Shady

“True enough.” Ky laughed and dipped her head. She hadn’t had much of a childhood, but she could still remember what life was like before she got snatched. “I certainly ...

“It is quite important,” Ky agreed with a smile. Aleth had — perhaps unsurprisingly — also ensured Ky was well versed in such matters. “Noble—“ Ky thought better about complaining ...

“Oh, um, I…” Ky hesitated. Creepy was a good word for him. He seemed so dangerously calm. Which frightened her far, far more than the angry idiot assassins Aleth would ...

“Ah… I mean… with is a strong word.” Ky took a deep breath. “I was more… well, I was responsible for giving him… instructions—“ his hit list “—and compensating him ...

“He is,” Ky confirmed. “He’s who Aleth called when — ah — uh…” she hesitated. She probably shouldn’t be talking about this to anyone. And certainly not to noble children. ...

Ky subconsciously rubbed her throat. She didn’t want to deal with them either. Save Aleth the trouble. “Ah… well, good thing your father has one of the best assassins on ...

“Hopefully,” Ky agreed. “Do you think he’s likely to bring his whole family along?”

“That makes sense,” Ky murmured. She hesitated for a moment, thinking through the implications. And also actively refusing to allow her brain to fixate on Aleth. She and Aleth both ...

Ky tightened her grasp on her cards. She didn’t know why, but the thought of a direct interaction with Ash made her stomach queasy. What if he came here and ...

“A difficult situation all around,” Ky murmured. “I do hope this sudden arrival doesn’t complicate things for your father too terribly much.”

Ky was silent for a moment, taking in the family dynamics, and once again reveling in how complicated they were. The Loquiturs seemed like a relatively normal family. A loving ...

(NO LEAVE LYRA ALONE >.> … do I even want to know what you’re planning to do to the poor girl?) Ky glanced at Lyra, then looked down at her ...

“It certainly makes things difficult,” Ky commiserated. “This war has improved mine and Tadaaki’s lives, but I dare say the same can’t be said for even a single other person.”

“Ah, I didn’t realize.” Ky wasn’t sure how much she could dig without being rude. And she wasn’t going to push it. Yet. “She must be fortunate to have brothers ...

“Does she do things like this often, then?”