Page 84 of Silverproof Damsel

Whatever he’d said, it caused every knight and Nyota to rush toward the entrance as if the hellhounds of hell were nipping at their heels. My heart hammered against my ribcage as fear twisted inside my abdomen.

“Luis?” I called out to his back.

He stopped so quickly that Nyota slammed into him, knocking him to the side. “The alphas are in danger. Lock this house down. Don’t open the door for anyone. Tell me you hear me,” he demanded, urgency and worry for Rhys layering the tone he spoke in.

“Understood,” I whispered. “Luis?” I called out as he turned to leave. Hesitantly, he looked back at me over his shoulder. “If he’s hurt. Bring him to me.” The slight lift of his chin told me he’d do as I’d requested.

I followed them to the door, pausing at the threshold as Winchester stepped in front of me. She used her body as a shield, which forced me to step back, then pivoted on my heel to march into the great room.

In the largest chamber, I sat in front of the large fireplace. Flicking my fingers, I leaned forward to light the tinder. Crackling sounded from the fire, while the scent of burning tamarack flooded the chamber. In silence, I stared into thebluish-green flames that danced over the wood, searing it as heat drifted over my legs.

“He’ll be fine,” Nyx reassured, sitting beside me. Patting my shoulder, she leaned back and exhaled slowly. “Your brothers are fun. I can’t believe you played the‘off-limits’card on me. I could be the meat of a sandwich right now.”

“I never want to hear the words’ my brothers or meat sandwich in the same sentence, ever again. I know he’ll be fine. He’s always fine.” He wasn’t always fine. If he were, Roslyn wouldn’t have murdered his mother, and he wouldn’t despise me because of it right now.

I didn’t want Rhys to fight if it placed his life in peril. I’d placed enough people in danger. It cost Colt his life. Nyx almost died, along with Nyota, too. Life was fragile enough. I didn’t want to be the reason for anyone else losing theirs. If that meant staying put and staying safe, I’d do as I’d been told to.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Satinsidethemaindining room, I forced myself to partake in the meal. The scent of savory meat, buttery potatoes, and herb smothered vegetables caused my stomach to rumble with hunger. The servers had taken away the dishes of tangy, scrumptious fruit moments before the main course was in front of me.

My brothers had bailed on dinner to go check out what the issue in town was. It left time for all the girls to enjoy a meal and relax without their high energy. It had done little to ease the nervousness or worry sitting heavily on my chest, though.

I’d changed after they’d left, needing to remove the annoying chlorine clinging to the clothes I’d worn outside. Dressed in a soft green sundress, I’d forgone my shoes since I’d intended to retire once I’d finished dinner.

“This is delicious!” Abigail stammered with a mouth full of meat.

Winchester’s head nodded in agreement. Once she’d finished chewing, she dotted her lips with the napkin before responding.“I personally flew the chef in from Paris. She’s part of the staff from the chateau there who agreed to join us here.”

Glancing around the table, I noticed my sisters all used similar mannerisms. My friends, on the other hand, did not. Nyx was spooning onion soup in at an alarming rate, which had a smile spreading over my face. The omegas had forgone their silverware, choosing to use their hands even though the meat was slathered in savory gravy.

A bubble of laughter escaped as Savage’s face twisted in confusion as she studied the way the omegas grabbed from their plates. It was a mixture of something between disgust and envy. Daisy sat beside Beretta, both of their heads bowed toward one another, deep in conversation.

“Savage,” I called across the table, which had her head whipping toward where I sat. Sliding her eyes to me, I watched the guilt wash over her delicate features. Smiling impishly, I forked a large chunk of meat, shoveling it between my lips.

We shared a knowing look, both recalling the horrors of our childhood in the moment. Our mother wasn’t only hard on us about training with weapons. Far from it, in fact. Roslyn had instructed us on how we dressed, ate, and presented ourselves from the moment we woke until we found respite from her as we slept.

“A lady doesn’t speak when she chews,” mimicked Savage, face grimacing at mother’s instructions on etiquette leaving her lips. “If you refuse, you’ll be stuck with a fork like the pig you’re eating, akin to.”

“You’ll bear the scars to remind you forever more,” Daisy whispered, eyes swimming with angry, unshed tears. “I’ve never been so glad another being is dead as I am about her.” Using her hand, she reached forward, grabbed a large chunk of meat, then shoved it into her mouth.

Savage’s jaw dropped. But as we watched, she reached forward, shoving meat into her mouth as well. There was no judgment from anyone at the table. Instead, everyone followed her lead. One after another, we all began forgoing our silverware. It wasn’t until we’d finished it off that we realized we couldn’t do the same with the mashed potatoes.

I barely held my laughter as I shoved an entire meatball into my mouth, uncaring that juices sloshed down my chin. It was freeing to be able to do as one wanted, ignoring basic etiquette.

Winchester had mashed potatoes on her chest, which caused my eyes to widen as Savage leaned over, scooping it up, then feeding it to her. Daisy chewed a large mouthful as she attempted to say something, failing to get anything out.

“What is that, Daisy? I couldn’t hear you over the balls of meat in your mouth,” Beretta stated with a mouth full of potatoes.

Looking around the table, warmth washed through me. The familiarity of family, mixed with friends, made me feel strangely whole. As if I weren’t doomed to sulk forever after a man who didn’t want anything to do with me.

Laughter echoed throughout the chamber. Then, we noticed the omegas were eating undisturbed. That fact caused another bout of laughter to explode around the table. Nyx silently stared at each one of us with curiosity in her violet eyes.

“That was . . . educational. I’ve never seen you eat without utensils or a napkin in your lap, Remi,” she muttered.

“You’ve seen the scars on my elbows, Nyx.” The moment I’d blurted it out, she flinched. “Our mother had an unhealthy obsession with dining etiquette. If we slipped up, she’d stab us with silverware.”

Nyx’s eyes rounded as her mouth formed a perfect O. “What a bitch,” she blurted out, then swung her gaze toward my sisters. “I mean—I—”

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