Page 5 of Cursed Beasts

“Kitty!” she squealed, throwing her small arms around my neck.

“Hello, buttercup.” I booped her nose.

“Please don’t leave us.” She squeezed my neck again.

“Honey—”

“Alright, leave your auntie alone.” My sister Nora interrupted me, pulling her out of my arms abruptly. Nora gave me a tight smile before they walked to their seats, leaving me a little confused.

She blew me a kiss that I caught and put in my pocket, making her laugh, before I made it to my seat. Thankfully, Caston hadn’t made it down yet, I still had a few more minutes of peace.

“Did he split your lip?” I looked up to see my sister Serena looking at me with anger.

“Don’t make a scene,” I said, grabbing my glass of water, taking a sip.

“What the hell happened?”

“I should have ignored him, but I let my anger get the best of me,” I said, not wanting to cause a scene.

“Gerard said he was fucking her in your bed,” she snapped.

“Serena, please,” I said, not wanting to get into it.

“One day, Kat, he will get what’s coming to him, I promise,” she declared fiercely before she took her seat across from me.

My father walked into the dining room, looking at a piece of parchment paper as he walked to his chair at the head of the table. Caston walked into the room looking like a model. He was debonair, with his black hair, those dark blue eyes, and lips that looked like they were made for kissing.

He was really a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I remember a time when I thought he was so handsome. He tried to woo me even though I was hesitant about him, but compared to my other prospects, Caston seemed like my best choice.

His family was wealthy, coming from a long line of powerful witches. Too bad I didn’t know what was in store for me. I might have chosen someone twice my age and prayed for a short marriage. Not that I could have had a choice anyway.

“Katarina, did you get what I asked for?” my father asked, not looking up from what he was reading.

“Yes, sir.”

“Have you squared away the Mauder’s?” he asked.

“Yes, sir, they were—”

“Gerard, we are ready!” he yelled, cutting me off.

I pursed my lips to cut off my retort, feeling Caston take his seat next to me.

Dinner was a mostly quiet affair; it was usually the kids who were rambunctious. It was also great to see my sisters get flustered. Nora and Octavia had always given Gerard a hard time growing up, and it was nice to see them get a taste of their own medicine.

We always had a three-course meal that was always way over the top. It left me sometimes wishing for a burger with mac and cheese or fries.

The staff cleared our plates after the main course, and I took the opportunity to leave early so I could finally have that bath. I was about to stand up when my father spoke.

“Katarina, we have to meet a client this evening.”

All conversation ceased like he said something outlandish.

“I have nothing on the schedule. Did I miss something?” I said, racking my brain for what I could have missed, and dreading the reprimand I knew I was going to get.

“The client came directly to me, and I just set it up,” he said, as they brought dessert out.

“Ok,” I said, a little wary that he would actually deal with a client by himself. I took a glance around the table. It made me uneasy when I noticed almost everyone was looking at me. Serena looked to be engrossed in her dessert.

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