Page 19 of Obsidian Prince

Her third eyes told her what she expected to find. Daniel Magoro was, in fact, the man that his wife, daughter, and friend believed him to be. She saw a strong will, a lot of stubbornness, but also compassion, deep love for his family, and loyalty to his pride.

She also saw something else.

She saw a vision of a likely future with him fighting Tray Bradley, to challenge for the right to be the new king. The big lion was past sixty. Tray Bradley was a dome champion two decades younger. But Daniel’s honor demanded that he at least try, even if it meant his death.

That is a problem.

Liliana stood up, dislodging the fluffy dog that had settled with its head in her lap. She faced Daniel in his big chair. Suspecting his intention was not something he’d want his wife or daughter to know, she said quietly, "You cannot fight Tray Bradley, Daniel Magoro."

He stood from the chair to face her. “I can and I will.” He also kept his voice low.

Liliana felt very tiny standing in front of the patriarch of the Magoro family but didn’t relent under the big man’s glare. "There is no possibility that you will win. Tray Bradley is not fighting to first blood.” Her voice had started to rise. He held up a big hand with a glance toward the kitchen, asking her to keep the argument quieter. She whispered, “He will kill you."

The old lion crossed his giant arms over his impressive chest. "Maybe I'll take my chances."

Liliana sighed in frustration. Deciding whether or not to fight for him was why she came, rather like she had done with the Fae colonel. She hadn’t anticipated having to convince a former champion of lion-kin dome fighting that a petite spider-kin girl should fight in his place.

"It is not just your own chances that you take, Daniel Magoro, but the chances of every member of the pride of North Carolina.” The spider-kin stepped closer to the lion whose arms were as big around as her waist. She pointed at his chest with her finger, scolding him like her first mother used to scold her. “I am a lion’s daughter. This is my pride, too. If Tray Bradley becomes the pride-king, the lions, jackals, hyenas, cheetahs, the pride families of North Carolina, all beast-kin in the area, will once again be ruled by a man who knows nothing of honor or justice."

“You’re just giving me even more reasons I should challenge.”

There was no way she could win this argument with words, the least effective weapons in her personal arsenal.

"There is only one way to settle this." Liliana walked out the front door. The fluffy little dog trailed behind her.

Daniel Magoro followed. His wife and daughter who heard the door open followed them out.

Once they were outside, Liliana found a good clear place in the lawn and lifted her fists. She would not use her arm blades on the man she was supposed to be fighting FOR. "Fight me."

Daniel stopped a few feet in front of her, his quizzical expression turning to laughter. He threw his head back, patting his knee. He thought she was joking.

Liliana’s lips twisted in annoyance. She hated being laughed at. For once, she could do something about it. While he was off balance, she foot-swept the huge lion-kin onto his butt on the grass.

He stopped laughing when he hit the ground. With some groaning and popping of knees, he got back up. He brushed his hands off and shifted his weight into a good stance. “Fine, let's do this. If I can’t beat a pint-sized girl, you’re right. I’ve got no business going into the dome." He threw a carefully pulled swing at the spider-kin.

In one motion, Liliana ducked the blow, stepped diagonally, and shoved on the back of Daniel's shoulder at full extension while hooking her ankle in front of his.

The big lion went face first onto the grass this time, with a grunt of pain, as his elbow on the side with his bad shoulder smacked down hard enough to scrape. He rolled over and sat up, holding his elbow. "Okay, I see your point." The big man sighed. "It just doesn't seem right, though. The dome is supposed to be the test for kings."

"I am good at fighting. I am not a leader. I am not even lion-kin. No one in the pride would follow me.” Liliana held her hand out to him, the polite thing to do. It was also an apology to the man who she hoped would soon be her king. “You have already earned my loyalty and I just met you. You will be a good king."

Daniel accepted her hand. "I'm glad one of is sure of that."

"I must pass this test for you. Once you are king, then your test will begin. The pride has not had a worthy leader in decades. They will not be easy to lead."

Kazi, who had watched the exchange, bristled with anger. “Just because you can beat up an old man doesn’t mean you can defeat a dome champion in his prime.”

Liliana sighed. She’d just defeated Kazi’s magnificent father in front of her. She had already thrown her mentor off a building. The only way it could be worse would be if Liliana stabbed her fluffy dog. “I have the best chance of anyone available.”

“Tray will turn you into a bloody smear.” She clenched her hands at her side. “Why are you even here?” She let out a gusty sigh. “Get that Celtic werewolf. That’s who we need.”

“Pete is already busy that night, fighting four assassins protected by powerful magic, protecting an innocent Other from being torn apart, and keeping the fabric of reality from being destroyed by an evil Fae princess.” Liliana used the hands throwing in the air gesture she’d seen Siobhan use. It fit her feelings. “Believe it or not, your problems are not the worst that need dealing with just now.”

Kazi blinked, then her scowl returned. “Right. And your dad was a Nemean lion.”

Liliana sighed. She suspected something was going on that she didn’t understand. She opened her third eyes to look into Kazi.Oh.“If someone has to win the dome battle for your father to be king, you wish it were anyone but me. But most of all, you wish it were you.”

Kazi scowled even harder.

---