"He was going to hit that girl," remarked Andrei, almost to himself.

Nika had nipped it in the bud, with a smooth and knowing response, but it had not eluded Andrei's eyes what Lasha intended.

He knew the Isaev way.

Retribution was swift and hard, when it came to an affront. No matter how slight the offense, the response was to utterly destroy the offender.

Kasya's hand still rested on his arm, as if he might rise at any minute, unable to deny his Isaevean instincts.