Page 13 of The Hunger
I nodded even though I wasn’t entirely sure how that meant there was nothing wrong with me.
With a heavy heart, I closed the door behind Raiden and went back upstairs.
“Be reasonable, Nicolette,” Adira said before I reached the door.
“I’m being very reasonable.”
Hurrying into Mr. Quill’s office, I arrived in time to see Mom rise from the chair she occupied. She looked two seconds away from killing Adira while Mr. and Mrs. Quill exchanged wary glances.
“That’s an odd request, isn’t it?” I asked. “Given your predisposition to the concept.”
Both women looked at me.
“What do you mean?” Adira asked.
“When have you ever been reasonable? You push, you order, and you deliver veiled threats when you can’t get your way.”
“What would you have me do?”
“Ask politely for whatever it is you want. And if you’re not given the response you want, do what the rest of the population does. Pout for a bit, then move on.”
Adira gave me a long look. I could feel the level of her annoyance rise then fade away.
“Very well. Will you use your friendship with Megan to find out how long she intends to stay, please? If her answer is uncertain, can you ask what she plans to do while she’s here?”
I stared at Adira in disbelief.
“Prepare to pout, Adira,” Mom said.
“Perhaps, instead of goading your daughter to disregard the welfare of her peers, you would like to add your considerable influence to sway her,” Adira said with noticeable irritation.
“I will not betray Eliana’s trust.”
“I am beginning to regret several of the choices that have led us to this point.”
“I doubt that very much, Adira,” Mom said. “But I think you will before long. The next generation will see to that.”
I almost grinned at how fully Mom had embraced supporting Megan.
“It is far too soon to make that prediction. Perhaps if we knew what Megan planned to do about the missing human, we could—”
“Her name is Ashlyn, Adira. Ashlyn. She’s a person. She has thoughts and feelings and dreams just like you do. If you want Megan to believe you actually care about the humans who live here, use their names.”
“Fine. Ashlyn. If you ever hope to see her again, you will help me determine what Megan intends to do. If the fury can’t be controlled, she will be removed.”
Mrs. Quill’s softly spoken, “Adira,” was almost drowned out by Mom’s throaty chuckle.
“That threat is as transparent as my lingerie. If you could keep the fury out, you would have already ejected her.”
Adira turned to me. “Does the human, Ashlyn, mean anything to you?”
“Adira, enough,” Mrs. Quill said sharply.
“I think we’re done here,” Mom said to Adira. “Now, unless you’d like to share your sister’s mate, I suggest you take us home. I’m hungry.”
Adira’s gaze shifted to me.
“You wish to go with your mother?”
