The Hero Strikes Back Read Online Free Page B

definitely a sight for sore eyes. I smiled. “Taro!”
    Lord (former) Shintaro Karish looked up from his letter, the frown between his eyebrows melting away. “Evening, my love!” he said before grabbing me up in a bear hug and lifting me clear off my feet. I rolled my eyes and hugged him back and didn’t dwell on the fact that I probably would have felt hurt had he done anything less.
    It felt good to hold him. I’d missed him.
    â€œYou’re back earlier than you’d said,” I commented once he’d put me back on my feet. I brushed snow off his shoulder, the one with the black Source braid.
    He grinned, the completely carefree grin, the one that made his black eyes crinkle at the corners. “Her Royal Imperial Majesty got bored with me, didn’t she?” he announced gaily. “With what she most enjoyed contented least.”
    I was taking a good look at him, and I was shocked. Karish was a fine-boned, slender man. Right then he looked gaunt, his cheekbones jutting out harshly through his skin. He seemed a little pale, and he was obviously exhausted. “What the hell have you been doing to yourself?” I demanded. “You look awful.”
    He cocked an eyebrow. “Thank you so much, darling. You always know just what to say to make me feel good about myself.”
    â€œWere you revelling every night or what?”
    â€œSo I must have been.”
    â€œZaire, Taro. You’re not ill, are you?”
    He was starting to look annoyed. “I’ve just gotten off the road, Lee. I pushed myself hard to get here. Give over.”
    All right. Fine. The solution was not to nag but to get him back into decent shape. “Of course. You’re just in time for supper.”
    His eyes widened in panic he manfully attempted to hide. “Uh—”
    I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he desperately searched for a graceful way to back out. I thought about letting him hang in torment but decided to take pity on him. I hadn’t seen him in months, after all. There would be plenty of opportunities to torture him later. “My mother’s cooking, you snob.”
    â€œOi, your mother! I forgot she was here. I’m sorry.” He looked up the stairs and bent to pick up his bags, with the obvious intention of heading up to his suite.
    I grabbed his arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. She’ll be thrilled to see you again. It’s probably the real reason she came.” She’d been disappointed, when she’d first arrived in High Scape, to learn he was still in Erstwhile. “Your cloak, sir. Mother!” He winced at the shout. “Taro’s joining us for dinner.”
    â€œGood!” she shouted back. “There’s plenty.”
    I raised my eyebrows at him. See? I took his cloak and hung it on a peg, then led him into the kitchen. “I don’t know if you remember meeting my mother—”
    â€œHolder Mallorough,” he interrupted me smoothly. He just as smoothly took her hand and kissed the back of it. “My memory is indeed faulty. I’d forgotten you were so lovely.”
    â€œNo flirting with my mother, Karish,” I growled at him.
    â€œMind your own business, dear,” my mother chided me in a preoccupied tone, her eyes never leaving Karish’s face.
    He laughed.
    I went back to the cutlery drawer. Perhaps reintroducing my mother and my Source wasn’t the best idea after all. They were both impossible.
    â€œMost people who aren’t my children call me Teshia, Lord Shintaro.”
    â€œAh.” A flicker of discomfort crossed his face. “It’s just Shintaro, now. Taro, preferably.”
    â€œI told you that, Mother.” I let an edge develop in my voice. This was a sensitive subject for Karish, and I had warned her about it. She should have known better.
    But my mother was unapologetic. “Some things transcend