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That sounded more dangerous.

The boy immediately took off around the opposite side of the table again.

“Case made.”

A smaller child sat on the floor nearby, maybe two, with lighter gray skin and a mess of dark curls. She had been watching me quietly through the entire exchange.

When I looked at her, she smiled.

Huge. Whole face.

I smiled back.

She giggled.

Ryleigh straightened from the table with obvious care, one hand braced against its edge.

She was extremely pregnant. Not a little. There was no polite way to describe it. Unless I was wrong, she was carrying more than one.

The boy stopped mid-lap around the table and looked straight at me. “Might be right. Happened more than once before.”

I just stared at him. Then at Ryleigh. “Did he—did I⁠—”

“He absolutely read your mind.” She turned to the boy. “I told you that was rude. Uninvited, it’s rude.”

He frowned, and then he was off around the table again.

She sighed. “That is one hundred percent Anik. Sorry.” Her free hand slid under her belly as she shifted her weight. “I’m Ryleigh.”

“I know.”

I smiled. “Yeah, I figured.”

A household attendant appeared at the far doorway and crouched slightly by the little girl. “Come.”

The little girl immediately climbed to her feet and toddled toward her.

The boy slowed.

“Papa?”

“We will have supper later with your father,” Ryleigh said.

He looked toward the hall, then back at her. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but the attendant held out a hand and he finally went.

The little girl turned before leaving and waved at me.

I waved back.

She smiled again and disappeared after her brother.

The room settled into silence.

Ryleigh exhaled. “That is the quietest it has been since breakfast.”

“I believe you.”

She gestured toward the table. “Sit.”