Chapter 67 that was awkward
Amara POV
“So.. that was awkward.” Luther jests across from us.
I blink slowly, taking in a deep breath.
“You’re telling me,” Tomas says, grabbing the glass in front of him and placing it to his mouth.
Yeah.. you’re telling me! This is new news to me. Completely unbelievable.
“And why are you just now mentioning this?” I ask, glaring between my father and Tomas.
“Do you really think this would have gone well if your mate wasn’t here with you? You’d have lost it.” He says.
Hmm.. maybe he’s not wrong but still.
Absolutely not cool.
My jaw tightens as I lean back slightly in my chair, crossing my arms.
“You’re right,” I mutter. “I would have.”
Aven lets out a quiet snort beside Luther. “At least you’re honest.”
“I’m always honest,” I shoot back.
Sebastian stays quiet next to me, but I can feel him. That tension sitting just under his skin. Controlled. Watching. Listening.
Always listening.
Tomas sets his glass down with a soft clink. “It wasn’t meant to be hidden from you forever,” he says. “Just.. handled carefully.”
“Carefully,” I repeat flatly.
My gaze flicks toward where my father had been sitting not long ago, now gone like he was never there to begin with.
“By springing it on me in front of everyone?”
Tomas exhales slowly. “My King doesn’t believe in dragging things out. And you were already mated by the time he made up his mind about it. If you weren’t marked he would’ve forced us.”
“Absolutely not!”
Sebastian growls, “Fck that.”
Luther leans forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. “I’ll be honest,” he says, glancing between us, “I think someone is about to die in a second.”
“You aren’t the only one,” Aven adds.
Sebastian finally moves.
Just slightly.
His hand shifts against mine under the table, grounded but firm. A quiet reminder that he’s here. That I’m not dealing with any of this alone.
I squeeze back.
Tomas notices.
Of course he does.
His gaze drops briefly between the two of us before lifting again, something unreadable passing through his expression before it disappears just as quickly.
“I meant what I said,” he adds. “And I wouldn’t have done anything you didn’t want to.”
I study him for a second.
Trying to decide if I believe that.
Trying to decide if it even matters now. He had plenty of time to tell me.
“Good,” I say simply. I’m not really sure what else to say. So I don’t.
Because there isn’t really anything else to say to that.
A quiet settles over the table again, not as heavy as before, but not comfortable either.
Just.. there.
Aven breaks it first, leaning back in her chair. “So,” she says, gesturing lightly with her fork, “besides the whole unexpected marriage proposal situation.. the food is still good.”
Luther huffs out a short laugh. “Yeah. Annoyingly good.”
“I hate that part the most,” she agrees.
Despite everything, a small breath escapes me. Not quite a laugh. But close.
Because they’re not wrong.
It’s strange.
This whole place is.
“I heard Tucker and Lillian are out in the fields helping them gather fruits for dinner,” Aven says, a smile showing on her face.
I wonder who she’s talking about.
“People you met?” I ask.
“These little kids we came across in the dark forest. Don’t worry my queen! We will fill you in on everything.” Luther says, noting the questioning look on my face.
I smile and nod. “Thank you.” Though I am definitely curious to know about these kids they found in the dark forest.
I glance around the dining hall again, taking it in more carefully this time.
The servants move easily. No tension in their shoulders. No fear in their eyes. Just quiet focus. Routine. Normal.
It doesn’t match what this place is supposed to be.
What my father is supposed to be.
Sebastian notices where my attention goes.
Of course he does.
His voice is quieter when he speaks. “You’re thinking about it too.”
I nod slightly. “He wasn’t lying.”
“No,” Sebastian says.
But there’s something else in his tone.
Something that doesn’t fully agree.
Tomas leans back slightly in his chair, following our line of thought without needing it explained.
“My King takes care of his people,” he says. “Better than most rulers.”
Aven raises a brow. “That doesn’t exactly cancel out the whole terrifying vampire king thing.”
“It was never meant to,” Tomas replies calmly.
Silence.
Because again..
He’s not wrong.
I look down at the table for a second before speaking again.
“He’s not cruel without reason,” Tomas says quietly.
Sebastian’s jaw tightens just slightly beside me.
“He still has reasons,” he says.
“And they’re not always good ones,” Aven adds.
“No,” Tomas Agrees. “But they make sense to him.”
Luther leans back, dragging a hand down his face. “Great. So we’re dealing with a powerful, ancient vampire king who thinks he’s justified.”
“Those are usually the worst kind,” Sebastian mutters.
The air shifts again.
I glance at Sebastian, feeling the weight of everything sitting between us again.
“He didn’t do this for nothing,” I say quietly.
Sebastian’s eyes move to me instantly. “No.”
“He wanted us to see it,” I continue.
“The people. The way things run here. Everything.”
Tomas doesn’t interrupt.
Doesn’t deny it.
Which tells me enough.
Sebastian’s expression hardens slightly, but there’s thought behind it now.
Strategy.
“He’s setting something up,” he says.
“Yes,” Tomas answers before I can.
All of us look at him.
He doesn’t hesitate.
“My King does not act without purpose,” he continues. “If he showed you something.. it is because he wants you to understand it.”
Aven tilts her head. “Or be confused by it.”
“Or both,” Luther adds.
I swallow slowly.
Because I can feel it now.
That shift.
That realization is settling in deeper.
“He wants control,” I say.
Sebastian’s grip tightens.
“Yeah,” he agrees quietly. “More than that..”
I’m about to say something more when I feel a slight burning on my neck. Instinctively, my hand reaches up to find the ruby, burning hot like a coal.
“Wow, this thing is really burning me.” I say, huffing in annoyance as I adjust the searing pendant.
“Can you take it off?” Sebastian asks.
Tomas instantly interjects, “under no circumstances should she remove it while it’s trying to bond with her. It could kill her if it’s connected to her soul just enough.”
Sebastian pales. “I made you take it off that one night.. you could’ve..”