Page 26 of Bitten & Burned
“Rowena stays.” Everyone turned towards the sound. Dmitri stood with his arms crossed, leaning back against a table. The picture of calm and nonchalance. In other words, the opposite of Quil in that moment.
The words felt like a balm or an ointment on an angry wound. Of course, Dmitri always seemed to calm down any heated situation.
“She’s safer here than anywhere else. And we keep her safe.Allof us.” He turned to look at Quil, unblinking, “Even if you don’t like it.”
He said it like a statement. As if it had already been decided. That was just how Dmitri was, though. I suppose that for him, the matter was already decided. However, I still hadn’t heard from Cassian yet.
“Thank you, Dmitri. However, we aren’t through discussing this,” Cassian said, his voice steady, but authoritative, brokering no quarter. “Vael’s points were all excellent. And we are grateful that he thought to come to us first before simply going through with his plans.“
Quil grumbled, but with a stern look from Cassian, he was silent. Cassian’s hands dropped. “Vael will no more decide thanDmitri, Anton, myself, or even Quil will. It’s Rowena’s choice, after we’ve discussed it.”
There were nods of approval all around.
“Now, I’ve not spoken my piece. I’ll do that now. Then, we’ll vote. Agreed?”
Again, there were nods. Save Anton, who spoke up. “I haven’t said mine either.”
“You make your point clearly without your pomp, Anton. You wish for her to stay.”
“I do!” he exclaimed. “This is ridiculous to even discuss! This is an enormous estate, Cassian, and we must protect one who is loved by one of our own.”
Loved. There was the word again. The one Vael hadn’t truly said to me, but hung over my head like a nearly ripened fruit, just out of reach.
“Thank you, Anton,” Cassian continued, shooting him another gaze when he opened his mouth again.
“Apologies,” Anton murmured, clasping his hands behind his back and walking over to the fireplace to stare within the flames.
“I’d like to start by saying I enjoy—truly enjoy—Rowena’s company. I can make no declarations for anyone other than myself, but our lively discussions about history, mine or someone else’s, and our chess games bring contentment to my life.”
My heart warmed when he said that. It was as if I were being praised by a king. Earning Cassian’s approval felt sogoodupon closer inspection.
“I, too, say she stays.”
Quil sighed heavily, sliding his knife into its holster and crossing his arms once more.
“So we vote?” Anton asked.
“Why bother, if she’s just going to be here anyway?” Quil groaned.
I pressed my lips together, my breath coming a bit faster as I tried to push down the urge to cry. I would never let Quil see mereact to his words. I had also made my mind up, but I had to wait for them to vote first.
Cassian looked at him. “We vote, that’s what we do.”
Quil threw his hands up as if to say,Fine, carry on, then.
Vael said. “I suppose I’ll go first… obviously, yes, I think Rowena should move in here.”
Anton went next. “Of course. How else will I fatten her up with my pastries?”
I chuckled at that, and he winked in my direction, making my heart flutter just a bit.
Dmitri’s answer was predictably, “Yes.” Just simple, no embellishment.
Cassian’s as well, “Yes.”
All that was left was Quil. “No,” he said. Sharp and barbed.
With that, Cassian looked around the room. “She stays—if she so wishes.”
