Page 155 of Black Wing and Shadows
Every sibling fell silent, their eyes locking on me. Zane’s hand settled on my thigh, steadying me.
“Yes… he fathered me.” Their stares lingered, heavy in the pause that followed.
Elizabeth broke it with a sudden burst, her eyes wide and bright. “Did you really fight a Rider in training and cut both of his Achilles?”
“Lizzie!” Theodora hissed, scandal sharp on her tongue.
“What?” Elizabeth blinked back at her, all innocence. “It happened.”
Zane’s hand brushed mine under the table, steadying me, though his jaw was tight.“Don’t let them shake you,”he murmured down the bond.“They’re testing, but not in the way you think.”
Arkin leaned back in his chair, grinning wolfishly. “Don’t worry, we prefer you to be able to hold your own. Gods, we know you need to, to survive this family…”
Laughter rippled down the table again, the noise surging back, almost enough to hide the thrum of unease still in my chest. Almost.
By the time the main platters vanished, my stomach already ached with fullness—but the feast didn’t care. Trays rolled in one after another:sugared tarts, candied nuts, custards laced with cinnamon, and a tower of spun sugar that caved the instant Arkin jabbed it with his fork.
Elizabeth squealed. Eli’s laughter boomed across the table. Hands shot in from every side, grabbing, swiping, voices rising in shouts over the last tart, accusations flying as plates emptied faster than they could be defended.
“Gods above,” I said, ducking as a sugared almond flew past my head. “Do you always eat like this?”
“Only when the food is good,” Helena grinned, licking sugar from her fingers. “Which means always. How are we supposed to eat?” She raised an eyebrow at me.
“I… I don’t know. I am an only child, and every royal dinner I have eaten at was quiet with light conversation.”
Almost all of them roared in laughter. I hadn’t thought what I’d said was that funny.
Aeliana leaned toward me, her smile deceptively sweet. “So, Auri, what about your childhood?”
My chest tightened. “I moved around frequently. I grew up with two best friends, who are also twins.”
Eli chimed in, his eyes bright. “Is it true your magic was diminished by your parents?”
I shot Zane a look.
“He didn’t tell me. I heard the rumor around campus. I guess people thought it was interesting that the General gave his daughter the tincture.”
My cheeks flushed hot. “That’s… true.”
The room quieted for a moment, just long enough for the duke’s voice to cut across the table. “How did that feel? You have magic now, though?” His pale eyes fixed on me, not unkind but heavy.
The air thickened. My fork shook slightly in my hand. “I was upset. There was a lot hid—shielded from me. I felt like I needed to catch up on something I should have known. I don’t have my unique ability from Esme yet.”
The Duchess leaned forward, her voice softer. “And do you feel safe with Esme? Truly safe?”
I blinked, startled by the question’s intimacy. “Yes. Including when she is… testing me. Especially then.”
A small, knowing smile touched the Duchess’s lips, and she leaned back again.
Before the silence could stretch, Helena pounced. “All right then, tell us—first crush? Don’t say Zane.”
I nearly choked on my wine. “What?”
The table erupted with laughter again, Elizabeth banging her spoon against the table and chanting, “First crush! First crush!” while Zane groaned beside me, pinching the bridge of his nose.
I buried my face in my hands, half-laughing, half-dying inside. This family would eat me alive.
“Yeah… we’re not going there. I draw that line,” I said.
