Page 228 of Halfblood Deceived

Kamilla gave the child an approving look. “Wise words, as usual, Luce.”

Lex patted Andreas’s shoulder. “You know it’s time to look inward and reflect on your character when your ten-year-old daughter is far more mature than you are.”

“Smarter, too,” Sebastian added.

Andreas glared at both. “Kiss my arse.”

Lex arched a brow. “You are not my type, Andreas.”

Zeydan huffed. “Byronic arses are out of style these days.”

Aylana wrinkled her nose. “Not as much as we’d like, to be honest.”

Evan nodded. “Can confirm. I, unfortunately, have a thing for Byronic arses.”

Andreas frowned, eyes widening. “Please tell me that’s not a proposition.”

Evan winked at Andreas. “Do you want it to be, handsome? You are my type after all.”

Andreas’s expression got stuck somewhere between a grimace and a reluctant smile. “No, thank you.”

Evan shrugged. “Your loss.”

“You can do better, Evan,” Mari said.

Andreas turned toward her. “Jealous, Marigold?”

Mari lifted a finger, verdant magic shining at the tip. “That’s strike three, arsehole.”

“Actually, that’s strike four,” Sebastian happily informed Mari.

Luce sighed. “Please don’t start again.”

“You are not shooting dyeing magic in my favorite dining room, Mari,” Kamilla warned, tone serious, but the corners of her mouth twitched with a suppressed smile.

Mari lowered her finger. “You better sleep with one eye open tonight, Andreas.”

“Or you could just share a room,” Evan suggested innocently.

“How’d you like being bald, blondie?” Mari asked.

“You wouldn’t!” Evan protested.

Aella snorted loudly. Diana hid her grin behind her glass of champagne.

Zeydan gave a tired look at Aella. “Living with them is exhausting.”

“But you love us!” Evan exclaimed, batting his eyelashes at Zeydan.

“I don’t have much of a choice,” Zeydan deadpanned.

Liar, Aella thought. You love them with madness.

Kamilla shook her head, giving Zeydan’s family an indulgent look. She looked happy and relaxed in a way Aella had rarely seen before. But there was something fierce in her topaz eyes. Something that said she’d kill anyone who dared hurt the people at the table.

Aella fully understood and shared that feeling.

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