Chapter 8 #2
Unable to bear the increasing tension between them, Selene quickly turned away and glanced around the room.
The conservatory could hardly be called small.
Its ample space held a grand piano in one corner as well as a cello, a violin, and a few guitars on stands nearby.
Soft light that filled the room came mostly from candles on the table and in sconces flanking the windows.
She felt like she’d walked into a Jane Austen novel.
Fen guided her to a small circular table that had four chairs and four wine goblets but only two plates.
He pulled out the chair in front of one of the plates, then pushed it back to the table once Selene had settled in it.
Josh did the same for Allie. Fen took the seat to Selene’s right.
Allie sat on her left with Josh between Allie and Fenris.
The door opened and Anu appeared with a bottle of wine. She showed the label to Fen.
“Sir?”
He glanced at Selene. “Do you have a preference? This is an interesting Malbec with an emphasis on spice. It will pair well with tonight’s menu.”
“That sounds lovely.”
He smiled at her and then nodded at Anu. The wood sprite uncorked the bottle, poured Selene’s glass, and began to move around the table. When Anu arrived at Allie’s side, Fen held up his hand.
“Selene?”
She looked at Allie. The girl’s eyes were large and hopeful.
“It’s fine, if she would like to have a glass.”
Allie beamed and squeezed her aunt’s hand under the table.
“One glass,” Selene clarified.
When all their glasses were filled, Fen raised his. “Welcome to our home. May this be the first of many evenings we share.”
His eyes didn’t release Selene’s as he sipped his wine. A pleasant warmth crept along her neck and wrapped around her shoulders, lingering when she broke their gaze a moment later.
Get ahold of yourself, Selene. This isn’t a date.
Selene tasted the wine, which was exquisite, then noticed the empty place settings in front of the two wolves. “You’re not eating?”
Josh looked uncomfortable, but Fen didn’t flinch.
“Humans sometimes find it difficult to watch us eat.”
Selene wasn’t sure she wanted to know but couldn’t stop herself from asking. “Why is that?”
“We only eat raw meat.”
Selene glanced at Allie with a slight frown. “But you’re a vegetarian.”
Fenris raised an eyebrow and tilted his head at Josh. “She’s a vegetarian?”
Josh looked somewhat abashed.
“I eat fish.” Allie fidgeted in her seat and looked at Fen as though seeking his approval. “Sometimes.”
“Do you have a problem with vegetarians?” Selene asked.
“It’s somewhat unnatural to us, but nothing we object to.” He turned to Allie. “You should have mentioned your preference earlier. I’m afraid we’re serving pheasant this evening. My sincere apologies.”
“That’s fine,” Allie said quickly. “I didn’t want to cause a fuss. I’ll just eat the sides.”
“Didn’t want to cause a fuss?” Selene countered with an incredulous laugh. “Allie, you always make arrangements for a vegetarian option when we go out.”
“You should try some pheasant, Allie,” Josh urged. “I’m sure you’ll like it.”
“Okay,” Allie murmured and stared at her plate.
Nope. Selene set her glass down firmly and fixed a hard gaze on Josh. Not on my watch. It unnerved her to watch Allie agree with Josh without any discussion. She’d never seen Allie behave in such a meek manner.
“Josh, Allie is a vegetarian. She’s been a vegetarian for a long time,” Selene said. “Please respect her choice to not eat meat. It’s perfectly reasonable.”
“Aunt Sel!” Allie’s eyes widened. “It’s okay. I don’t mind. I should try new things.”
Josh smiled at her.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Selene crossed her arms over her chest. She knew she was committing a cardinal sin by calling Allie out in front of other people, but this was too important to let slide.
“You haven’t eaten meat since you were ten.
You make gagging sounds if I try to grill a steak, and you refuse to eat in the same room with me. ”
“Josh,” Fen’s voice was low, almost a growl. “If Allison prefers to eat only the side dishes that have been prepared, so be it. We do not impose our preferences on our guests.”
“Yes, Fenris.” Josh suddenly cowered in his seat. “I’m sorry, Allie.”
Allie looked horrified. “No, no. Please don’t apologize. It’s fine.”
Her eyes threw daggers at Selene.
The door to the conservatory opened again, and two more wood sprites appeared, bearing trays loaded with grilled asparagus, glazed carrots, roasted red potatoes, and the aforementioned pheasant.
A young man with fingers like twigs carved the bird and placed slices of steaming meat on Selene’s plate.
