Everyone at the table waited on Mr. Damon to react, but he just kept eating his steak, as if nothing had just occurred. 'I'll check on her,' Alessia thought, and got up to leave. 'No.' Mr. Damon said, with finality. She halted her movements, and slowly sat back down. Everyone was staring at him. As the minutes ticked by and silence ensued, Alessia began to get angry, 'how can you just sit there, when she is obviously upset.'
'She isn't upset. She's overwhelmed by her senses. You have to give her time to adjust,' he thought, taking another bite of the meat on his plate.
'You don't know her like we do. We have spent years, getting to know her. We put in the time and effort.' Alessia thought with frustration.
'I may not know this version of her yet, but I do her. I also know the awakening process and she needs a minute for herself. Besides, when the joining process is complete, I will know her every aspect of who she is now,' he replied, taking another bite of his steak.
'It must be so nice to have cheat codes,' Alessia thought cheekily.
'Sire,' Alex quickly interrupted, to pull the focus away from Alessia. 'This presents an opportune moment to get closer to her. Why don't you go check on her instead?'
'What am I supposed to do?' He thought.
Carmichael chimed in as well, 'Show concern for her wellbeing.'
Mr. Damon was not used to that way anymore. Everyone was always concerned with his favor, not the other way around.
'What am I supposed to say?'
'Ask her if she's alright!' Alessia replied with frustration.
'The attitude isn't necessary, Less.' He thought, giving her a stern eye. He knew she hated that nickname and took this opportunity, to poke the angry little bear.
She glared back at him. He chuckled, and returned to more pressing matters, his food.
He sat there, chewing bite after bite and thinking about their words.
"If you don't, then I will!" Alessia warned.
"You're being awfully antagonistic, this evening, Less." He warned back.
She smirked and quickly fluttered her eyes, to annoy him.
Liam nudged her under the table and gave her a wide eyed look. "What?" She asked, "All of you treat him with kid gloves. No one wants to be blunt about anything, anymore." She spoke.
"They treat me with the respect, I deserve." He replied.
"Ha! You've bullied them with your position! What happened to you, over the years, cousin?" She asked.
I've matured, you should try it sometime." He shot back.
She had, had enough. "Do you really believe that you will win her heart, like this?" She asked him.
"Her heart is already mine, I claimed it a long time ago." He replied, with the same smirk and eye flutter, she had given him a moment ago.
"She is not the same person Cyrus! If you think the awakening is going to drive her back into your arms, you're sadly mistaken! You will only push her away behaving like this, and it will be all your fault!" Her chest was heaving and nostrils flaring.
"Just because I have never punished you for your insubordination, doesn't mean I will keep letting it slide." He seethed.
She smiled in his face, "Do it then! I'm sure she'll jump right into your arms, when she sees the cruelty that you've become. Especially toward any of us." She seethed back.
"You think, she will protect you from me, don't you?" He asked with a laugh.
"I don't need anyone to protect me, from you, Cyrus." She stated casually.
"How do you deal with her Liam? I would've had her locked away by now, if she were mine." He asked.
"Is that what you plan to do to her?" Alessia smirked.
Liam held up his hands, as if to say, I'm not in this.
'Coward!' She thought. Liam's mouth fell open in surprise.
'I see who wears the pants in this union.' Cyrus thought.
'Sire,' Carmichael intervened, 'Alessia is right.'
Everyone turned to look at him, with wide eyes.
'About?' He asked.
'Everything.' He thought, not looking up, but continuing to eat his food, as if everything was still right with the world.
Cyrus sighed heavily and sat there. Their words irked him, but a small part of him could see the truth in their words, through his delusions.
A moment later, he picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. He removed his suit jacket and hung it on the back of his chair. Without looking at any of them, 'Stay here, all of you.' he left the room, to find her.
'Well I'm not going to be able to eat until I know she's okay.' Alessia thought. Liam put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head. 'It'll be okay, we haven't even hit critical levels yet.' He thought, with a humorous smile.
"I'm glad you can joke at a time like this." She replied annoyed.
'I told you it was going to be catastrophic,' he thought laughing out loud.
Everyone around the table glared at him. 'What?' He thought, 'come on, you all know how he is.'
'That's what worries me,' Alessia replied.
The thought of her friend having to deal with this version of Cyrus, made her skin crawl. If any one of them knew what she knew, they'd all agree with her. But that wasn't the way it was. She was the keeper, held by an oath to keep more than just a necklace.