Chapter 10

One month later …

“Thank you, sister dear,” Evelyn chirped sincerely after Eden handed her the plate of biscuits. They were the only two currently at the breakfast table, having been the last in the family to come down for the morning meal.

“What’s gotten into you?” Eden accused, disturbed by her sister’s sudden bout of pleasantness. It was the second agreeable thing she’d said in as many minutes. Evelyn was not a morning person.

“What? I say thank you all the time.”

“Yes, but you rarely mean it. Even rarer is your lack of sarcasm. So I’ll ask again, what’s gotten into you?”

Evelyn’s face split into an enormous grin. She was powerless to stop it. She’d risen from bed full of anticipation for the coming night. This was the night she’d meet Marrok in her dreamworld. She hoped he’d made progress and she was closer to being with him in the waking world.

“Nothing. I’m content today.”

“Sure you are.”

Evelyn rolled her eyes. “Stop. I’m capable of playing nice. Don’t make me feel bad about it.”

Eden’s astute intellect wouldn’t let her drop it. “Something’s going on with you.”

Evelyn studiously buttered her biscuit then crammed it into her mouth. She couldn’t speak if her mouth was full.

“Manners, Evie.”

Evelyn sneered at her sister and continued chewing. She took a swig of water to wash it down, tempted to shove another down her gullet just to avoid talking to Eden. She wasn’t ready to divulge the details of her dreams, not until she knew Marrok was ready to talk to her father.

“Maybe I’m looking forward to sparring today.”

It was the truth. Since the blood exchange, she’d felt stronger. Physically, as well as magically. She hadn’t felt exerted once these past few weeks during their hand-to-hand exercises. She was by no means as strong as Marrok or any other male warrior, but she was starting to hold her own for longer.

Eden eyed Evelyn, a sly grin spreading. “Is it because you-know-who is sparring with us today?”

Evelyn pursed her lips. “Who is you-know-who?”

“Come now, don’t play coy. You know today some of the male soldiers are grappling with us.”

Evelyn wiped her hands on her napkin and threw it on her plate. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“Sure you don’t.”

“Seriously, Eden. Why are you nettling me?”

“Because it’s working.”

“What?”

“Now you’re acting normal. I don’t like the Sweetie Evie routine.”

“You are so odd,” Evelyn laughed.

“And you think you’re normal?”

Evelyn laughed again. “I’m going to get changed. I’ll see you out there.”

“I’ll make sure Jasper saves you a round.”

Evelyn stopped in her tracks. Slowly, she turned back towards her sister. “Jasper’s sparring today?”