Benji’s eyes widened as he glanced to me desperately. I stroked the back of his hand in soothing circles.
“So you’ll leave Benji alone,” I said.
“As long as you are intimate, and finish mating within the week,” Margaret countered. “Then yes, I won’t harm him.”
“Within the week?”
She glared intensely, making it clear it was not up for debate. “Yes.”
I had to keep Benji safe. I looked at him, searching his face. He nodded. As his eyes met mine, they glittered with determination and never looked away. Benji had made up his mind, and therefore, so had I.
“Yes,” I told Margaret. “It will be done.”
Surprise flashed across her face, but she quickly kept it in check. “Hmm. We’ll see by week’s end if you uphold your word or not.” She finally tore her fiery gaze off us and set it on my brothers. “As for the two of you, you would do well to follow Pierce’s example. He’s not the only alpha vampire in this household.”
Adriel averted his gaze, and Theo slumped in his seat. Neither of them were stupid enough to argue.
“Are we free to leave?” I asked Margaret thinly.
She held my gaze like a lion staring down its prey, then said, “Yes.”
I wasn’t going to waste any more time in this stuffy, tense dining hall. I took Benji by the hand. He quickly stood, obviously eager to get away.
“Wait.”
Margaret’s voice made me flinch.
“What is it, mother?” I asked.
She pointed her frail, pointy finger at the two of us. “You will bathe together. Tonight.”
I held my tongue and failed to comment that it was an oddly specific command. “Alright.”
“And Theo will be there to oversee it.”
Theo nearly choked on his blood wine. “Me?”
“Yes,” Margaret hissed, staring at him. He shrank under her burning gaze. “I’m sending Adriel out tonight to collect blood, so you will be the one to supervise Pierce and the human. Are my orders understood, my dear?”
Theo hesitantly glanced at me, obviously wishing he was back in his room playing video games or something similar -anythingbut this. I felt sympathy for him. This wasn’t his fault, and he didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess.
“Theodore?” Margaret pressed in a sweet voice.
“Yes, mother,” he finally said. “I’ll do it.”
“There’s my good lad,” she said with a smile. It quickly faded when she addressed me. “Now, go. If Theodore doesn’t report that you and the human are truly intimate, then he will be gone by morning. I can guarantee it.”
Sated with her commands, she rose from her seat. But her knees failed. With a shriek, she collapsed. In a black and white blur, Adriel rushed to her side, faster than any human could move. He caught her before she could fall down gracelessly - something that would have appalled her, but especially in front of Benji. She would die before she looked weak in front of a human.
As if to drive this home, she shot one last nasty glare at Benji before Adriel escorted her away.
The three of us that remained in the hall let out a collective sigh.
“I take it your mom doesn’t really like me?” Benji mumbled.
I offered him a thin, sympathetic smile. “Trust me, she’s not very fond of anyone. Except maybe Theodore. And Adriel.” I put a finger on my lips. “Come to think of it, all the evidence points to the fact thatI’mher least favorite child.”
Benji smiled back, warming my heart. He was finally getting comfortable with this situation, and then Margaret had to go and set it all back. But I wouldn’t let her.
