“Ah, look at us. All together. Do you know how long I’ve wanted this?”
Creed’s fist bashes against the table and he shrugs my hand off his shoulder.
“You’ve locked us in a damn cage.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. This isn’t a cage. It’s a lovely living space created just for all of you.”
“So you plan on keeping us in here for another day?” I ask.
“Kyzen, my sweet boy.” I lean out of the way as she reaches out to pinch my fucking cheek. Her hand flinches for a moment before she pulls it back. “Yes, I do. And as I said, your father will be joining us tomorrow. I’m so very excited. I can’t wait to have my family back together again.”
“You say again as if we were ever a family,” Amick says, and her fork falters before it reaches her mouth. “We will not be staying another day. We will be leaving and we will see you at our hearing tomorrow.”
She huffs dismissively, humming and closing her eyes as she takes a bite of food.
We sit silently, staring at her as she chews at least thirty times, swallows, takes a sip of drink, pats her fucking lips, then smiles at us.
“Do you really think I would go through the trouble of creation just to let you grow into men wholeave me? Don’t be silly and stop fighting me on this. What’s done is done. There will be no hearing. You won’t be getting out of the agreement. You’ll spend your days here with me.”
My unease sinks to a whole other level deep in my gut. My gaze meets Amick’s and the multiple reasons for his disappointment stare back at me.
Everything he’s worked toward just…gone.
Ripped right from under him with a chuckle and a wave of a hand.
“Amick,” I call as he rises from the table and marches toward that overcrowded fucking room of his.
“Oh, let him be. I’m sure he needs some silence and time alone. He’s always appreciated a dark, quiet space.”
My head slowly pivots back to her.
“Are you serious right now?” She bats her lashes at me. “You don’t know the first thing about us, and we don’t want to be here. I don’t know what kind of relationship you’re trying to force on us, but this isn’t the way to do it.”
“You keep saying ‘we’ like you belong to each other more than you belong to me. That’s so adorable. It pleases a mother to see her children get along so well.”
Riven tosses his head back, giggling. His napkin lands in his plate as he pushes away from the table.
“I can’t. I seriously can’t. This is too much even for me.”
My gaze follows him and his chuckle as he marches to his room, then slams the door behind him.
Creed grunts, and I fucking plead with my eyes for him not to leave as well. If we all stomp off, she’ll keep coming. Or worse, she’ll trap me here with her alone somehow.
“Kyzen, my darling boy.”
I grit my teeth and turn my attention from Creed.
“I need a favor from you.”
“What’s that?”
“Have a conversation with your brothers for me. They are beginning to hurt my feelings and test my patience. Please remind them, I am the being who decided they should exist.”
I don’t miss the warning in her tone. It rings loud and clear. Creed stiffens beside me, and I force a soft smile to my face.
Breathe.
Do what you do best.
