The veiling that she had longed for was present when she was with Philip. Though there was a crowd in the breakfast room, when Antonia placed her hand on Philip’s arm and looked at Simon, she felt only his emotions and everyone else faded. That is when she experienced the truth. The teasing, humor, and yes, worry and concern. Philip’s brother held no animosity toward her but was goading his brother. She did not know why because she could not read minds, thank goodness, but she could read emotions.
“She is an empath, Simon,” Philip announced. “Did mother not tell you?”
“How much do you see or feel?” he asked with concern.
Philip grinned down at her. “Do not tell him. Let him worry about what you may or may not know.”
That was not very nice of him, but Philip was only asking this to torture his brother in a manner she believed most brothers would, and not meant to be harmful or malicious.
“She also sees auras, Simon. There is very little you can hide from Lady Antonia.” Philip chuckled and returned to his seat.
This was all very strange but relaxing in a way she’d not experienced of late.
Antonia crossed to the sideboard and began to fill a plate, famished for the first time in days and the only reason she could think of was because she had gotten real rest and because there was no tension in the breakfast room. There was underlying concern that had accompanied everyone since all this began but it was settled.
She could only assume that it was because Philip would not fully become a wolf and need to live out his days as such. But they did not realize that a daily change, no matter how short, would be difficult for him.
Conversation continued around the table as she took the only empty seat available, which was beside Philip. They were a family and loved one another. She was an only child and had never experienced such. Antonia drew on that caring, that love and let it fill her and it helped calm some of her concern, just as touching Philip usually did.
When she finished eating and pushed her plate aside and sipped her tea, silence fell about the table, and they all looked at Antonia.
“Why is everyone staring?” she asked.
“No reason, dear,” Lady St. Alban announced as she stood.
The others did as well, and slowly they followed her out of the breakfast room until only Antonia and Philip remained.
“Why were they staring at me?”
“They had asked when you would like to begin on the vault again.”
Antonia frowned. “I had not heard the question.”
How could she have not heard, understood, and felt everything.
“I really do block the noise for you.”
“Yes, but I should have heard a question, or at least felt it.”
Philip placed a hand over hers and that is when she realized that she had placed hers on the sleeve of his arm. Her face heated. “What must they think of me?”
“Nothing so drastic that you need to worry.”
“How can you say that? They must think I am terribly forward.” Her panic rose further. “What if they learn…” she glanced around and then leaned closer to him. “That we…you know…”
“Slept together,” he grinned.
“Shush.”
“Antonia, you are worrying for nothing. They are simply here to help, and you will find the lot of them in the vault.”
“Everyone?” that was too many people, too many emotions, in a vault no matter the size.
“They’ve been instructed that if their emotions become too strong that they are to leave.”
“This is your family, your uncle’s home, nobody should guard themselves or leave.”
“Does that mean you are willing to stay away from the vault while they search?”