“None for the young lady, Gil,” Fen said.
“I’ll have a small piece, please,” Allie interjected and wouldn’t look at her aunt.
Selene’s lips pressed together in disapproval, but she remained silent.
Josh winked at Allie, which Selene didn’t appreciate at all.
If she thought Allie was making the choice for any other reason than to please Josh, she wouldn’t have made a fuss.
Then again, maybe Allie was insisting on having the pheasant because Selene had embarrassed her.
Ugh. How am I supposed to know when to put my foot down and when to mind my own business?
Fen watched without comment. Part of Selene wished he would reprimand Josh again, but that would mean ignoring Allie’s decision. As much as she didn’t like Allie changing her behavior for Josh, it was her choice, and Fen seemed to be respecting that, which Selene couldn’t fault him for.
Selene and Allie began to eat in uneasy silence, stainless steel utensils clinking against china, until Fen spoke up.
“Selene, your professional accomplishments are impressive. How did you come into your line of work?”
She’d been savoring the pheasant, which had her taste buds jumping for joy, and was startled by the question. She chewed quickly and swallowed.
“In college I did a lot of volunteer work for the causes I was interested in and completed a couple of internships,” she told him.
“I started doing consulting and public relations for nonprofits on a part-time basis when Allie’s mom and I lived together in Los Angeles.
I realized that work was my passion, and I’m lucky that I was able to build a successful career out of it as an independent contractor. ”
“I don’t think luck had anything to do with it,” Fen replied, tipping his glass toward her.
She smiled at him. “Thank you for your generous contributions. They are deeply appreciated.”
“Don’t thank me,” he said. “The causes are worthy.”
“I’m glad you think so.” She picked up her wine glass. The liquid gleamed like garnet in the candlelight. “Running your own business can be a lot of work. I couldn’t move to Avondale until a few days ago because I was in the middle of a campaign.”
She smiled apologetically at her niece.
“Come on, Aunt Sel,” Allie said. “You know I’m proud of what you do. It’s great.”
“And do you mind making your home in Avondale?” he asked. “Many in your position would prefer living in the city.”
Selene tensed and stared at her dark-red wine. Her next thought seemed strange and disconcerting.
Blood in the water.
“There was no question of moving here,” she answered. “Allie’s happiness is what matters.”
When Selene noticed Allie biting her lip, she quickly added, “And Avondale couldn’t be more lovely.”
Selene suspected Fenris knew she was holding back, but this dinner wasn’t the place to voice her doubts about staying in Avondale.
“What did Emma tell you about our town?” Fen prompted.
Selene shifted in her chair. His questions felt oddly leading, as if he already knew the answers but was digging for something beneath them. It didn’t quite make her uncomfortable, but it did leave her wary.
“Very little.” She focused on cutting her meat into smaller bites than necessary so she could speak without looking at Fen. All the while she fought to regain some sense of control over the conversation. “Emma moved here a few years after—”
She looked at Allie. They didn’t avoid talking about Emma, but it was never easy. And they rarely talked about Daniel leaving. She wasn’t about to plunge into this emotional quagmire without Allie’s agreement.
Allie was pushing her piece of pheasant around her plate and didn’t seem to have eaten a single morsel of the meat.
“It’s okay.” Allie reached under the table to clasp Selene’s hand. “I’ve talked to Josh about Mom and my dad . . . and what happened.”
Selene nodded, waiting for a moment to give Allie a chance to change her mind. When Allie stayed quiet, Selene steeled herself and lifted her eyes to meet Fen’s steady gaze.
“You know that Allie’s mother, Emma, was killed,” she said quietly. “It was devastating for both of us. It still is. But I’m thankful every day that Allie is in my life and that we’re able to be together.”
“Me too,” Allie said, giving Selene a sad smile.
Fen steepled his fingers, then asked, “Allie’s father didn’t object to you assuming guardianship?”
The question startled Selene and riled her temper. Was this really any of his business?
“Allie’s father isn’t in the picture,” Selene said curtly. “He’s been gone for a long time.”
“You have no idea what happened to Allie’s father?” Fen’s tone was dark. “Or where he is now?”
Selene gritted her teeth. She was on the verge of demanding why he thought he had the right to ask, but Allie interjected.
“His name was Daniel Brix. He left when I was little. Or went missing. Or something. I only kind of remember him. When I asked Mom about him, it made her sad, so I stopped asking and basically started thinking of him as a sperm donor.”