Chapter 74: we are family

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: we are family

"You don’t...even know me that well yet. You could get tired of me. Or decide you deserve a much better daughter-in-law."

Madame’s expression didn’t waver.

"I am very sure of what I want. No matter what happens, I will be here to support you." A faint, dry spark entered her eyes. "Even if it means beating the ass out of my own sons."

A short, startled laugh escaped Amelia. Madame’s mouth curved in answer, the earlier heaviness easing for a moment.

Amelia’s smile turned careful.

"You already know I’m an orphan. You know where I came from. And you still accept me?"

"Those things do not measure a person’s value. What matters is this" Madame reached out and rested her palm lightly over the center of Amelia’s chest, before she lifted it and tapped two fingers gently against Amelia’s temple. "And also this. That’s enough for me."

A knock sounded at the door.

"The meal is ready, Madame."

"Come in."

Servants entered, setting a small table in front of the bed and arranging covered dishes. Madame dismissed them with a nod, then settled into the chair herself and began uncovering the food. The rich scent of warm broth and fresh bread filled the space.

She looked at Amelia with clear expectation.

"I want to feed you."

"It’s fine, I can—"

"I insist."

The soft, almost pleading look on Madame’s face left little room to refuse. Amelia gave in with a small nod.

Madame looked quietly happy as she lifted the first spoonful. While Amelia ate, she began to speak,.

"There were so many times I wished the world had not changed my sons the way it did. I watched them grow. I trained them to be strong, capable, better than the cruelty around them. But the world was unkind. In the end they felt they had no choice but to strip every soft sentiment from themselves. To see everyone the same—untrustworthy. Evil wearing a pleasant face."

Her expression dipped, the lines around her eyes tightening with old worry.

"I prayed to the Moon Goddess for years that they would find someone who could add even a little light to all that darkness." Her gaze returned to Amelia. "And then you appeared."

Amelia kept her eyes on the spoon, guilt settling heavy and cold beneath her ribs.

She would never dare tell this woman the truth.

How would Madame look at her if she learned the marriage was a contract? That Amelia was their mistress first, a means to an end? The knowledge would break something in her. This woman did not deserve that kind of pain.

But what else could she do? She and the brothers could never fall in love. Not that she didn’t want to.

In fact, she didn’t want to. And she didn’t believe it was possible anyway.

Madame continued. "I know my sons. They are stubborn. Their pride runs deep. Opening up has never come easily to any of them." She set the spoon down for a moment. "But I believe they will open up to you. It may be slow... painfully slow, even. But it will be sure."

She had no answer that felt safe enough to speak aloud. Instead she simply parted her lips for the next spoonful and kept eating in silence, eyes lowered to the bowl as if the simple act of chewing could keep the conversation from reaching any deeper.

Elsewhere in the estate, Dr. Claire reached the office and pushed the door open without ceremony.

Inside, the three brothers sat with Rue and Skye around the desk. Maps and reports lay scattered between them, marked with notes about supply routes and other thing about the Moonfist Territory. The discussion was still mid-sentence when Claire entered.

"She’s awake."

Something heavy seemed to leave the brothers all at once. None of them spoke, but the relief that moved through the three of them was sharp enough to taste.

Rue’s expression barely shifted. Only her eyes cooled, the change small but unmistakable. Skye’s reaction was harder to read. Tension and something almost like reluctant ease warred briefly across her face.

The discussion ended without another word.

Chairs scraped back. The brothers rose in near unison, already turning toward the door, already moving in the direction of where amelia is.

Only the three women remained.

Rue stood. She glanced at Skye. "I’ll meet you later."

Then her gaze slid to Claire. The look was completely wordless—an entire opinion delivered without a single sound. She turned and walked out. The door closed firmly behind her.

Claire raised an eyebrow, still staring at the closed door. "Your girlfriend really doesn’t like me at all."

Skye let out a short breath and leaned back in her chair, tipping her head against the high backrest as if the tension in her neck had finally become too much.

"Rue has a lot on her plate right now. Don’t take it personally." She was quiet for a moment, then asked more carefully, eyes still on the ceiling, "How is Amelia doing?"

"She’s all right. Recovering." Claire studied her, head tilted slightly. "I still can’t quite believe what you told me about her powers. it sounds so unbelievable."

Skye’s mouth tightened. She finally lowered her gaze, fingers tracing an idle line along the edge of the table.

"If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed it either. She could have flattened the territory if she could." A short pause. "At least the failsafe spell is already in place."

"Yeah... Do you still want to use it?"

Skye looked away toward the tall windows. For a second the carefully controlled expression cracked—something raw, reluctant, and almost pained showing underneath before she forced it back down. Her shoulders rose and fell with a slow breath.

"Yes. I have a plan."

"All right. What exactly are you going to do?"

"I’ll let you know when it’s time."

Claire stepped closer, lowering her voice even though the office was empty. "If the brothers hear even a whisper of this, it will be off with both our heads. You understand that."

Skye’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t look away. "The plan will be flawless. And the men aren’t in love with her. Nothing will go wrong."

Claire gave a short, skeptical breath.

"The way they just left this room says the opposite. I still don’t believe those three are capable of anything close to love... but their body language didn’t look like they hate her the way they used to either."

Skye knew she was right.

The knowledge sat uncomfortably under her ribs. She refused to accept it. If she did—if she even admitted the possibility out loud—Rue would spiral. The hysteria, the possessiveness, the constant edge in their relationship would only get worse. And Skye could not lose her. Not over a girl who wasn’t supposed to matter.

And yet...

The image of Amelia curling over her during the attack, taking the blows meant for someone she had no real reason to protect. They weren’t friends. So why had she done it?

What are you trying to pull, Amelia?