Curse of the White Tiger by A. E. Churchyard

Author:A. E. Churchyard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: A. E. Churchyard, Dark City Chronicles, White Tiger, vampires, werewolves, Te Ling
Publisher: Teigr Books
Published: 2022-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

Six

Li spent an uneasy evening with Chio at the ‘Family Dinner’ on Monday night and the memory was playing hell with his concentration at work...

*****

Li removed Chio’s soft cashmere wrap and handed it to the maid along with his overcoat. Chio gazed around the entrance to the house with wide eyes.

“Your family is rich?”

Li snorted. “My Grandmother is rich. She insists that Mother and Father live with her here. The rest of us are encouraged to make our own way in the world. Even Ennio was told to move out when she attained her majority.” He wasn’t exactly lying. The house belonged to the Horse Clan and was the Clan’s headquarters, used for all official Clan entertainment and ceremonies; only Sho Liang and his wife lived in it.

“This place is amazing.” Chio turned slowly, taking in the dark mahogany screens and rich red and cream silk curtains that gleamed in the mellow light from the candle lanterns on the tables. “How old is your family?”

“There has been a Zhao in Te Ling since the time of Emperor Huang Di.” Li pointed at a framed parchment. “That’s the family’s ennoblement charter. It was given to us after the Battle of Banquan and written out by Tsang Chieh himself.” This was true; even though it actually named the founder of the Horse Clan.

“Are you boring your poor girlfriend with our family history, Li?” a voice floated out from the next room.

Li turned, his chest tightening. That’s the Black Dragon’s voice.

The woman in the doorway wasn’t wearing a black robe, but an exquisite black dress, the skirt flowing gently around her silver sandaled feet, with embroidered sky blue peony flowers and yellow butterflies, outlined in silver. Her black hair had been put up with elaborate braiding and was held in place with a pair of blue lacquered hair sticks that had long strands of turquoise and sparkling crystal depending from them. The dress’ high neckline precluded a necklace, but she had long earrings that matched the hair sticks.

Her jade green eyes seemed to pierce him to the depths of what was left of his soul, and he felt pinned in place

Chio looked from the woman in the doorway to Li and coughed gently, nudging him with her elbow.

Li swallowed and smiled. “Ah, there you are Sister Dearest, I was beginning to wonder if anyone else had arrived yet.”

“Mother and Father are here of course. Grandmother is in her room; I don’t think she will be joining us tonight.” The woman smiled at Chio. “Li, aren’t you going to introduce us properly?”

“Uh... well, of course... I was...just...” Li cleared his throat.

The woman rolled her eyes. “I see I’ll have to do it myself!” she walked forward, her heels tapping lightly on the polished tile floor. “Hello, I’m Li’s oldest sister, Mao Lun Xia. You must be Shen Chio. I’ve heard so much about you form Li.”

Chio smiled back and bowed self consciously. “Thank you for your welcome. I am delighted to be here.”

Xia laughed. “None of that.

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