Page 83 of Silverproof Damsel

Awarm,gentlefallbreeze drifted through the elaborate garden outside the chateau. Laughter bubbled up from the omegas, splashing one another inside the pool. Why they’d chosen to remain here when Conrad returned to the city, I wasn’t certain, but I wasn’t opposed to having them stay with us.

Conrad was assisting Ian, Hunter, and Rhys with some issues that arose this week in town. Cole had vanished with them, leaving the knights, Nyota, and Nyx with me. My entire family hadn’t been thrilled with having a Van Helsing in residence, but I refused to allow them to kick Nyota out.

Nyota had proven her loyalty to me. If she left, I’d be leaving with her. I’d made that crystal clear when Winchester had tried leaving both Cole and Nyota on the side of the highway. That wasn’t an easy or comfortable conversation.

Winchester had shown up in record time, only to refuse to open the door. Once I’d convinced her they weren’t a threat, she’d rolled her window barely enough to speak to her through it. Luckily, Luis, showing up with a line of blacked-out SUVs,allowed me to have time to convince her they weren’t the enemy on the way home.

The chateau suffered damage from the attack, but Winchester had done what she did best. She had called in recruits, who in return had gotten to work on the repairs. You couldn’t see any signs of the damage from the outside.

Feminine laughter forced my focus toward Nyx, who was dancing between Ruger and Sig, both sandwiching her between them. Her happy squeals fed life into the gathering.

In the weeks since we’d left the Van Helsing estate, life happened around me. I, on the other hand, felt stuck in an endless humdrum. Every morning when I woke up, I reached for Rhys. In my dreams, I searched for him in the dark, empty void.

He’d cut off all communication. I’d asked Cole to phone him, but he’d merely smiled sadly in response. I didn’t need him to spell it out for me. Rhys didn’t want anything to do with me or the child we’d created together.

I had to remind myself that I’d wanted this. I’d left him. It had been a choice I’d made. He didn’t love me. That much was clear. Rhys wouldn’t ever love me as I needed him to.

Roslyn had been horrible to him and his family. Hell, she’d been horrible to everyone she’d ever encountered. She was a monster, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t allowing her reputation to be linked to any part of my life. I wasn’t Roslyn, nor would I ever be like her. If Rhys couldn’t see that, then he didn’t deserve me.

“Do you intend to sunbathe all day long?” asked Nyota, her shadow blocking out the blessed heat of the late summer sun.

“Allday long,” I replied, smiling as I sat up, accepting the drink she’d brought to me. “Drink. You’ve not had enough water today. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up resembling a raisin.”

Smiling, I drank until the water was gone, handing her back the glass. Turning toward the pool, I silently watched the verynaked omegas who drifted over the watery surface on pool floaties.

They were carefree despite Conrad having rushed into danger, abandoning them here with me. He’d spent the entire night with them, ensuring they were satisfied and not left wanting before rushing to Xariana who’d been attacked earlier this week.

Lydia squealed as Gauge dove into the water, unseating her from the oversized rubber duck she floated on. The other omegas chortled as she flailed her arms until Gauge swooped her up, then moved toward the shallow end.

“I’m not sure why your male companion thought this was the ideal place to abandon his bitches,” Savage noted, flipping her icy-blonde hair over her shoulder. “This isn’t a flop house.”

Daisy released a soft sound of agreement. “I admit, I’m enjoying their unique outlook on life.” Grabbing the suntan lotion, she lathered some on her shoulders. Her icy-blue two-piece matched her eyes, complementing them. “Did you know one alpha can service up to one hundred or more omegas in a single month? Talk about stamina.”

The sound of feet rushing over pavement jerked every set of eyes on the patio toward the side of the house. Luis rounded it with three men at his back, a serious look straining on his ageless features.

“Inside, now,” he demanded, but didn’t wait for me to move. I’d barely made it to my feet before Nyota, Winchester, and everyone else brandished weapons, waiting for whatever unseen enemy was nearby.

Luis snatched me up, as if I weren’t awkwardly round with his boss’s child growing inside of me. Carrying me in his arms, he paused as the men behind him grabbed the French doors, pulling them open for us to pass through. Once inside, he placed me on my feet.

“Rhys called,” he explained as people continued pouring in through the doors.

The omegas trickled in, the scent of chlorine assaulting my senses as they dripped throughout the entryway. Winchester was the last to enter, Nyota at her side. Both held a gun in one hand, a blade in the other.

Winchester and Nyota were a lot alike. Both were bossy as shit, while still careful to consider my delicate feelings. Lately, I’d been prone to tears at the drop of a hat. I also went from zero to sixty quickly, unleashing a hellish, vicious temper.

“And?” I demanded, uncertain why Rhys’ calling warranted disturbing my time in the sunshine.

Luis scratched the back of his neck, then aimed his kind, gray eyes at me. “A rather large group of knights of unknown origins arrived in town today. Until they can be investigated, you’re to remain inside. They’ve proven they can break the magical barrier with their bullets. He doesn’t wish to lose you. He said to remind you of the cost paid last time they penetrated the barrier.”

My stomach twisted as a pang started in my chest. I dropped my eyes before Luis could see the tears swimming in them. The others began dispersing to other rooms as Nyota, Nyx, and Winnie began issuing orders to the staff.

“Have dinner ready by six. Beef bourguignons, onion soup, along with the cheese bread Remington loves. Serve the fruit first, again. That way she eats more of it than the sweets,” Winnie rattled off.

“She’ll take water as well. She needs to stay hydrated,” Nyota added as she fired off a text, which I assumed was to Cole or Rhys. “I’ll take wine. White, preferably. Add croque monsieur to the menu. Remington can snack on it later if she becomes hungry after you’ve left. Remove the crust, she’s not a fan of itonce it’s sat for a while. You know what, just prep them. I’ll cook them for her if she needs them.”

Winchester’s eyes thinned, but she didn’t argue with Nyota’s request. If anyone else in the room noticed, they remained silent about the exchange. Luis’ phone went off, turning all attention on him.

“Sir?” asked Luis, his tone holding worry. “Where?” Luis started for the hallway leading to the front of the house. “Sir? You’re breaking up. We’re coming right now.” Luis pocketed the phone, then shouted orders in what I assumed was Romanian.

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