“We tried.” Jaylyn said. “She was already gone. I don’t think she slept after we left. If she did, it wasn’t for very long.”
“Like thirty seconds, maybe.” Ruby grumbled.
Zayden just looked at us standing around him and he didn’t hesitate to leave the room to the dining hall. He wasn’t stupid and I was glad of it. He had a right to fight for her.
The dining hall was empty until the kitchen door opened and we heard the laughter.
Adele and Sedrik were coming out towards us while Sedrik untied his apron and took it off, finally seeing us when he did it. “Come sit, sit. My home is your home.” We walked over and sat down at the table. “Zayden, I’m glad you decided to come. I would hope that our previous encounter has not reflected your decision to join us this evening as I give you my most humble apologies if I offended you in such a way.”
Rift was naturally at Zayden’s feet and growled very lowly but Zayden didn’t say anything, that is, until Adele looked over at him and silently insisted that he respond to Sedrik’s apology. It was quite clever and I tried not to laugh. “That’s very noble of you, Sedrik but you need not to apologize for I was the one who was coarse. I should have known your intellect would have been on a low level for such a discussion.”
“Zayden!” Adele said quickly.
Sedrik put up his hand. “It’s all right, Adele. We’re all adults here but if Zayden wants to contribute to childish games, he has every right to.”
“Your majesty.” The moment was interrupted by a servant.
He leaned into Sedrik and whispered so we couldn’t hear or I couldn’t at least and Sedrik sighed. “Didn’t we all just go over this, this morning? Do I have to come in there and show them myself?”
“If you would like it done at all, sir, I suggest that you do.”
“All right. Tell them I’ll be right there and someone better get it this time before I completely lose it!” He stood up and the servant walked back into the kitchen. “Please excuse me, the head chef is kind of short on patience when it comes to the ignorance of others and it seems that I am the only other person here that knows how to cook something properly. I’ll have them run right out with the main course in just a moment.” Sedrik started walking to the kitchen, shouting to the servants as he entered. “All right people! Look alive! I’m only showing you this one more time and would someone please send out the entrees before our guest suffer from a hunger disorder! Thank you!”
Adele smiled to it until she looked over at Zayden and that smile immediately left her face. “Have you completely lost your mind?”
“Seriously, Love—”
“I don’t even want to hear it. In fact, I don’t want to hear you say another word to him for the remaining of the night. Got it?”
I wanted to say something. Surely she would have changed things if she truly knew what she was doing but I didn’t. Zayden didn’t want anyone’s help and I didn’t want him to think I thought I was the right person to fix this. I knew I wasn’t. He was if only he could get to Adele somehow.
Some servants came in and set a plate of food down in front of us. I was ready for it after this long day and started eating.
“Sorry about that.” Sedrik said, coming back to the table. “New chain in command. They aren’t used to guests just yet. Dogs seem to be easier to train.”
“That’s quite all right, Sedrik.” Adele replied. “We were unexpected.”
“Speaking of dogs, do you still have Brutus?” Jaylyn asked.
Sedrik smiled and brought his fingers to his mouth and whistled. I heard the sound of loud footprints running towards the door and looked to it. It pushed open and a very large, dark gray dog came running in towards the table. Rift started to growl instantly but Zayden put his hand down to silence him. He was just a pup, maybe forty pounds. He probably didn’t want him to get in a skirmish with a dog that might have had a hundred pounds on him.
“Brutus! Sit!” Sedrik shouted.
The dog stopped running and slid on the floor all the way next to Sedrik and sat down, the top of his head coming up to Sedrik’s shoulder. Big for a domestic dog but after seeing how big Ryon was as a wolf, all dogs seemed small. He seemed obedient and didn’t even notice Rift in the room. Zayden kept him under the table so hopefully he wouldn’t.
“Good dog.” Sedrik tossed him some of his food and he caught it. “Remember the girls? They’ve been wondering about you.” A loud bark echoed through the dining hall. “Why don’t you go say hello?”
The dog actually obeyed everything he said and got up and walked over to Jaylyn. He sat in front of her and put his paw up on her lap and she pet his head. “Hey, Brutus. You’ve gotten big.”
He barked again and walked over to Ruby as he did the same thing. “Last time we saw you, you were just a pup but you’re definitely not anymore.”
The dog barked again and walked over to Adele. It only made us nervous because he was now closer to Rift but showed no threat to Adele. He sat down in front of her and did the same thing as with the other two. “Wow, look at you. You sure did grow into those paws.”
Sedrik laughed. “And then some. All right, Brutus that’s enough. Down.”
He started to walk back over to Sedrik until he started sniffing around and approached Zayden. He started to growl lowly then barked. Rift was growling under the table and Zayden kept gesturing so he wouldn’t come out.
“Brutus! Enough!” Sedrik shouted. “Get over here and sit!” Brutus did just that. He backed away and sat down next to Sedrik. “Sorry about that. Did you bring your dog? He’s not used to others. I actually don’t even think he’s seen another dog.”
