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This was really going to take some getting used to.
Chapter 24
I’d showered and redone my hair, actually putting it into a style other than a high bun. Changing into a long-sleeve, emerald wrap jumpsuit and the pointed satin flats Lucy had picked out for me, I was more grateful with each step I took that I’d let her select my purchases. I had more confidence as I walked down the long hall toward the living room. At least I looked nice. Among humans, it wasn’t an issue, but among other vampires, beauty and perfection was a standard I didn’t want to fall below.
Pelopia held the door for me, and when I stepped out, they were all there, exactly as I had left them. None of them said anything. They were still. They looked like statues—all of them but one. Theseus looked up from where he stood at the fireplace, his grey eyes reflecting the light of the flames. It took him second, and he even blinked, before he walked—slowly for a vampire—toward the bottom of the stairs. I watched him until he was there, waiting for me, before I stepped down, noticing that Pelopia did not follow behind me. When I reached the final step, he reached out for my hand, and I gave it to him.
Lifting it to his lips, he kissed the back of it and exhaled. “Has anyone told you that you could worry a vampire back into a grave?”
I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off.
“That’s the first thing you chose to say to her?” It came from a vampire I didn’t know but who looked very familiar, just like Ulrik but with short brown hair, instead of blond, and green eyes instead of blue.
“If you think that’s bad, you should have seen him just napping away while she drove him home, Hinrik.” Ulrik grinned, sitting up from the couch as his brother took a seat on the arm.
“He wouldn’t?” Hinrik replied instantly
“He did.” Ulrik shook his head in shame. “And would have slept at least another day or more and had her carry him inside had I not woken him up.”
“So, it was Theseus who killed chivalry.” Hinrik also shook his head.
“Murdered it without mercy.” Ulrik laughed as did Hinrik.
“Are you both quite done?” Theseus grimaced, glaring at them.
They both opened their mouths to speak but didn’t dear say anything as Sigbjørn closed his book. It was loud to get attention, or he’d merely finished it, or at least looked to have finished it. Nevertheless, they didn’t speak again. Sigbjørn stood, walking forward to the steps, standing in front of where Rhea sat, her body turned away from us and toward the fire. He stretched out his hand to her.
“Come Draka, let us welcome our new daughter,” he said to her.
Her eyes narrowed on him, but she stood and took his hand, rising. “How free you are with that word, my love.”
“Only to match how guarded you are with it,” he replied as he all but pulled her to where Theseus and I stood. When he reached us, he looked directly down at me. “And there is no longer a reason for it. If she were incapable of loving as you said, she would not be here now. Is that not correct, daughter?”
Not trusting my voice, I nodded and glanced over to Rhea who looked me over again, her eyes wandering up and down. She shook her head.
“Nothing has changed. I still do not see Theseus in her heart.”
“Your behavior is not helping the matter, Mother,” Theseus muttered, squeezing my hands gently, and it was funny how annoyed he looked at her. Like a teenager, really. They probably fought a lot, lovingly.
“You are correct.” Sigbjørn chuckled, his voice in my mind. “A child is never grown in their mother’s eyes, and a man, mortal or immortal, will fight against acting every bit of a child to her. They are even calm now, but she’ll make some excuse to start growling soon.”
A giggle escaped my lips, making both Rhea and Theseus look between me.
“What are you saying to her? You are teasing me, aren’t you?” Rhea growled, and my eyes widened while he gave me a knowing smile.
“Never, Draka.” He said at me, clearly lying, and I smiled.
Her glare shot back to me. “It is very rude of you to laugh at your mother.”
“Oh progress, at last! She sees you as daughter now, sister,” Ulrik called from behind, not exactly enjoying being left out of the conversation.
Rhea’s head whipped back so fast it should have snapped something. Ulrik merely offered her a bright smile.
“Draka,” Sigbjørn called out to her, and she turned back.
“I do not wish to accept someone who does not love my son. I will not. She may have come down, but this...young one, is alone, abandoned, of course, she’d seek family even if she felt nothing. She came for herself, not Theseus.”
“Mother,
