A knot of unease twisted in Christina's gut as she watched the intimate exchange. Reylan's surprised expression mirrored her own, while Beatrix clung to his arm with a possessive grip. The sight was too much to bear that she moved to leave, but her foot slipped on the slick floor.
Before she could fall again, a strong hand wrapped around her shoulder. Reylan's grip was firm, steadying her. "You will break something at this rate," he murmured. His voice held a note of mockery, but beneath it, she detected a hint of worry.
As they left the kitchen, Theodore's stern gaze followed them. "Behave," he warned Beatrix, his voice as cold as the winter chill, "or you will end up being a full-fledged cat forever." His suspicion had been aroused when she expressed a sudden desire to meet her new sister-in-law. His intuition had been right; she was here to stir trouble.
