Page 43 of Blades and Bone

It was the cakes that were made in the main kitchen. Chocolate cake, pecan pie, and a salted caramel brownie that Brodie considered his favorite should’ve been safe; instead, they had somehow been loaded with vitamin C. It wouldn’t hurt any humans who ate it, so it wasn’t as though he could call the cops and report that someone had tampered with the food.

He would never trust the salted caramel brownie again.

He wasn’t sure what to do about Hamish either. On one hand, Hamish had acted in the best interests of everyone while not knowing who to trust, but on the other hand, it was clear his loyalty still lay with his old family.

Although, perhaps after today’s feeding, that would no longer be the case. When he returned with his list of items that everyone had eaten, he’d lost some of the bounce from his step and the energy that seemed to surround him and draw people to him. Brodie didn’t want to see him crushed until he was broken and gray and colorless, but Hamish needed to learn when to listen and obey, and when he could push back. If he didn’t and he continued to cause problems, Brodie might not be able to protect him, and Vivian would cut him off.

And he doubted Hamish would last long as an unaffiliated vampire. He let the others leave the meeting room, expecting them to eat…possibly the real plumber who’d been sent up to an imagined fault in Elizabeth’s bathroom.

No doubt she was now feeling better after some fresh blood.

Hamish sat next to him, gaze on the table, leg bouncing as if he couldn’t contain his nerves.

Brodie didn’t need to listen to his heart to understand how he was feeling. Was he anticipating a punishment and wondering if it would be like last night? That would be too easy and too reassuring. “Thank you for compiling the list and sorting out which foods are suspect.”

“What else was I supposed to do?” He winced as if realizing the opening the moment the words left his mouth.

“Tell me.”

Hamish turned to face him. “You may have been responsible.”

“And? If I was, why does that matter? You are my husband and an Ashby, if not by birth then by oath. Or does that mean nothing to you? You disregarded Ann’s orders⁠—”

“I was on the ground. I had been watching the house for days, and Garrick loves Trent. I wasn’t going to leave him to be tortured and killed. Not only that, we had a man on the inside who Ann was going to leave. She made the wrong call. I will stand on that.” There was a glint in his eyes and a snarl on his tongue.

“I’m not asking you why—Garrick told me as much already. I want you to think about what happens if everyone makes their own judgement calls and ignores the matriarch.”

Hamish’s jaw clenched. “I followed Garrick. I trusted his judgement, and he is Ann’s most trusted son.”

Brodie shook his head. “Is he still? Or does he need to re-prove his place? I have no doubt that had you acted up yesterday, you’d have been killed, and Garrick would’ve been traded.” He would not have had as much fun with Garrick. “I’m glad that didn’t happen, but if you continue to go on unsanctioned quests, you will end up dead or unaffiliated. Keep your bratting to the bedroom.”

Hamish frowned. “Bratting?”

Brodie lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t even know what you’re doing.”

“Apparently getting into trouble for breathing wrong.”

“That’s not it. You like to defy authority for attention, and maybe to test if people like you. It’s cute in the bedroom…I like it.”

“You like dishing out punishment.”

Brodie smiled. “Also that. I am formally asking you to keep your defiance to when we are in private. The next time I will let Vivian deal with you, and her moods are…very changeable at the moment as she will do anything to protect her child. She owes you nothing, and if she tells Ann that you made a mess,” the word got the desired intake of breath from Hamish. “I doubt much will happen. Do you understand?”

“I do. I’m sorry for not telling you?” He watched Brodie as if he wasn’t sure about using the word sorry.

It was not a great safe word.

“I don’t know that you are. You are sorry you got caught and made a bigger mess.”

Hamish exhaled and gave a single nod, as if realizing that it was better to admit his error.

“Okay, progress. You will make up for it tonight. For the moment, we are going to find your bodyguard, and then you will remain glued to my side for the rest of the day as we go to the kitchen.”

“Fine,” Hamish sullenly agreed.

Brodie considered his errant husband for several seconds. He thought about demanding a more enthusiastic response, but figured he’d won the battle and didn’t need to push harder for a few more inches of territory.

He sent Vivian a text letting her know that he was going to deal with the kitchen and that Hamish was with him. The first thing they did was return the shirt to the guard at the back gate, and Hamish used a little ensorcellment to encourage him to do his job instead of watching movies. He did it so easily, his eyes gleaming like sunlight on the ocean for a heartbeat. It was a skill Brodie needed to improve.