Page 79 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family
After everyone was full and satisfied, my mother sighed happily, resting back in her chair.
“Normally, I’d let the staff handle this,” she said, glancing toward the kitchen, “but I wanted tonight to be just family.”
Baylyn smiled, standing and gathering plates. “I can help.”
My mother’s eyes lit up again, like she’d just found another reason to love her.
“Oh, sweetheart, you don’t have to?—”
“I want to.” Baylyn gave her a genuine smile. “Besides, I should earn my place here, right?”
My mother’s eyes were on me quickly. “Emir, hold onto her. She’s perfect.”
Baylyn peeked at me over her shoulder, smirking. “I think he knows that.”
Yeah, I fucking knew.
While Baylyn and my mother cleaned up the kitchen, Kades and Yair headed out, needing to handle something. As soon as they were gone, my father’s voice carried from the hallway.
“Emir.”
I turned, finding him standing near the doorway of his office. I entered behind him. He moved to his chair, sitting back, studying me like he was gauging me before he spoke.
“Trent.”
I tensed but didn’t react beyond that.
My father’s expression remained neutral. “I assume you’re handling it.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Yeah.”
He studied me for a minute before nodding. “Good. Don’t let it get out of control.”
I held his gaze, keeping my voice even. My father’s biggest thing with us was ‘be a man about your shit’. As long as wemoved in a way that showed respect for ourselves and the family, he was cool. “I won’t.”
“That girl,” he said moving on.
My jaw tightened and I corrected that shit quick as hell. “Baylyn.”
He grinned at my reaction then gave a slight nod. “Baylyn. You want to talk about that?”
“Nah, don’t need to.”
He grinned wider. “She’s good for you.”
It wasn’t a blessing or approval but for my father it was damn close.
I offered a nod and raked my hand through my hair before I pushed off the desk. “Anything else?”
“No. Go enjoy your night, son.”
I didn’t need to be told twice.
Chapter
Fifteen
