The Inquisitor's Mark by Dianne K. Salerni Page B

business deals on the eighth day,” Dad admitted.
    â€œI’ve heard some bad bands at Rockefeller Center,” Lesley added.
    â€œI’ve had bad meals at Sardi’s,” Gran said. “All their best chefs are Normals.”
    Jax looked more confused than ever. Billy crossed his arms and said, “I’m staying.”
    â€œO-kay,” Jax said, frowning. “We’ll stay until Thursday.”
    But Dorian could practically see the wheels turning in his cousin’s head. Jax wasn’t planning on staying a second longer than he had to.

13
    DORIAN DIDN’T THINK THE “family reunion” could get any more awkward, but dinner proved him wrong. Jax ate plenty but responded to all questions with one-word answers or stony silence. Billy spilled information like a waterfall, but Billy didn’t know anything he hadn’t already told them.
    Jax tensed when asked a question about Riley Pendragon or the Emrys girl. And despite his obvious discomfort, Dad and Gramps kept bringing them up. Dorian wondered if this persistent interest in Jax’s guardian and liege lady had to do with the crisis of epic proportions Dad had predicted after whatever it was that had happened in Wales.
    Occasionally, without warning, Gramps or Dad would throw inquisitor talent behind some question. Each time Jax deflected it expertly.
    Jax relaxed only once, and it was thanks to Lesley.
    Gramps had just blurted out, “What kind of name is Jax anyway? Spelled with an x , they tell me? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
    Lesley covered her face with her hands, then peeked between her fingers at Jax. “Officially dying of embarrassment now. If you want to run for the door, I’ll cover you.”
    Jax broke out in his first genuine smile.
    Because Lesley was so honest. So Normal.
    After dinner, Dad and Gramps disappeared into Dad’s office for about an hour. Dorian tried to sneak off and listen at the door, but Mom snapped her fingers at him and motioned for him to stay put. Meanwhile, Gran tortured poor Jax with a photo album, showing off pictures of his father until it looked like Jax was about to climb the walls to get away from her. Finally, Dad and Gramps reappeared, and Mom rescued Jax, nudging the grandparents toward the door and sending the boys to their room. Dad pinned Dorian with another meaningful look as they were leaving.
    Yeah, yeah, he got the message. He was supposed to bond with Jax.
    Billy took his borrowed pajamas and went into the bathroom to change, and Dorian groped for something to say. “I hope tonight wasn’t too bad.”
    Jax turned cold eyes on him. “Best dinner with kidnappers I’ve had yet.”
    Bonding fail.
    â€œYour sister doesn’t have a mark,” Jax said.
    Dorian nodded unhappily. At least he’d waited until theywere alone. “She’s a dud.”
    â€œWhat does that mean, exactly?”
    Was he kidding? “It means she never transitioned to the eighth day,” Dorian said. “She has no talent.”
    â€œNo eighth day, no talent, right?” Jax said as if repeating something he’d been taught, instead of something every Transitioner knew. “You can’t take her there with handcuffs?”
    â€œWe can, but it doesn’t help. She still hasn’t developed any talent.”
    â€œMaybe she needs a mark,” Jax suggested.
    â€œWhich one? Mom’s or Dad’s? Giving her the wrong one would ruin any chance of her developing talent, and our clan artisans refuse to take the risk. It’s a sore subject around here. Dad’s disappointed he couldn’t give Aunt Ursula more than one talented child for the clan.” Dorian didn’t like remembering the dark days in the Ambrose family when Lesley passed her thirteenth birthday without transitioning. Dorian had transitioned two years ago, at age ten, which shamed his older sister all the more.
    â€œUrsula’s the