Chapter 181

“Let’s go back inside to finish dinner.” My father said, and I nodded, following him. We walked towards the dining room; the metallic smell of blood still lingered in the air.

I tried to ignore it and it back at the table.

Lord Shevek’s women had themselves sprawled in different positions around his chair; they looked bored but pecked up as soon as Lord Shevek walked in. I grimaced.

I wasn’t sure I was ready to watch their repulsive display of lust.

I noticed that my mother was still stuck in one spot. I couldn’t blame her. I knew she was trying hard to keep her emotions in check even as she sat.

I sighed. It must have felt really terrible to watch other women touch my father when she had hoped that something might spark between them.

I was scared my mother would push herself back into a shell, and I didn’t know how long it would take for her to get out of it if she does… I was so scared.

Dinner was a very quiet after that. Each moment passed like a weight on our shoulders, the tension in the air was so thick that I could almost cut it with a machete.

A chair scraped against the marble floor, and we all turned to see my mother stand, her gaze still stuck on the table.

“I’m done.” She said in a whisper, and I looked at her plate. It was half filled.

No one replied.

I heard a few snorts from Lord Shevek’s women, and I passed a glare in their direction. I won’t sit and watch my mother get mocked.

“Mom, do you need me?” I asked softly. She looked at me. The pain in her eyes was glaring.

“No honey. Stay here with your father. I would go to the room.” She forced a smile on her face.

I nodded, swallowing every hurt. She needed some time alone, and my presence may remind her of the time she’d once spent with Lord Shevek.

She left, and Lord Shevek’s gaze followed her until she disappeared. I sighed.

“You should go,” Lord Shevek said as soon as my mother was out of sight.

I looked up at first; I thought he said that to me, but I soon realized he had said that to the women still hanging around him and trying to touch him.

They silently moved away from him, their expression grim as they walked out one after the other. Vanessa threw a wink my way before she finally left.

“You should also turn in for the night.” Lord Shevek said.

“I will. When I want to.” I said firmly.

“Alright.” He said and stood up. His chair scared backwards like my mother’s, and he left, his steps quick and hurried.

I wondered where exactly he was in a haste to.

He hasn’t been himself since he sat back down at the table. He hadn’t smiled for a while and had a look of anger.

I remained seated and played around with the food on my plate, hoping that somehow it would help take things off my mind. It didn’t help either.

I looked pathetic.

After a while, I decided it wasn’t worthwhile.

I finally stood up, and was about to take a step away from the table when I shuddered. Coosebumps rose on my skin. And my ears perked up.

Tiara was suddenly alert; her senses sharpened.

I caught the faint sounds in the distance; they were low grumbles and growls. It was unusual.

Curious, I made a quick move away from the table and sped in the direction the noise came from.

I found myself in the hallway. It was eerily quiet, but I could still hear the sounds clearly.

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3:35 PM

It grew louder and angrier with every step I took.

Finally, I got to where the sounds were coming from, but it was a dead end. There was no door. I leaned against the wall and placed my ears against it. I could hear the sounds, but they were muffled.

I checked around for a door, but when I didn’t see one, I tried to listen through the wall, the surface cold against my skin. The voices became a little louder.

“Are you trying to ruin everything?” I heard Lord Shevek growl. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“You are always like this!” I heard Ryker back out a laugh, “You think I have no idea what I’m doing?”

“I don’t care what you think you know or don’t know.” My father sounded very angry.

“I know what I’m doing.” Ryker shouted. “I know why I showed myself to Eden. I am no longer a child. I know what I’m doing.”

Me? He intentionally showed himself to me? What does this have to do with me?

A gasp escaped my mouth, and I quickly clamped my hand over it when I heard choking sounds. It sounded like Lord Shevek was trying to strangle Ryker, who crooked in desperation.

I could imagine it in my head: My father grabbing Ryker and squeezing his neck hard enough to make him gasp for breath.

“You will learn to obey me.” I heard him growl.

There was a pause before a loud thud, like something had been thrown to the floor, followed by a gasp of relief.

Rykers voice followed after. “Yes Master.”

I backed away in shock.

Master? What did I just witness? What exactly was going on?

The voices faded, and I hurried away from the wall, towards my room. I closed the door silently and leaned against it trying to gather my thoughts.

A Phone. I need a phone.

I needed to call Eros to tell him everything. He needs to come take me away from here.

I paced around the room. I was anxious that this place was dangerous for my mother and me. What if we don’t survive the night?

What if this was all part of some plan Lord Shevek had made?

“We should find out what he wants from us.” Tiara said.

My wolf has always been the braver one, but I wasn’t sure that was what I needed right now. I should run away with mom, not try to find out what Lord Shevek wants. He sounded too dangerous with Rhyker.

Do vampires still do the compelling thing? Wasn’t that banned?

First thing tomorrow, Mom and I will be out of here.

Then I laid back in bed, still in dilemma as I slept off.

The next time my eyes opened, it was past morning the next day. I stood up quickly and left my room.

How could I have slept so long? It was noon.

I turned to go to my mom’s room, when my feet froze in its place. My mother was coming out of Lord Shevek’s room. Her hair was disheveled, and she was wearing a Burton down shirt that wasn’t hers. Her eyes widened on seeing me and her cheeks flushed bright. Lord Shevek stood behind her with a satisfied smile on his face.

I felt the blood rush in my ears, my stomach churning in despair… What was going on?