Eileen Wilks - Mortal Ties

Celeste Babineaux:Rule and Jasper’s mother. Bipolar. Deceased.

Cullen Seabourne:Sorcerer and lupus, adopted into Nokolai clan after being expelled from his birth clan (Etorri) and living for many years as a lone wolf. Sixty. Married to Cynna Weaver.

Cynna Weaver:A Finder and spellcaster who follows a Swahili tradition that imprints spells on the skin like tattoos. FBI agent. Thirty-two.

Isen Turner:Nokolai Rho. Burly and bearded, he’s ninety-one years old but looks around fifty.

Jasper Machek:Rule’s newly discovered half brother or alius kin (means otherkin) on his mother’s side.

Leo Romano:Laban Rho until forced to step down, passing his clan’s mantle to his heir, Tony Romano.

Li Lei Yu, aka Grandmother:Lily’s grandmother on her father’s side. Much older than she looks.

Lily Yu:Homicide detective in Book 1 ( Tempting Danger ); joined the Unit (FBI) at end of that book. She’s twenty-nine in Mortal Ties . She was abducted by a child rapist when she was eight. Rule’s Chosen, Lily is a touch sensitive—she identifies the presence of magic through touch, but cannot be affected by it.

Michael Machek:Jasper’s father.

Ruben Brooks:Head of Unit Twelve of the FBI with an incredibly accurate precognitive Gift. Became both lupus and Rho in Death Magic .

Rule Turner:Nokolai Lu Nuncio or heir; Leidolf Rho. The press call him the Nokolai prince. Dark hair and dark eyes, he is fifty-five, but looks about thirty. He was raised by his father at Nokolai Clanhome.

Ryder:Cynna and Cullen’s new baby daughter.

Sarah Drummond:Al’s wife, killed by Martha Billings.

Toby Asteglio:Rule’s son. He’s nine and lives with Rule and Lily.

Tony Romano:Laban Rho. Tall, muscular, and gorgeous, he suffered brain damage as a child, and while First Change enabled him to heal the neurological damage, he still thinks slowly—but thoroughly. Often underestimated.

THE LEIDOLF SQUADAlanBarnabyChrisIanJeffrey JoeMarcusMikePatrick McCauseyScott White (in charge)SteveTodd

OFF-STAGE OR BRIEF APPEARANCE

Arjenie Fox:Benedict’s Chosen; a researcher for the FBI; part-sidhe

Benedict:Rule’s oldest brother; in charge of security at Clanhome

Brenda:Questioned by Lily; she talked too much to her Laban lover

Carl:Isen’s houseman

Carrie Ann Rucker:“Mule” for drug cartel, fifty-nine, a placid woman with graying blond hair and a crooked front tooth

David:Nokolai guard

Hank Jamison:Young Laban culprit

Hannah:Previous Nokolai Rhej

Isadora Bourque:Nokolai’s chief tender

Merowitch:Explosives guy

Mick:Rule’s brother who died

Pete:Benedict’s second

Sherrianne:Questioned by Lily at Clanhome

The Sidhe

Alycithin:Co-leader of the trade delegation; a halfing with tawny fur, a darker ruff atop her head, and bright green eyes. Muscular and about Lily’s height. Came up through the warrior class.

Aroglian:The other elf with Alycithin. An expert spellcaster who specializes in body magic, including healing. White hair.

Benessarai:The other co-leader of the delegation. Son of a sidhe lord, heavily outranks Alycithin socially, which means he’s really in charge. Copper-colored hair.

Dinalaran:One of Alycithin’s assistants; armed with a SIG, does the driving. Creamsicle-orange hair.

Lord Sessena:Benessarai’s mother and Alycithin’s sponsor. Powerful sidhe lord in her realm.

Lord Thierath:Benessarai’s father.

GLOSSARY

Elfin or Sidhe Words

arguai :power from an unknown source; not magic, often spiritual

dielgraf :soul-enemy

Rekklat:a catlike race in Alycithin’s realm, known for their skill as warriors and remarkable endurance; Alycithin’s father is Rekklat

seurthurin :one who practices the arts of the mind (mind-magic, such as illusion)

so’amellree :one of the sixteen words for enemy; describes one who might be a friend, were circumstances different (fem. form)

so’elriath :an enemy for whom one feels no hostility, one who is simply on the other side

Thalinol:the Queens’ realm

LUPI WORDS

Historically, lupus clans in Europe and Britain used Latin to communicate with each other for the same reason it was adopted by the Church—the need for a unifying tongue. Their version evolved, as languages will, into a thoroughly bastardized tongue likely to make classical scholars wince. In addition, there are a few words used by the lupi that have no known derivation. Lupi claim these words come from an ancient language that predates Latin, but since Latin predates 1000 BCE, experts consider this unlikely.

The use of Latin to communicate between the clans is dying out now, since so many lupi speak English as a first or second language, though it’s still considered essential for a Rho and his sons, who must negotiate with other clans. Several of the words and phrases remain useful, though, since they have no obvious English equivalent. Below are a few of the words and phrases any lupus would know.

amica :uncommon, but still used. Means friend/girlfriend (fem.); a lupus might call a male friend of the same clan adun , from adiungo (to join to, connect, associate).

ardor iunctio :literally, “fire of joining.” Symbolic fire used at some ceremonies, most notably the gens compleo .

certa :“a place of ice and clarity, where sensation is sharp enough to cut and action flows too swiftly for thought.” It’s a battle state; sensations heightened, thought clear but altered. Opposite of furo .

drei :tithe or head tax; it’s a percentage of income or wealth given to the clan.

du :honor, face, history, reputation; has magical component. Predates Latin.

firnam :derivation unknown; a memorial for one fallen in battle.

fratriodi :brother-hate. A grave sin among the lupi.

furo :also called “the fury.” Battle fury or madness. Clanless lupi are especially subject to it, but it can happen to those within a clan, though it’s rare.

gens amplexi :literally, “clan embrace”; ceremony of adoption into clan. From gens (clan, tribe, people) + amplexor (embrace, welcome, love).

gens compleo :literally, “clan to fill up or complete”; the ceremony in which a young lupus (at age twenty-four) is confirmed as an adult clan member.

gens subicio : subicio means “to put under or expose; to subject; to place near or present.” When one Rho dies and a new one assumes the mantles, a gens subicio is held at which each member of a clan presents himself to his new Rho and ritually submits.