Page 25 of Avaritia

“Ooh, look at your claws!” she cooed, grabbing my hand to admire my bedazzled nails. “How pretty!”

“Careful of your own claws,” Theon snapped. “Her skin is delicate.”

“Of course,” she replied, immediately contrite as she peered soulfully at me. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, not at all.” Honestly, I hadn’t picked Theon for such a worrywart. “I’m Verity, by the way.”

“What a beautiful name. Theon and Verity, how lovely,” she sighed dreamily. My face burned so hot, I was surprised steam wasn’t rising off it. “I’m Xanthia, Theon and Rainy’s mother. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”

“And you,” I replied dazedly. She was so nice. So bubbly and enthusiastic and the complete opposite of both of her children.

“I confess, we’re being a little naughty,” Xanthia said, leaning in and speaking in a low voice. “We overheard the invitation to dinner at the palace yesterday, and Rainy and I are trying to convince Theon to bring us along. I haven’t been to the palace in years—in solidarity, you know—and I would so love to go.”

“Mother,” Theon sighed, looking every bit the put-upon son. “It’s not my dinner to invite you to.”

“Oh, they won’t mind,” Xanthia said, gesturing absently. “The king is hardly short of food or space. Simply send Wilder ahead and ask them to set two more places. Wilder, darling, would you be so kind?”

Wilder grimaced, looking to Theon for his instructions. To my shock—and I suspect everyone else’s—Theon looked at me. Presumably, because I had the most recent experience at the palace and knew the king’s temperament better, but still.

It was a little weird.

“I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem,” I hedged.

Xanthia squealed, jumping up and down. “Then it’s settled! Rainy, my sweet, you do promise to behave, don’t you?”

Rainy, who’d been staring at me like she could disperse me into shadows with her eyeballs, nodded once and unconvincingly.

“Wonderful. Oh, this will be so fun!”

Theon muttered his instructions to Wilder, and I couldn’t help but think that the look he was giving his mother was oddly guilty. Maybe he felt bad that she hadn’t been to the palace in a while when she was clearly so thrilled by the idea.

It was reassuring to know he was capable of feeling guilt. That he wasn’t just all crazed tyrant beneath his grumpy surface.

Wilder bounded off ahead as the four of us made for the entry room. To my surprise, Theon was at my side the moment we stepped out the door, offering me his arm as I balanced precariously in my pumps on the uneven ground. As though it was second nature to him, he formed a thick layer of shadows above our group’s heads like an umbrella, keeping the steadily falling drizzle off us.

“Thanks,” I murmured, resting my hand lightly on his forearm, marveling at just how strong and solid he felt beneath my palm. The physical changes he’d undergone in the past couple of days still astounded me.

Theon grunted, grabbing my hand and settling it more firmly on his arm, giving my impractical shoes a judgmental look in the process. “Yousmell… pleasant.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, trying to decide if the words had been a compliment or an observation.

“Why is it you really want to attend this dinner?” Theon asked, turning his attention to Rainy.

“I wish to tell the king myself how unfair I find his travel restrictions,” Rainy huffed. “And ask him for an exemption for all young Shades needing to travel to the human realm for their first proper feed, as tradition dictates.”

“Oh, Rainy,” Xanthia sighed, giving her daughter an indulgent smile. “I do so admire your independent spirit, but could you not wait for a more opportune time to bring up such a topic? It really will put such a dampener on the dinner conversation.”

“I don’t care about dinner conversation, Mother,” Rainy shot back indignantly.

“Well, you should. You’re a daughter of the nobility, you’ll either inherit my family seat or overthrow your brother for his one day. Social graces are important, my darling.”

Rainy muttered something too low for me to catch, though judging by the warning look Theon gave her, he caught it.

“Aren’t you worried if you go hunting in the human realm that you’ll… you know, die?” I asked.

Rainy snorted, giving me an unimpressed look. “The more time I spend around Hunters, the more I’m convinced we have absolutely nothing to fear from them.”

I laughed. The absolute brass balls on this kid. “Easy to say when you’re flesh and bone and teeth and claws.”

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