Page 28 of Shadow Warrior
“Likewise.” Her tone said otherwise, but I’d take her at face value.
I needed to be here. I needed Kash’s help, and this was my way in.
“Have you eaten?” she asked. “Breakfast?” And then she canted her head. “Do you eat, or are your nightblood genes in control of digestion?”
I’d always wondered why I enjoyed food more than the other nightbloods. It made sense now. I mean, I was also a weaver.
“I eat, and I enjoy it.”
She considered me for a long beat. “Good. Come with me.”
Kash slipped his hand into mine, and I allowed him to take it without even flinching. His palm was warm against mine, his skin soft, but his grip was firm. It felt … nice … natural.
His mother’s gaze dropped to our joined hands, and she sighed and turned away.
“Cook has put out a spread. She’s excited you’re home. You were always her favorite.”
She led the way deeper into the house, under high arches, and through beautifully decorated rooms, but I’d grown up surrounded by beauty. Problem was, in my world, all it served to do was hide the ugliness beneath.
We entered a grand dining room with a table built to seat an army. Kash’s family either loved big tables or liked to entertain.
One end of the table was laden with food, and from the whiff I was getting, there was bacon, eggs, toast, and possibly some hash browns. Nice.
My stomach did a happy dance, and my fangs didn’t throb. I’d had a blood bag last night, so I should be okay for another day or so.
“Please sit,” Monica said.
Kash released my hand, his fingers brushing along my palm and his fingertips kissing mine before we lost contact. He pulled out a seat for me, then rounded the table and sat opposite me.
Plates were piled with food, and for a few minutes, I was all about the flavor.
“You do have a healthy appetite,” Monica said. She sounded perplexed. “Have you always?”
I finished my mouthful of bacon. “Pretty much. I just never thought much on it.”
“And blood?”
I grinned. “Oh, I both need and like that.”
She sat back in her seat. “When Kash told me he was bringing home Carter’s illegitimate offspring, my instinct was to forbid it. Kash is my only son, and I want the best for him. However, on reflection, I realized that your heritage is not your fault. You did not choose to be what you are. You may have been raised a nightblood, but you have a right to know what being a weaver means.”
I picked up another bit of bacon. “Plus, I can shadow cast, which is pretty rare, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want that gene to be added to their bloodline?”
Kash choked on his tea at my bluntness, but Monica merely blinked slowly and then smiled. A genuine smile.
“I like your honesty, Indigo. And yes, Kash’s grandmother, my mother, was eager to have you here. You’ll meet her tomorrow.”
“But you weren’t.”
She sipped her tea. “No. I wasn’t, but I’m willing to put my reservations aside and get to know you.”
In other words, she’d been told she had no choice. I was in her home because her mother believed I was fucking her son, which meant possible great-grandbabies who could also carry the shadow caster gene. Hell, I guess the fact that I was a nightblood didn’t matter so much as long as they claimed my ability.
“I’ve had your quarters prepared,” Monica said to Kash. “There are extra towels in the bathroom to accommodate you both.” She slid a glance my way.
My fork froze an inch from my mouth. Share a room with Kash … Share a bed. Instead of the horror I should have felt, there was a warm burst of heat inside my belly. Across from me, Kash wiped his mouth with a napkin and sat back in his seat. His T-shirt pulled tight across his chest, and a slow-burn smile tugged his lips up.
“Thank you, Mother,” he said.
