Page 39 of I Summoned A Demon For A Date?!
A collective gasp went around the table. Roger's face purpled with rage and embarrassment.
"You little bitch-!" he started, half-rising from his chair.
"Sit down," I growled, allowing just enough of my true nature to surface that the command carried supernatural weight. Roger dropped back into his seat as if physically pushed.
But Rosie wasn't finished. She turned to address the table at large, her green eyes flashing with righteous anger.
"I came here as a courtesy to my father, despite knowing exactly what kind of welcome I'd receive. I've put up with the snide comments, the fake smiles, and the petty jealousies because I'm an adult. But I'm done being your punching bag, Stephany. I'm done pretending that what you and Roger did wasn't cruel. And I'm especially done apologizing for having someone in my life who actually respects me enough to step in when your fiancé gets handsy."
The dining room had fallen completely silent. Every eye was on Rosie, standing tall and magnificent in her fury. Pride swelled within me, fierce and unexpected. This was my mate. Strong, defiant, unwilling to be cowed by these insignificant creatures.
And then, from the other side of the table, a slow clapping began. Rita was on her feet, applauding with a wide grin on her face.
"Bravo," she grinned. "About damn time someone said it."
To my surprise, Rosie's father lowered his newspaper and joined in the applause, followed by several others around the table. The elderly aunts were nodding in approval. Even a few of Stephany's bridesmaids looked impressed, hiding smiles behind their napkins.
Stephany's face had gone chalk-white with fury and embarrassment. Roger looked like he wanted to crawl under the table and disappear.
Rosie remained standing for a moment longer, her chest rising and falling with quick breaths. I could smell the adrenaline coursing through her, hear the rapid beating of her heart. But beneath it all was something new. A confidence, satisfaction, and relief.
She had defended herself. She hadn't needed me to do it for her.
And as she slowly sank back into her chair beside me, I felt something shift inside my chest. A realization, slow but inevitable, I could push her away, could deny the bond, could tell myself it was for her protection, but the truth was, Rosie Thompson didn't need my protection. She was perfectly capable of standing on her own.
What she needed and what she deserved was someone who stood beside her, not in front of her.
Whether that could be me remained to be seen.
Chapter Eighteen
CHAPTER 18: ROSIE
Isank back into my chair as the applause rippled through the dining room, my heart hammering so hard I could feel my pulse in my fingertips. A strange buzzing filled my ears, like I was underwater. Had I really just done that? Had I actually stood up to Stephany and Roger in front of everyone?
The weight of the charm in my pocket seemed to grow heavier, like it was sending waves of warmth up through my dress. I snuck a glance at Aldaine beside me. His profile was sharp and focused, jaw tense, but something in his eyes, maybe pride? Surprise? I couldn't tell.
Rita winked at me from across the table, and for a moment, the dining room felt like an alternate reality where I wasn't the family disappointment. Where I was someone who deserved to be applauded.
The sensation was foreign but not unwelcome.
But as the applause died down, reality crashed back. Whispers immediately erupted around the table.
A server hurried forward to clean up the shattered glass beside Aldaine's plate. I noticed how carefully he avoided touching Aldaine's hand as he mopped up the water, eyes darting nervously to his face and away again.
My momentary triumph curdled in my stomach. I'd stood up for myself, yes, but at what cost? Now everyone was whispering about my "boyfriend" like he was some kind of monster. And wasn't that exactly what I'd been trying to avoid? Drawing attention to us, making people suspicious?
I touched the charm in my pocket again. What was I even doing here? Playing pretend with a demon who kept yanking me close and pushing me away, who left magical gifts at my door but couldn't explain why he'd abandoned me last night when I'd needed him most.
A fork clinked sharply against crystal, drawing everyone's attention. Stephany had stood up, her posture rigid, face composed into a mask of wounded dignity.
"Well," her voice carrying perfectly, "I suppose we've all been treated to quite the performance this morning."
Her eyes locked on me, cold and calculating. I knew that look. It was the same one she'd worn right before telling everyone at junior prom that I'd stuffed my bra with toilet paper.
My stomach dropped.
"I've always admired your ability to make yourself the center of attention, Rosie," Stephany continued, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "Even at my engagement breakfast." She placed a delicate hand over her heart. "I invited you here as family, despite our complicated history. I wanted to make amends. To show everyone that I held no grudges."
