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I shook my head.
But why?I thought.Her mood has never been an issue before. Why do I care now?
Donovan nodded toward the dining room. “Charlotte sent a buffet for us. We should sit and eat. Then, we can get to it.”
I hummed in agreement, choosing to speak less and less with each passing second. It was a protective measure to stay largely silent. Most people spilled their secrets if I kept my inquiries brief and vague. Sitting with anyone in a quiet room would likely produce their whole life story. It was all just a matter of time.
And I had plenty of time to spare.
Rose sat next to Sasha, saving a seat for me. I sat next to her and waited for the rest of the men to file into the room. Adam took the chair next to mine and Donovan next to him. Lucius assumed the position to the left of Donovan and Stefan took the last chair, tunneling in on me while sitting just across the table.
Once we got to fill our plates with the available goodies—fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, steamed vegetables, and fluffy biscuits—a sort of agreed quiet settled over the room. I ate as quickly and quietly as possible. As much as it was nice to share a meal with other wolves, my wolf was on edge, eager to get back to the inn.
But not before we could figure some things out.
“Donovan tells me you can hold the medallion,” Stefan commented, the first to break the silence. “Can you tell me more about that?”
I shrugged. “No idea.”
His right eyebrow curved dangerously as his eyes clouded over. “Some fae magic can do that, keep people from touching things.”
Sasha frowned. “That’s interesting. So, why can Matéo touch it?”
Stefan pursed his lips pensively. “Might have blood that’s immune to such charms.” He looked at me, teal eyes as round and alert as an alpha. “Your family bloodline might have received a vaccination of sorts.”
“You mean my lineage is immune to fae magic?” I scoffed while shaking my head. “We would have discovered that many years ago if that were the case.”
“Would your parents know anything?”
The innocence of the question quelled the rage before it could unleash itself on the table. I took a second to sip my water, summoning the courage to determine what I was going to say—and whether it would be a lie.
“No,” I responded confidently. “I don’t have any extended family to speak of either.”
“Didn’t you say you were the last Beauchamp alive?” Rose asked. “You mentioned that the other day when we were looking at the documents in the conference room.”
Stefan leaned forward, appearing like he’d been whacked over the head. “You’re a Beauchamp?”
I squinted. “Yes, why?”
He shook his head. “Haven’t met one in ages. It’s been so long.” He frowned curiously while rubbing the back of his neck. I could see Donovan in those thoughtful features. He almost looked a lot less grumpy, too. “Once knew a whole pack, but…Gods, that must have been forty or more years ago.”
“That long, Uncle?” Donovan asked while propping his chin in his hand. “I didn’t know there was another wolf family.”
“Oh, plenty,” Stefan said while waving his hands. “So many of them broke off and planted seeds all over the country—theworldeven.”
Rose nodded. “What’s so significant about this one, then?”
“Nothing, probably.” He shrugged. “Domingo is after you, isn’t he, kid?”
His tone bothered me, but I nodded nonetheless.
“He’ll go after anyone he thinks is vulnerable,” Stefan said, an edge of hatred in his voice. “Anyone who seems weak.”
He exchanged a look with his nephew. Something passed between them, a shared memory. Tension crackled over the table for a while until Stefan looked at me again.
“Anyway, it’s worth exploring your family trees.” Stefan stroked his chin. “Isn’t there an archive of families around here?”
Sasha sighed. “There was until it was compromised.”
