "I need to speak to Del and Letty."

He nodded and helped her gather her things. Rather than send her off alone, he had one of the Stead Watch escort her, with the promise of a reward if he reported back as soon as she was safe at the Manor.

Zayn hugged and kissed Selene goodbye, extracting a promise to see each other again in a day or so. He stood on the small porch in front of the flat, sorting his thoughts before going back in to find Vael.

He wasn't in the kitchen, and his bedroom drape was pushed back. Zayn peeked inside and frowned when he didn't see him anywhere. He stepped inside and saw the curtain to the bathroom was also open and water was running. He peered inside and saw Vael's blurred form through the clear shower curtain.

Zayn stepped away to go back to his room to wait.

"Did she get on, all right?"

Zayn looked up when Vael called out to him from his room. He got up and peered in, seeing he was stripped down to his skin suit, with his hair dripping wet over his shoulders and back.

"You... shower in your skinsuit?"

Vael's brows went up. "On the rig, yeah sure. Water for washin' up is limited and time to do so too. We get in and get out. The suit dries within a few seconds."

Zayn shook his head and went to his bathroom to grab a few towels. He threw one to the Roamer and smiled when he caught it on reflex.

"So, in the Stead, the shower is not timed," Vael explained patiently. "You can stay in there as long as you like, and you can do it without the skinsuit."

Vael blinked, then grinned. "How foolish does that make me?"

"Not at all," Zayn chuckled, seeing the suit was indeed dry, even wicking the water dripping from his hair away. "It just shows you've never lived in a Stead, that's all. Sit down, I'll dry your hair."

Vael moved and sat in the middle of his bed and Zayn climbed up to kneel behind him, using the towel to blot the long braids.

"So, Mini is speaking to Del and Letty about what can be done to stop Eudora," Zayn said quietly. "She is not accustomed to being spoken to the way you did tonight."

"I didn't mean to upset her, or you," Vael replied, "and I apologize that I did. I just can't see the logic that keeps a leader in place that isn't supported by the majority.

"No one's gonna agree with everyone all the time, but compromise is the way the Roamers have made it as long as we have. You let Eudora continue to rule unchecked, and Windemere will die a slow death, I'll say."

"I am very afraid that you're correct. I don't know how to live anywhere but here."

Vael turned around to face him on the bed. "You said your pop had assets for you outside of Windemere, yeah? Maybe he saw what was happening with Eudora and made it so you could leave if you wanted to."

"That could be," Zayn said thoughtfully, settling down to cross his legs. "I'll look into it, but even if I could leave tomorrow, I can't leave Mini behind."

"As a favored daughter," Vael pointed out, "I'm sure she'll get along fine."

"That's...It's not that," Zayn bit his kips. "Me and Selene are...close. I mean," he drew a deep breath, "I love her. And sometimes... a lot of the time...I don't look at her and see a sister."

Vael mimicked his posture and studied him.

"So, what do you see, then?"

Fighting shame, Zayn whispered, "I see someone I want to court."

"Then maybe she's not your sister."

Zayn blinked and gaped at the Roamer. "What ... How could that be?"

"Brothers don't look at their blood sisters and see a lass they wanna court," Vael said patiently. "That's not even the biggest reason why I'd say she may not be your sister, but even if she is, so long as you don't breed, I'd say enjoy."

Zayn was astonished. "What??"

"Why not?" Vael shrugged, nonplussed. "Clan Landau is run by a sibling Boss pair. Same pop, different ma, and they are often a committed couple. Every Landau Boss pair is a sibling set like that, and usually, they are intimate. It's how they're run.

"There's too little joy in this Blighted world to deny yourself love or pleasure, no matter who it's with. Roamers often have more than one lover, cuz soft emotions, pleasure, and such, help fight the Taint. So, if we feel a connection with someone, we go for it, with precautions, of course."

"I...How do you know this?"

"Holis wears Quyn's Sweetlock, but so did my ma," Vael explained, "and so does the Wizard, Nic. Nic has another person that wears their 'lock. Jink has a Sweetheart here in Windemere, and in Viceroy, and Fuse has two in Peele, they're sisters.

"When we wanna 'lock someone, we cut our hair from the scalp. All the trinkets on that lock go into the Sweetlock, plus whatever we add at the jeweler. A Sweetlock takes weeks to craft, so when our hair starts to grow back, we twist it and bead it from scalp to the end of the twist and keep beading it the same color as it grows. The color and type of bead show what Stead or Clan the Sweetheart is out'a.

"Quyn has three fully beaded locks, and one of 'em has a different color bead in it, which shows that Sweetheart has also 'locked someone else.

"The only caveat is that they all gotta know about the others and the Roamer's gotta be able to support everyone they've 'locked equally. We travel so much, it's not unheard of for a Roamer to have Sweethearts in multiple Steads, wherever the crew docks."

"So," Zayn was working to wrap his head around this concept, "Roamers don't marry?"

"Giving a Sweetlock is as binding as a Steader marriage, maybe more, 'cuz I've never heard tell of any Roamer takin' a 'lock back. It is a serious life commitment for us, a vow to do for and be with that person. We don't give them lightly."

"All  right. So... what is the biggest reason you think I may not be a Windemere?"

"I've seen pictures of the Matron and the Windemere sisters at Quorum," Vael said. "They are all small, lovely, blonde blue-eyed princesses. And look at you. Tall, red hair, green eyes.

"You look nothing like a Windemere. You're built like a cross 'tween Roamer and Steader stock."

Thoughts knocked askew, Zayn was almost speechless.

"How...how could I not be her brother...their brother?"

"Well, Eudora lied about your pop not wanting you, about him being dead," Vael pointed out. "From what Selene said, she's ruthless. Why wouldn't she lie about bein' your mother?"

"How do I find out the truth?"

"Ask the Windemere Chronicler. Get proof of your lineage."

"I have no idea who that would be," Zayn fretted, "or if we even have one."

"Every family does, I'm telling you," Vael insisted. "It's crucial. A lotta times, they're kept secret, so they can't be influenced by anyone wanting to hide indiscretions and such. Reeves might know," he finished with a frown, "or your elder sister.

"Either way, your feelings for Selene are nothin' to be ashamed of...unless," Vael pinned him with those dark eyes, "she don't feel the same."

Zayn folded his hands in his lap. "Until I turned eleven, we shared a room. We used to crawl into bed together because Mini was afraid of the dark, and her Nanny was a horror.

"We've kissed, and explored a bit," he said quietly. "But I don't know if she feels the way I do. I don't dare ask."

"Find the Chronicler first, and once you have proof, then you can decide the next step."