Page 8 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck

Amice rolled her eyes and then hugged me again. “I’m so happy you’re here, Rachael. Tonight will be so much fun.”

I lifted a brow. “Not sure what your idea of fun is, but I’m not sure being trapped at a dinner table with Henry, Nile, and our new Hunter will be enjoyable.”

Amice chuckled. “It will be wonderful. Besides, the men assured me they’d be on their best behavior tonight.”

Henry’s gaze darted to our uncle. “Um, Amice, turns out that Nile won’t be able to dine with us.”

Amice perked. “Why not?”

Nile’s jaw set. “You know my feelings about the Nightshade Hunters, yet you keep insisting on this farce of a dinner. It’s enough I’m expected to report in as if I’m a child. I will not be forced to sit through a dinner with one.”

“Nile,” warned Henry.

Our uncle didn’t back down. “Rolling out a welcome mat for one of our jailors is unacceptable. We’re required to have monthly check-ins with him. We’re not, as a point of fact, required to dine with him. I don’t know about anyone else, but there is no way I can be expected to digest my food while in his presence.”

Henry sighed. “I don’t like it any more than you do, but this is important to Amice, so we’re doing it.”

Amice offered a warm smile to Henry. “Thank you.”

Nile withdrew a handkerchief from his vest pocket and pulled off his wire glasses. He cleaned them, as if they’d been smudged when they were always nothing but immaculate. He kept his attention on his glasses, not Henry, as he spoke. “A man who cannot control his wife really is not a man at all.”

I’d heard more than enough. While I didn’t like being cornered by him when we were alone, I had no issues taking him on in a room full of people. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

Henry gave me a pleading look. One that said he didn’t want me to start with Nile—again.

“I believe it,” said Nile, still going out of his way to pay attention to his glasses rather than look me in the eye. “Because it’s true.”

“I’m starting to see why you’re not married,” I shot back.

Amice blinked rapidly, clearly surprised at my candor. For a second, I thought she might laugh.

Anger slashed through Nile’s eyes, and a tic developed under his right eye.

“Rachael,” said Henry, cutting through the tension. “Let’s get you situated in your room. I’m sure Amice would love to go up with you. I know she’s wanted alone time with you.”

“Sounds good,” I said, wanting to be anywhere but near my uncle.

“Henry,” interjected Nile. “As we discussed, I won’t be eating dinner with everyone tonight. My decision is final. Something has come up. It demands my attention. The Hunter shall just have to occupy himself at dinner—without me.”

Henry let out an exasperated breath. “I dislike having to stop everything for a monthly check-in too, but I make time. You know it's required. And Amice has spent the day cooking and readying everything for tonight.”

“As I said, I have another commitment,” returned Nile.

“Drest won’t take kindly to you being absent,” said Amice, her shoulders back, her chin high.

Nile’s heated gaze fell upon her, but she didn’t back down.

It made me like her more.

Nile tipped his head, his expression cooling but not enough for me to truly believe he wasn’t good and pissed. “I’ll miss dinner, but should be back shortly thereafter. Ourjailorcan lay eyes on me then. That should satisfy him for another month.”

“Uncle,” stressed Henry. “It would be far better if you attended the dinner. He’ll press me on where you are and what you’re doing.”

“And you’ll tell him what, exactly?” asked Nile, his voice hardening.

Henry cleared his throat. “Whatever you’d like me to tell him.”

I hated seeing my brother cave to Nile.

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