Page 58 of Whispers of the Water

“Agreed,” I huffed, giving both boys a pointed look. “You should really let me eat my food.”

“Why don’t you get more, girl?” Lilith said, nodding at the platter. “Eat those last two pieces since we’ve all had some.”

Annoyed that I was still the center of attention, I forced my voice out evenly as I asked Marlow to pass me the last pieces. I really wanted to get this over with and eat it. The attention they were all drawing toward us was becoming stifling. Rune’s face remained stoic as he watched Marlow nervously put the two remaining slices on my plate, but I could feel how tense he was sitting next to me.

My dish hovered in front of the twins as Marlow passed it back to me. They glanced at the plate, then at their older brother. I grabbed my dish, but before I could pull it back, Newt and Greshim reached out, snatching the two slices. They quickly shoved them in their mouths, and my eyes went wide.

“Newt! Greshim!” Myra growled.

Greshim swallowed his piece and warily glanced at his mother. “Sorry. We really wanted more.”

Myra’s eyes darkened as she stared at her two youngest sons. Fear made my stomach curl tightly, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she’d do to them for that.

Not only were the twins in a precarious situation, but this also put me in a predicament. All that was left now was the beef and chicken. My throat closed up in protest when I pictured eating either option, especially the chicken. Clearly, the boys didn’t understand that they’d eaten my only safe choice.

Rune and the rest of my friends shared a conspiratorial look. They all immediately snatched any food within their reach. Myra and the others watched in disgust as everyone devoured the food in mere seconds. No meat. No fruit. It was all gone.

I stared at the empty serving dishes with my mouth agape. As I passed a look between everyone while they worked to swallow the food, I was surprised to find that my anger had dissipated. In its place was the warm, light flutter of thanks. I understood what they were doing now. They were watching out for me, even Ardley and the twins whom I had just met this week. I couldn’t eat the food if there was no food.

“Rune,” Myra said, her voice surprisingly calm despite the rage burning brightly in her eyes. “What kind of stunt are you trying to pull?”

Rune’s mask of ease snapped, and he glared at his mother. “You want to know what stunt I’m pulling? Well, then, let me spell it out in clear terms for you. Bria is my chosen partner, and guess what? She’s a vegetarian, just like your good friend, Lui. You know, the powerful Fox who’s bested hundreds of Water Fae? Bria chose a lifestyle like him, but I knew you and everyone else would use it against her, claiming she’s not Fox enough because of it. You’ll find whatever reason you can to belittle her and determine that she isn’t good enough, despite her being the person I chose. You wanted me to find someone, a mate to breed with and live beside. Well, I have. Bria is my lover, and no matter what you say or think, Mother, she’s not going anywhere. Because she is Fox enough.”

Myra narrowed her eyes on Rune, and chills ran along my spine. He, on the other hand, didn’t look fazed one bit. In fact, he suddenly smiled as he turned to look at Ardley, and the two of them broke into conversation, talking about what they’d each been doing for the past three years. Akira, Bassel, Avana, and Marlow jumped in, erupting in pleasant conversation. It was like that blow-up—the declaration from Rune—never happened. The bubble of tension we’d been in popped and fizzled away into nothing.

Slowly, Rune’s family started eating what little food was left on their own plates. Rune’s words had been firm, leaving no room for debate.

My being vegetarian wasn’t a part of our initial plan—nor was it true—but I was glad he’d thought to use that. Not only did it explain everyone’s drive to defend me, but it also made it look like I was so invested in Rune and being good enough for his family that I’d been willing to eat meat. Maybe it would score me some brownie points, although knowing his family, they probably wouldn’t care.

Something else about Rune’s words really struck a chord within me, and I couldn’t seem to shake the heavy weight of disdain. He’d said I was Fox enough for him, and with the amount of conviction in his voice, it felt genuine. That was a hard pill to swallow. His words were yet another reminder of the vast difference between us, as well as the untold truth. Guilt seeped into my bones, digging sharp teeth into my very soul. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to get here so that I could finally rip off this Band-Aid, and hopefully, Akira would be right. Maybe Rune would react better than how I imagined.

I was a bit shocked to see Myra give up the argument so easily, but I also wasn’t sure if I’d call her silence ‘giving up.’ Her methodical gaze stayed trained on me throughout dinner like a ghost of a touch, pulling at the hairs on the back of my neck or making my fox ears twitch. Even when I wasn’t looking her way, I felt her stare, and I knew deep in my bones, she was far from done with this.

She was waiting.

Biding her time.

Looking for an opening to trip me and claim her kill.

Chapter Twenty-Two

DINNER ENDED AFTER what seemed like hours, and we all returned to Akira’s room. Silence hung over the group like a storm cloud, but once the door was shut, that cloud evaporated. Newt and Greshim rushed toward Rune with frightened eyes.

“Big brother!” they cried in unison and hugged one of his legs.

“Rune,” Greshim sniffled. “Are we going to get in trouble with Mother?”

“I d-don’t want M-Mother to hurt m-me again,” Newt cried.

Grief pinched Rune’s brow as he knelt down in front of them. He hugged them close, and his jaw worked as he fought to keep his voice gentle and calm. “Don’t worry. I’m here, so nothing will happen.”

My heart fractured as I watched the two small boys tremble in fear as they thought of what their mother would do to them. It made me sick. While the twins stayed with us, they would be protected but never truly safe. But who would protect them when we were gone?

“That was awesome,” Ardley said as he collapsed on the love seat. “Did you see the looks on those clowns’ faces? It was priceless! I wish I could’ve gotten a picture.”

“We hardly ever have that much raw meat for dinner,” Rune said, as he turned his attention to me while still holding the boys close. “We only eat it on really special occasions, and as we said, birthdays aren’t special for us. So, it’s obvious she did that to test you.”

I shook my head as I let out a heavy sigh. “This is crazy. I thought we did well planning everything, but it’s like she saw through it from the beginning.”

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