The words hit me like a slap, the sting sharp and immediate. My heart races, pounding in my chest so hard I can feel it in my throat. Heat floods my face, but I force myself to stand still, to not fidget under Kassandra’s icy gaze. Her words swirl around me, each one cutting deeper than the last. I’m not just hearing them, I’mfeelingthem.
My gaze shifts to Madeline, taking in the elegant lines of her neck, her delicate features, and assured confidence. Everything about her screams regal.
She is a queen, and I am…not.
The room seems to close in, the air suddenly thick and suffocating. My hands tremble slightly, and I clench them into fists at my sides, digging my nails into my palms to ground myself. I won’t give her the satisfaction of seeing how much her words shake me.
I push my shoulders back, straightening my spine, even as my stomach twists into knots. I meet Kassandra’s gaze head-on, refusing to flinch, refusing to let her see the fear coursing through me. When my voice comes, it’s steady, stronger than I feel.
“And I mean no offense when I say this,” I drawl, feigning confidence. “You have no idea who I am or what I'm capable of. I may not understand what I'm doing here, but I can assure you, I am anything but weak.”
The words hang in the air, and for a moment the room is silent. Robert’s face breaks into a grin, and he shoots Daniel an impressed look before leaning across the table, fist bumping him. The sound of their laughter, the easy camaraderie, takes me by surprise. A snort escapes me before I can stop it, the tension in the room easing just slightly. But inside, the panic stillsimmers, lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for a moment when I’m alone to consume me.
But not now. Not in front of these people.
“That’s my baby,” Hunter whispers, kissing beneath my ear. I shiver, and his rasping chuckle sends shivers down my spine. “So fucking brave.”
My lips lift, but my smile quickly disappears as Steve leans back in his chair and lifts a brow.
“If you’re done spouting nonsensical bullshit, Kassie, I’d like to continue, please.” He gives her a droll look before turning back to me. “Le Milieudirectly translates to the French—”
“Steve—” Madeline hisses, cutting him off. Suddenly, everyone’s eyes turn to her.A queen, indeed.“Maybe this isn’t the time for Skye to hear all of this.”
“Enough, Maddie!” Steve snaps, causing a few gasps to ring out around the table.
Madeline jolts back in her chair, and Robert smoothes a hand down her arm. Clearly, she’s not used to being denied things. Something in me preens at the idea of my absent mother being put in her place. The rest of me is just confused.
“What do you mean,enough?” she asks sharply, confirming my suspicion.
Steve shoots a look at an elderly gentleman to his left, who gives a subtle nod in agreement. They both turn to me, and this time, it’s the older man who speaks, his notable French accent sending shivers of familiarity down my spine.
“With all due respect, Madeline, the time has come to lift the veil of secrecy that shrouds the family. I understand the trepidation, especially with young Skylar having been gone for so long, but the fact of the matter is she is home now, and that changes everything.”
The shivers spread across my body at his declaration, and it only gets worse when a round of “hear, hear” echoes around the spacious room.
Madeline flicks her gaze toward the ceiling and breathes slowly, as if she’s trying to compose herself. I just don’t understand why. Is she nervous? Angry? Does she not want me back? Earlier in her office, she seemed caught off guard and stressed, irritated, even. But just a few moments ago, she’d embraced me with tears in her eyes as she welcomed me home.
As much as I’d like to fault her for throwing me through the ringer, I can’t really blame her. I’m an emotional dumpster fire most days, and today is no exception. Maybe it’s a family trait.
“Okay,” she murmurs. “I know, it’s just—” she breaks off, turning her full attention to me.
Leaning forward, she reaches a hand out, palm up, in offering. I bite my lip and place my free hand in hers, refusing to let go of my grip, my lifeline, on Hunter.
“I know it’s time. Just promise me one thing,” she murmurs.
My eyes burn as an ugly mixture of emotions swirls within me. I want to rage and scream, demand she stop beating around the bush while holding shit over my head. I want to yell at her, tell her she has no right to demand any promises of me. But the rest of me wants to climb into her lap and ask her to sing to me the way she used to when I was a child, to remind me of what it feels like to be irrevocably loved.
I do none of those things. Instead, I bite my lip to keep the words trapped inside and give her a single, firm nod.
“Don’t hate me,” she whispers, her voice catching. She swallows roughly, her gaze sliding around the room before flicking back to me. “I did my best to protect you the only way I knew how.”
“She’ll understand, sweetheart,” Robert says softly. Hunter scoffs and I tense, preparing to intervene if Robert gets wildwith my man. Instead, Madeline’s husband simply smiles softly at me. “And if you can’t fully understand the decisions that have been made on your behalf, hopefully you can at least find it in your heart to forgive.”
“Eventually,” Madeline chokes out, then clears her throat and squeezes my hand. “I’m not sure where to start—”
“The beginning would be nice,” Hunter says coolly. I flinch and he smooths his thumb over my palm, catching my attention. “I know you want to know where they are, baby, but I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt.” He leans in to press a kiss to my jaw that makes my cheeks burn, all too aware of our audience before loudly saying, “for now.”
With a slow breath, I turn back to Madeline.
