Sebastian turned slowly. Unbothered. A faint tick at the corner of his mouth, amused by the interruption.
“Relax, Gideon,” he said. “Just making conversation.”
“Find someone else.”
“Easy, brother.” A few feet away, Alex let out a low, knowing laugh. “She’s got a brain. You’ll lose her to someone more entertaining soon enough.”
Gideon didn’t take the bait. Didn’t even look his way.
His focus stayed on Sebastian. Gaze steady. Jaw set.
“Stay in your lane.”
The words didn’t rise.
They dropped.
Sebastian held his gaze a half-second longer, then turned back to his drink.
“You might want to remind her,” he said, dragging the words enough to twist them, “that being interesting in this family? That kind of attention can go sideways fast.”
His fingertip slowly traced the rim of his glass.
A warning disguised as small talk.
Gideon didn’t flinch.
Sebastian stepped back with the same unbothered grace he’d entered.
A storm in designer linen, leaving behind the echo of something that hadn’t finished brewing.
Arden exhaled slowly, only then noticing the tightness in her chest.
Beside her, Gideon said nothing. But the quiet between them was thick, the kind of silence that didn’t need volume to leave a mark.
The tension didn’t let up, but buried itself deeper.
The moment didn’t end.
It simply waited.
Evelyn lifted her wineglass,the crystal catching the light with intentional brilliance—a quiet assertion of control, as effortlessas it was absolute.
The moment stretched, tight with expectation, as Gideon felt her focus settle. Unforgiving.
The blade always came next.
“Tonight,” she said, voice smooth as silk drawn taut, “is a reminder of what it means to carry this name. Success isn’t a privilege. It’s a requirement. And each of us has a role in ensuring it continues.”
Her gaze moved slowly down the table, sharp and unhurried.
A sovereign taking inventory of her court.
Miriam nodded, untouched as ever.
Grace smiled, hands folded like a diplomat expecting applause.
Tori sat a touch straighter, her pale-blue eyes flicking toward Evelyn with quiet hunger.
