“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Beck.”
She sniffed, still eyeing him like something she found stuck on the bottom of her shoe.
“I’m shocked at you, Junie, bringing a random date to afamilyreunion. This is forfamily.”
Daphne cleared her throat from the kitchen. Derek leaned against the counter beside her, looking far too comfortable in this house for someone who refused to visit my grandmother when we were married.
“I mean, I can understand if she feels insecure and needs to bring someone.” Daphne flipped her hair over her shoulder and put on her best sympathetic expression.
“You brought Derek,” I muttered.
“Oh, Derekisfamily,” my mother said. “Though frankly, it’s uncouth of you to be dating so soon. You’ve only been single for what, a month?”
Caspian’s hand tightened on my waist, bolstering me. I should keep my mouth shut, but that was beyond ridiculous.
“Are you serious? My ex-husband is right there with my sister. How is that okay?”
My mother huffed. “Don’t be dramatic, Junie.”
Daphne pressed a hand to her chest. “We’ve known eachother for a long time. I thought you’d be happy for us.”
My vision went red as I glared at my mother. “You knew, didn’t you?”
“Junie, we are just concerned for you,” Daphne said sweetly.
“A normal person would be happy for their sister and the man they said they cared about. Why would you lash out like this? It’s so hurtful.” My mother sounded so forlorn, I couldn’t help the guilt starting to build.
“If you need to talk to someone, we can make arrangements. But if you’re hiring an escort to try and fool everyone, it’s not working. You just seem sad,” Daphne said.
An escort? A harsh, ugly laugh burst from me. If they only knew.
Derek moved in, his face a picture of loving concern. “Junebug, I know it was hard when I left, but I really thought it would be better for both of us. I’m sorry I hurt you, but acting like this isn’t the way to handle it. Finding whatever man you can and running around with a stranger…You’re going to end up ruined. No one will want a thirty-five-year-old slut.”
“Watch how you talk to my wife,” Caspian growled, pulling me behind him as he blocked Derek.
A shrill silence filled the room.
“Your what?” my mother asked.
Daphne let out an incredulous laugh that grated on my eardrums.
Caspian’s voice was lethal. “I won’t let you treat my beautiful wife like this. She’s been through enough having to put up with your shit this long.”
“Junie, what did you do?” my mother shrieked.
“You can’t be serious,” Derek said with a laugh.
“Very serious. We are leaving, and youwill notreach out to her. She will let you know when or if she’s willing to hear an apology.” Caspian bared his teeth. If they had any doubt he wasn’t human, the blunt fangs of a selkie were on full display.
“Oh, my,” my mother said.
Derek raised his hand as if he was going to use his magic to defend against Caspian. The idea was laughable. Derek’s wind magic was so weak, he could barely create a breeze. It would do nothing against an angry selkie hellbent on defending his wife’s honor.
Caspian took a step toward Derek.
“What is going on in here? Why does everyone look so upset?” my grandmother said, hobbling through the back door. “Daphne, come help me, and bring that useless fuckwit with you.”
“Ma!” my mother yelped.
