“Now we’re getting somewhere,” she replied and stepped towards me, into my personal space. She was as tall as Selene, maybe even an inch or two taller, and I didn’t like the way she looked down at me.
“A taste,” she finally said, licking her lips.
I stepped back, shocked, aghast. I opened my mouth to reply but no words came to me.
“Adamantia!” Selene hissed from behind me, and I jumped when her hand landed on my shoulder.
“I am no longer a child, and these immature games no longer interest me.”
“Selene, you’ve grown to be quite beautiful. How long has it been? Five—no, six years?” Adamantia replied, taking a step away from me.
“You were absent from Mother’s funeral,” Selene responded—a swift change in topic—and I looked up to see her perfect eyebrows frowning deeply.
Adamantia’s face fell in what looked to be genuine upset. “I was too aggrieved to travel. I lost both my siblings,” she answered.
Selene’s jaw clenched. What was she thinking, feeling? I wish I knew, and I felt a slight simmer of annoyance with her. If she weren’t actively blocking our bond, I would know how she felt in this moment. I would be able to smooth those frown lines. She was confronted by her mother’s sister, and the memory of the loss of her mother—her mother whom she rarely spoke of.
Selene pulled me back to her side by my shoulder, and her arm moved to wrap around my waist and pull me in.
“This is my pet, and partner, Percy of House Flores,” Selene introduced me. “Pet, this is Adamantia, my aunt on my mother’s side,” she continued.
“We’ve met already,” Adamantia said, grinning, “But formal introductions are proper,” she said and bowed her head to me. “It’s nice to meet you again.” She smiled.
“And you,” I grumbled. What was even happening? Did Selene not hear her say she wanted to take a bite of me? Where was my overprotective vampire?
“Manners,” Selene warned. I turned to look at her again, was she serious? The look she gave me in return said that she was most definitely serious. I turned back to Adamantia.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Lady Adamantia,” I said, and tried my best not to sound petulant.
“My Selene, you have a fire starter here,” Adamantia said excitedly, turning her attention back to Selene. “And partner, as in your intended?” she asked. Intended?
Selene smiled softly and looked almost…shy? Had the world turned upside down? Was I dreaming? Had I in some way upset Morpheus?
“Yes, and you cannot have a taste,” Selene answered. So she had been paying attention. How long was she aware that her aunt was harassing me before she intervened? It dawned on me that perhaps Adamantia’s quip to take a bite of me was more for Selene’s benefit than mine; she knew Selene was observing us. How far was Selene willing to let her aunt go? How far was the other woman willing to go?
Before the previous day, I had thought that Selene would never put me in harm’s way, but after the rooftop incident with the Academy guards, I wasn’t sure anymore. She had promised that she had no choice, explained why she felt like there was no other way, and I trusted Selene—I did, but doubt lingered. I consciously chose to ignore the feeling; it was too emotionally draining, and we had already moved past it.
“What a great loss, she smells divine,” Adamantia replied easily, smiling softly in return. “I would watch her closely, Selene. You have such a breakable treasure.”
“I am aware,” Selene answered.
“Are we to expect you two at dinner? You skipped breakfast,” Adamantia asked. Who was “we”?
“We had breakfast in our chambers,” Selene said.
“Oh, I’m sure you did,” Adamantia laughed. I leaned closer into Selene, wishing to hide from the way Adamantia’s gaze travelled to me.
“You’re making her uncomfortable,” Selene said and pulled me tighter to her.
“I know. It is so enjoyable. Sasha will love her.”
“Sasha is Adamantia’s wife,” Selene explained. I looked to her, surprised; she didn’t strike me as the type to have a wife, or any long-term partner.
“She can be read like a book. However cute, it is an issue,” Adamantia commented, speaking like I wasn’t there. Selene only hummed in acknowledgement.
“We will be at dinner. I trust you have had your fun and will refrain from teasing my pet.”
“I can make no promises. Out of all the kids, you were always the one causing trouble, but this, this will create uproar. I’m excited to see how you handle it, niece.” Adamantia stepped forward and kissed Selene’s cheek. Selene embraced her aunt in a one arm hug, kissing her cheek in return.
