Constantine furrowed his brows and smirked as his gaze shifted from her to Damien.
“How chivalrous of you, Ravenshaw,” Constantine stated. “Here I was fearing for my wife’s whereabouts when you knew where she was all along.”
Elara gritted her teeth and glared at Constantine. She had thought that their stay in the cottage had created an understanding between them. She had been wrong. He was still a cad.
“What are you implying?” she demanded.
“I would be careful how you answer, Ashworth,” Damien warned, staring challengingly into Constantine’s eyes. “Elara is like family to me, and I will tolerate no disrespect to her name.”
“Oh, of course not,” Constantine scoffed. “We must not create further ruin to the Mason name, should we? Not after all Evander has already done.”
“Watch your mouth, Ashworth.”
“Or what? Are you threatening me in my own home, Ravenshaw? Though you know what they say. Show me your friends and—”
“That is enough!” Elara snapped.
Damien’s eyes drew to her, his usual stony look firmly back on his face.
“I am taking my leave, Elara,” he stated coldly. “But if you wish, I will escort you to Caroline’s or your brother’s for the evening. I understand why you would not want to sleep in a place where you are so clearly disrespected.”
Elara opened her mouth to speak, but it was Constantine’s voice that filled the room.
“You will watch yourself,” he warned. “You do not know the relationship between my wife and me, and I fear you make too many assumptions.”
“Perhaps,” Damien admitted, giving Constantine a steely look. “However, I know that I would never make such insinuations about my wife.”
“Your wife?” Constantine asked with a bitter chuckle. “What wife? Oh, yes, that is right. You have yet to obtain one. Anysensible woman would steer clear of you.”
A feral sound rose from Damien’s chest as he took a challenging step toward Constantine, and as if they were two beasts ready to brawl, Constantine followed by taking a step toward him.
“I said, enough!” Elara yelled, pushing between them. She put a hand on both their chests and thumped, making them both take a step back from one another.
“This is ridiculous, and I demand you both stop at once,” she stated, then turned to Damien. “Damien, I appreciate your kindness and your conversation, but you may go. I assure you that I am fine here.”
Damien glared at Constantine another moment before he shifted his gaze down to Elara. At once, the hardness in his eyes was replaced by concern.
“Are you certain, Elara? Adrian would never forgive me if I did not make sure you were safe.”
Elara rolled her eyes as she clucked her tongue.
“I am perfectly safe,” she insisted. “And I would appreciate it greatly if you do not speak a word of this to Adrian.”
Damien looked at her for another long moment, as if trying to discern if she was being truthful or not. When her imploring look shifted into one of annoyance, he gave her a single nod.
“Very well, then,” he gritted out. “I shall speak to you soon.”
“Feel free to call whenever you want,” Elara sighed.
They quickly hugged and said nothing to Constantine, while Damien hurried past him and left the room.
“Lovely visit, Ravenshaw,” Constantine called after him. “Let us do it again soon!”
Elara let out a sound of frustration as she thumped her hand against Constantine’s hard chest.
“Would you desist? That was utterly in poor taste and downright embarrassing! What has come over you?” she demanded.
Constantine’s brows flew up as he pointed a finger into his own chest.
