“By what right do you claim them?” Mirak scoffed. “None! You stole this female—”
“I admit what I have done!” Ke’lar’s voice rang out. “I took the lawful mate of another without offering challenge as a warrior should. I journeyed to a world forbidden to any who do not have the Council’s sanction. But I do not regret what I have done! I brought a mother to her child and—no matter what laws I have broken—I have done what is right!”
Summer threw him a proud look.
You tell ’em, honey!
He addressed Ar’ar. “By what right do you claim her?” he demanded. “No female is to be taken from her offspring. That is the law. Your capture of her was forbidden!”
Ar’ar’s fangs bared. “I did not know she had a child! How could I have? She never told me.”
“But he captured her honorably,” Mirak broke in. “So Ar’ar’s claim is the lawful one. The child is here now and she too belongs to my son. I insist these females be returned to their true clan—the Betari!”
“Mommy?”
Emma could understand their language now but all the roaring was frightening her. Summer’s own ears were ringing from it.
She swung Emma up to hold her on her hip. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she murmured, stroking her back. “You’re safe. I promise.”
“Summer should never have been taken, never forced from her young one.” In the wake of understanding his son’s actions, the life and color had returned to Rotin’s face and he faced his old enemy confidently. “And so Ar’ar has lost all claim on her. She is Ke’lar’s.”
“Your son is not a warrior!” Mirak’s fangs bared fully. “He is a criminal!”
“He sought only to remedy the wrongs done by your son!” Rotin roared back.
“My son will prove himself the warrior deserving of our clansisters,” Mirak spat. “By killing this thief!”
“I will fight,” Ke’lar growled. “For the mate and child that are mine.”
Rotin gave his son a short, proud nod. “Do you see? My son will fight as an honorable warrior should.”
“As will mine,” Mirak snapped. “And we will see this matter decided now.”
With a grim look at Summer, and Emma in her arms, Ar’ar followed his father, and the Betari clanbrothers as well.
People were moving about, changing places, clearing room for the coming fight. The g’hir woman was already leading her children away.
Jenna crossed quickly to Summer. She smiled at Emma but her face was tight with tension. “Hi, I’m Jenna. What’s your name?”
“Emma.”
“Hi, Emma,” she said. “If it’s okay with your mom I’d really like to take you inside to meet my little girl, Anna.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “Inside the castle?”
“The—? Uh, yeah,” Jenna said, nodding. “The castle.”
“Is it okay, Mommy?”
Ke’lar caught her eye and gave a firm nod.
We sure don’t want her watching this. Actually, I’m not sure I want to watch this either . . .
“Yup,” Summer said with false cheerfulness and put Emma down. “You go inside with Miss Jenna and I’ll come see you after, okay?”
Emma’s brow creased. “After what?”
“After your visit,” Ke’lar said smoothly. He crouched down but Emma still had to look up to meet his eye. “You will like the new baby.”
“Oh,” Emma said, disappointed. “She’s just a baby?”
“For now,” Ke’lar agreed. “But someday soon she will be old enough to be your playmate.” He smiled ruefully. “Remember always that I love you, Emma.”
She threw her arms around his neck for a hug. “I love you too, Daddy.”
He patted her back, his face taut, but when she pulled away he gave her another smile and stood. “You must go with our clansister Jenna. She can make icy tea.”
“Iced tea,” Emma corrected. She looked up at Jenna. “I like lemonade.”
Jenna gave a nod. “I’m sure I can wrangle up something.”
“You be good, okay?” Summer knelt to hug her. “I’ll come get you soon.”
“How long?” Emma demanded.
Summer glanced to where Ke’lar stood a few paces away in grim conversation with Ra’kur and their father. She smoothed her daughter’s hair. “Not long.”
“Have you ever been inside a castle before?” Jenna took Emma’s hand to lead her away. “This one is really, really old . . .”
“Do you wish to go with her?” Ke’lar asked seriously as he came to stand at her side.
“No, I’ll stay here with you.”
He hesitated. “This may be difficult for you to watch. The end is often . . . ugly.”
Summer glanced at Ar’ar. “I actually don’t want either one of you to get hurt.”
“He was your mate,” Ke’lar rumbled quietly. “Would you like to speak to him before we begin?”
“No,” Summer said with a sigh. “I’ll speak to him afterwards.”
“Afterwards?” His brow furrowed. “That will not be possible if I win.”
Summer raised her eyebrows. “You mean if you win I can’t even talk to him anymore?”
“Of course not,” Ke’lar said, surprised. “He will be dead.”