Page 48 of Ruined Wolfsbane

“Wait up, pretty girl!” Bastian calls as I reach the stairs. Stopping at the top of the staircase, I pause so he can catch up with me. I have zero clue where we’re eating dinner. It’s either waiting for him, or I can wander aimlessly in this small city they’re trying to pass off as a house.

“Shit, you walk superfast for having short legs.” Bastian slings an arm around my shoulders as he reaches me. He steers me down the stairs, and we take a right when we reach the bottom. I should push off his arm, but I don’t. I like it too much.

“I do not have short legs!” I’m half offended and half baffled at being called short. “I’m four inches taller than average for a girl.” When I towered over the other girls and some of the boys my age, it was hard for anyone to call me short. Freakishly tall? Yep. But short? Nope, I can’t say that’s been tossed my way.

“Yeah, but you’re still short compared to us.” Bastian grins at my exasperation. I shake my head at him and look down to hide my smile. He knows how to lighten the mood in pretty much any situation.

We slow down as we reach a wall with multiple sets of double doors. With his free hand, Bastian shoves open a large, intricately carved walnut door that reveals a formal dining room. My eyes widen as I take in the cream paneled walls and burnished dark wood floors. The ceiling is dotted with gold-brushed medallions that have glittering chandeliers hanging from them. An antique oak table large enough to seat at least twenty dominates the space.

The formal dining room is tasteful and absolutely beautiful. Patrick should really hire whoever designed this place to transform his God-awful house into something nice. It’d do wonders for the tomb vibe his house has.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see Malachi and Xander having a hushed conversation a few paces behind us. I strain to hear what they’re saying, but they’re talking too softly.

Malachi notices me looking and says something to Xander before striding toward me. He brushes past me and heads to a chair near the far side of the table. Pulling it out, he orders, “Sit.”

Usually, I’d just roll my eyes at Malachi ordering me around. Tonight, it grates on my nerves. I’m not an obedient little soldier he can command to do his bidding without question. I’m not anyone’s to command. I’m my own person.

Giving him a sweet smile, I walk toward him. Reaching the chair he pulled out for me, I continue going around it until I get to the other side of the table. I sit across from him with the saccharine smile still on my face. Malachi releases a low growl at my defiance, his eyes narrowing on me as he clenches his jaw. My smile grows into a genuine one.

Bastian barks out a laugh. He jogs over to me and takes the seat to my right before Malachi or Xander can. “Is there something wrong, brother dearest?” Bastian asks with a shit-eating grin.

“No,” Malachi rumbles. His sapphire eyes are fixed on me, promising retribution for my stunt. With the mood I’m in, I’d welcome a fight with him. I’d rather feel anger than the crushing hopelessness that’s trying to swallow me whole.

Finally telling someone about Patrick feels like the beginning of the end. Not for him but for me. My bruises and broken bones pulse in phantom pain at the thought of the vicious beating I’ll get when Patrick finds out I told someone. And he will find out. If he found out about Ronan and Rory, I have no doubt he’ll find out about this.

Archibald walks through the door to my right, ripping me out of my spiraling thoughts. I notice Malachi’s opposite me and Xander’s across from Bastian.

Walking over to my left side, Archibald stops next to me. “Before we begin dinner, I would like to know your favorite and least favorite foods, madam. I like to tailor meals to every participant.”

“You can just call me Briar, Archibald.” I start thinking over my preferences.

“I will as soon as you call me Archie, madam.”

“Deal,” I respond with a smile. “My favorite foods would probably be lobster, white pizza, and anything made with chocolate.” If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, it would hardcore be chocolate. Death by chocolate would definitely be my preferred way to go.

“All good choices,” Archie says with a serious nod.

“For least favorites, I’d have to go with rosemary and grapefruit. They should call it demon fruit, not trick you into thinking it tastes like grapes.” I shudder at the thought of the bitter citrus.

“I quite agree, Miss Briar. Dinner will be out shortly,” Archie informs us. With a dip of his head, he strides back the way he came.

“Lobster, huh?” Bastian playfully nudges my shoulder. He’s careful to be mindful of my bruising. “You have some high-class tastes.”

“Yeah,” I croak. “I grew up on the East Coast, so lobster was a staple in the summer.” A lump forms in my throat at his teasing. We had lobster all the time, especially when it was hot out. It’s my mom’s favorite food, so I feel closer to her whenever I have it.

Bastian frowns at my pained expression. I’m saved from any further discussion by four uniformed household staff bringing us our first course. After five delicious courses, I’m so full I feel like I’m going to explode. I wish I were wearing pants that I could unbutton instead of my uniform skirt.

“Everyone done?” Malachi asks the table as the staff clears our dessert plates.

I nod along with the twins. Bastian offers me his hand to help me up. Smiling softly at his thoughtful gesture, I gratefully take his hand. He helps me get out of my chair with minimal pain.

We walk around the table and out of the gigantic dining room. I’m heading toward the stairs when Malachi grates out, “I need a word with Briar. Alone.”

Bastian turns to me, raising a questioning brow. I can handle his bossy brother on my own. Giving him a half smile to let him know to go on, I watch him and Xander head up the stairs. I then turn to Malachi.

Malachi growls as he steps into my space. I back up to avoid being bumped into. He capitalizes on this and advances on me several steps until I’m against a wall. Malachi plasters his front to mine. He slaps one hand against the wall by my head and places his other hand around my throat.

What is it with this man and grabbing my neck?

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