A Dawn of Onyx (The Sacred Stones, #1)(91)

At least her approach was better than Ryder’s. He had watched us return to the table with a strange look in his eye and hadn’t let up since we sat down. He interrupted my mother’s next question for Kane with one of his own. “So, King Ravenwood,” he asked, bread roll in hand. “How did you end up befriending my sister?” I shot him a dirty glare. I did not care for the emphasis he put on befriending.

Kane gave him that signature wolfish grin. I turned about eight shades of red in anticipation. “She offered to be the healer in my keep in return for the coin you stole. You might owe her your thanks.”

Now it was Ryder’s turn to redden. “Your Majesty, it was a simple life or death scenario. You would have done the same for your family, would you not?”

“I have no family, so I wouldn’t know,” Kane said offhandedly. A twinge of sadness echoed in my heart at his words. He must have seen my facial expression, as he added, “But I’ll take your word for it.”

“Bleeding Stones,” Ryder muttered under his breath, shrinking away.

“Language!” Mother hissed at him.

I couldn’t help my smile. I had even missed her ridiculous prudishness.

Mari, too, had lots of questions. Mostly about Abbington and what misconceptions people had about Onyx. Leigh loved her immediately. The two of them were like two halves of a comedy act—finishing each other’s sentences and laughing maniacally at things nobody else at the table found funny.

“That actually brings me to another thought,” Mari said to my mother. “What was the—”

“You’re making the woman choke on her swordfish. Let her eat in peace.” Griffin’s tone was pleasant enough, but Mari shot him a withering glare.

“I’m so sorry, Commander. I forgot how good you are at making conversation. Do you want to compliment her hair?” asked Mari.

A laugh spasmed out of me and I almost spewed papaya all over the table. I grabbed Kane’s arm beside me in between fits of giggles. Kane bit down a laugh at my hysterics. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ryder quirk a brow at the moment between us. I quickly extricated my hand from the king’s sleeve.

“Don’t worry about it, Red. I think she likes being interviewed. Don’t you, Mam?” said Ryder.

My mother smiled and started to speak, but Griffin interrupted. “I don’t know, Red, I think the kid’s just being kind.”

Mari scoffed, and Ryder grinned at Griffin, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “If I’m a kid, what does that make you, Commander?”

“A man,” Griffin said into his food, already bored by the exchange.

“Could’ve fooled me,” Ryder chirped, sending Mari and me into another fit of laughter.

I looked to my left and saw Kane and Leigh deep in conversation. She was explaining something to him with animated expressions and complex hand gestures. Kane, to his credit, was following intently, chin resting on his fist and nodding along to her story.

I took in this strange group before me and felt as though my heart might burst. It was better than I could ever have imagined, having all of them together.

When dinner ended and we were all full to the brim, rum and carbs coating our stomachs, I rounded to my mother’s chair to help her stand. To my disbelief, she stood up easily.

“Mother!” I said, not even trying to hide my shock.

She moved slowly at first, then found her footing and walked like she used to. Slow, but deliberate. Elegant, even. Leigh and Ryder watched with awe. I felt more tears prick at my eyes. Tonight had to be some kind of happy-crying record.

“Arwen… I don’t have words.”

“Me neither. How do you feel?”

“Better. My mind feels less foggy.”

“So, it wasn’t the fever talking,” Kane said.

I whipped to him behind me, his eyes like stars.

“No,” I whispered. What I had done in the woods that night was unbelievably stupid. But nothing could have been more worth it than the look on my mother’s face tonight.

“What’s he talking about?” my mother asked, brow raised.

“Nothing, let me walk you to your room for the night.” I turned to Kane, but he read my thoughts.

“I’ll come see you before I leave. Enjoy your family tonight.”

I nodded in thanks.

Halfway up the stairs, my mother turned to me. “So, you’re sleeping with a king. That’s new!”

“Mother!” I gasped, but I was unable to hide my grin.

She laughed. “I’m only teasing. But he is clearly very, very fond of you.”

I felt the familiar tug in my heart. “We are absolutely doing nothing of the sort.” I linked her arm in mine as we rounded the torch-lit hall, “But, I’m fond of him, too. He has been kind to me since I’ve been at Onyx. Despite everything going on, everything at stake. Well,” I thought better of my phrasing. “His version of kind.”

My mother clucked, patting my hand. “He seems very thoughtful, under all those layers of brooding.” Now it was my turn to laugh. Kane would love that.

“It wasn’t an easy few months, but there were a few silver linings. You would adore the flowers in the Shadowhold gardens. They are the strangest colors I have ever seen.”

She gave me a half smile before going still just a few steps from her room. “Arwen, when Ryder went back for you and saw the… the blood, we thought the worst. I could scarcely sleep knowing we had let you turn back.” She took my hand into hers. “But I am so, so proud of you, Arwen.”