Page 123 of Night's Fall
A fond smile hit his beautiful mouth. “Yes.”
I was glad he had that.
AndSirk.
And now…me.
“What about your parents?Areyou close with them?”Iasked.
“There’s love, it’s remote.Dutyis in the way.”
I nodded.
“My father is proud of me, and he shows it.Mymother’s expectations are high, and she has no problem voicing them.”
Hmm.
Not sure what to think of that.
“We’re not a normal family,” he finished.
“Who is?”Iasked in an effort to make him feel better.
“I suppose that’s a good question.”Hebit off the tip of a stalk of asparagus, chewed it, swallowed it, and asked, “Andyours?”
Blast.
It was my turn.
Okay.
We were here.
Get it done and over with.
“They’re just…”
I looked down at my plate.
Forked into my potato.
Ate the bite (really, so yum, even in the middle of discussing all this garbage).
Pulled in a deep breath.
And looked toAleksei.
“Bitter.Dadfound his mate.Idon’t know how it happened, but he didn’t have her long before she died.HemarriedMom, who…again,Idon’t know.Ithink maybe she was too lazy to quest for her mate.Whateverthe reason, she took him on, butIhave no idea why.Shedidn’t want him either.Therewas no love in our house.Notthem for each other.Notthem for me.”
“And this translated to physical abuse?”
I pulled my shoulders forward, then released them. “Dad’sjust mad at the world.Maybeit’s because he found and lost his mate so young.Butfor him, it’s everything.Taxesare too high.Hisboss is too demanding.Momdoesn’t fold his underwear right.”
“He could fold it himself,”Alekseiremarked.
I ate an asparagus crown.Fortunately, it too was yummy enough to cut through the ash in my mouth.
“Yeah,”Ireplied. “She’stold him that.Repeatedly.Shoutedit even.”
