Page 39 of Mantle

“I remember that,” I said.

“An excitable kid, were you?” Nyx asked with a chuckle.

“Yeah.”

Ihadbeen. While I’d been safely ensconced here with my family, before I’d discovered how the supernatural world had seen me.

Mom walked in then, dressed in her usual sophisticated way in a royal-blue wrap top and a pair of black dress pants, along with designer heels that glittered with blue jewels along thestraps. She smiled out at us. “Come on, let’s begin. Take your seats. Jaxon just mind-linked me, he’ll be here any moment with Vorzyr. And Kai—”

“Is here,” Kai finished for her, as he teleported in, startling everyone.

He wasn’t wearing his trench coat anymore. He was actually giving off an air of relaxation and openness by just being in his black button down and a pair of dress pants.

Before I could full register it, Dad and Vorzyr walked in.

I started as I took in Dad draping his arm over Vorzyr’s shoulders in a friendly and supportive gesture, the two of them chuckling heartily about something.

Wow.

As Mom took her seat at the head of the table, Pops to our right as we faced her, and Dad to her left, Papa settled beside Pops. And then I watched curiously as Vorzyr sat right next to Dad.Interestingand boding very well there. Dad winked at me, letting me know things were well, just as I was interpreting. He was trying for me and cooling it with his alpha wolf protectiveness toward hisbaby girl.It was something that was definitely needed with what we were up against, with whatI’dhave to do—and become.

A brush to my arm from Kai had me blinking back to the moment, and I took a seat next to Vorzyr. Nyx settled beside him, and Kai sat next to Pops opposite us.

It was strange that he wasn’t all over us, especially me.

He actually looked tense.

About the breakfast? Being around my family and the weight of that?

A buzz from his pants pocket sounded and he pulled his phone out, then glared at whatever notification had just come in.

“What’s wrong?” I asked quietly, while everyone started serving themselves breakfast.

“Just familial obligations rearing their ugly head in light of this lockdown.”

“Your parents want you back there at Maven Coven locked down with them?”

“Something like that.” He waved his hand and forced a smile. “Not to worry. I’m handling it. Let’s just enjoy breakfast.”

Before I could speak more to it, Nyx handed me the dish with the waffles on it.

And then everyone was digging into their breakfasts.

“Really good,” Dad said, looking out at Mom and Papa.

“Shit, yeah. Nicely done,” Pops said, being his more chilled and brazen self. He rubbed Papa’s shoulder. “And the flawless presentation didn’t go unnoticed either.”

“It certainly didn’t,” Kai spoke, as he took a sip from his juice.

I eyed him with amusement.

Nyx nudged Vorzyr. “Told you he’s all about the manners when it’s called for. He can bring it like nobody’s business.”

Papa chuckled.

“That’s the Maven Coven upbringing shining forth,” Pops spoke. He eyed Mom. “We know it well.”

“Yup,” Kai said, picking at his food. “Elitist to its core.”

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