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She considers this, chewing her bottom lip. Then she nods and nestles against me once more. I continue stroking her hair, offering what little comfort I can. But my thoughts are with Dare, hoping he can finally make his grandfather understand.
Hoping this family's cycle of lies and manipulation can end here and now. With me.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Solana is right to be worried - when Remy and Dare clash, things often spiral out of control.
The minutes tick by slowly. I strain to hear the conversation down the hall, but only muffled voices reach us. Solana fidgets in my lap, her small body tense.
I kiss her forehead and slide her from my body. She whines, but I shush her. "It's okay. Aunt Minnie is right here with you still. She'll keep you company while I just check on everyone else."
I tiptoe into the living room, peeking around the corner. Remy stands on one side, his face flushed, eyes blazing. Dare stands on the other, his jaw set. One look at his stony expression and I know Remy is refusing to listen to reason.
"This is outrageous!" Remy bellows, jabbing a finger toward Dare. "You have no right to speak to me this way. I am the head of this family!"
"Not anymore," Dare says evenly. "Things are going to change around here."
Remy scoffs. "You think you can threaten me into obeying you?"
He turns and notices me for the first time. His lip curls in disgust.
"And with the help of this gold-digging little--"
"Don't," Dare snaps, his voice like a whip crack. Remy blinks in surprise.
I make my way into the room slowly, one hand supporting my heavy belly. Remy regards me, his gaze flitting to my stomach. Uncertainty passes over his expression.
Is that longing I see?
"The baby's kicking," I say softly. "She's pretty riled up. I think she can sense the yelling and arguing going on out here."
Remy purses his lips. "Are you here to tell me to shut up, too?"
I shrug and cup my baby bump.
"I'm telling you that there are bigger issues than whatever you are griping about. You're in my home. You should respect my need for a quiet, tranquil atmosphere. I'm carrying your legacy in here. I would think that you would remember that."
My words catch Remy off guard. He opens his mouth, closes it, and then says, "I didn't realize that you could hear us."
I fold my arms across my chest.
"Everyone can hear you, Remy. Not just here. But in basically every room you've ever walked into. You terrify people."
He glares at me. "Surely you overestimate my might."
"I don't think I do."
Dare seizes the opportunity. "It's time to make a choice, Remy. Are you going to keep up with your reign of terror? Are you going to keep poisoning this family with your manipulation?" He pauses, licking his lower lips. "Or will you help it heal?"
Remy turns away, his shoulders hunched. For a full minute, the only sound is the ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the corner.
Finally, he speaks. “I’ve made mistakes.”
That wasnotwhat I was expecting him to say. My jaw drops but I’m too overwhelmed to interject my mixed up thoughts.
Dare waves a hand. “Do you care to expand on that?”
Remy gives him a look but purses his lips. Silence reigns again.
Dare shakes his head and stomps his foot. “If you’re not going to apologize, Remy—”