“It’s fine.” Zayden said, ignoring Adele’s rule about not saying another word to him. “He wouldn’t want to get into a fight with mine.”
Sedrik seemed amused because he was insinuating Rift could take him but I didn’t completely believe that, not until he was full grown anyway. Then maybe.
“Teaching him in the ways of combat like yourselves? What breed is it?”
“He’s not a breed. He’s a pureblood.”
“He’s a Kaluian wolf.” Adele interrupted, trying to make polite of the conversation. “Zayden took him in from a friend and they’ve become inseparable. It’s sweet.”
Sedrik was even more amused since she chimed in but Zayden still had that tone in his voice of being superior. “We’re family in more ways than you could realize.”
Troy and I smiled while we sat in silence but it was true and it was something we didn’t even get to mention to the girls yet.
“I know what you mean.” Sedrik said, petting his dog’s head. “So are we.”
I doubted that very much.
“Your majesty—”
“Let me guess. There’s another problem and you need me to come and fix it as usual because every one of you is in fact, worthless. Am I right?”
“Yes, sir.”
Sedrik sighed in frustration and got up from his chair again. “Adele, I’d hate to pull you away from your dinner but I’m going to need someone else in there that knows what they’re doing. Do you think you could assist me for just a moment?”
Adele nodded and got up with him. “Sure, Sedrik.”
“Brutus, stay.”
They went into the kitchen.
“This is how it starts, you know?” Jaylyn said. “They’re in there right now bonding and then she’ll soon realize just how perfect he is. Not saying that I think he’s perfect, I mean to say that would mean I actually think he is when I clearly don’t.”
Ruby laughed. “You might want to start filling your mouth with food before you go saying the wrong thing, Jaylyn.”
She agreed by taking a bite of something.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
Ruby looked over at Jaylyn and quickly took a bite of something too.
“I don’t believe it.” Troy said. “You two have a thing for him, don’t you?”
“Wha
t?!” Jaylyn bursts out. “A thing?! No!”
“Yeah, you do.” I said. “What does he have that we don’t?”
“Why are you getting all defensive?” Ruby asked. “He’s not trying to win us over.”
“Lucky for us.” Troy muttered.
“Shh.” Jaylyn whispered. “They’re coming back.”
Sedrik and Adele walked out of the kitchen and over to the table.
“Sorry about that—again.”
“That’s okay.” Jaylyn smiled. “Is everything all right?”
“It’d better be now.”
“Of course it is.” Ruby said. “We know you can handle anything.”
It was harder to stay quiet about the things happening around him. Now it was like they were all doing it and it got worse when Sedrik smiled. “That’s true. It’s a gift. You two always have known me better than me. Can’t change that.”
I looked over at Troy and he was expressing the same thing. Now we were both keeping a close eye on him around our wives and did it without being noticed.
“So, how is everything?” Sedrik asked. “To your liking I hope.”
“Everything is great.” Adele said. “Thank you for inviting us.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. As you know, Lecca is home to some of the most exotic foods in the world. Once you’ve gotten a taste, it’s hard to control yourself from indulging in the pleasures a second time.”
He glanced up at Zayden with a smile from saying it and this night was only getting worse and worse but I was proud of Zayden for not letting his gift get the best of him and just kill him already.
“You know just talking of food reminds me of that trip to the bakery. Do you remember?” Adele asked.
Ruby, Jaylyn and Sedrik laughed and talked while we sat with no clue about what happened.
“I so remember that!” Ruby said.
“Yeah, me too!” Jaylyn said.
“And of course I do. They still won’t let me back there.” Sedrik said.
“What?!”
“You’re kidding!” Adele said.
“No, I’m not. Not after that. There’s no way I would even think about walking passed that place. She holds a grudge, big time.”
“I still remember the look on her face once the flour stopped falling!”
“Me too!” Ruby laughed. “We’ve never ran so fast in our lives!”
“Like it mattered though.” Sedrik added. “We left a trail wherever we went. Then getting it all off us was something else entirely.”
“Yeah, you couldn’t even tell Ruby’s hair was red! It was just pure white!” Jaylyn laughed.
“That’s his fault.” Ruby said as she pointed at Sedrik.
“What? Me? I swear to you that was not intentional. You only got hit so badly because you were standing closest.”
“Well, I never want to do that again. It wasn’t so funny at the time.”
“It is looking back on it though.” Adele said. “I guess that’s how those things work.”
Sedrik laughed. “See? I told you we’d all laugh about this one day.”
They laughed together like we weren’t in the room at all and I didn’t like it; I didn’t want to be here anymore.
“Well, I’m done.” Ruby said after a few moments of silence, allowing herself to eat.
“Me too.” Jaylyn added.
“Yeah, I guess we should be getting to bed now.” Adele said as the three of them stood up. “Thanks, Sedrik, for the food and the memories.”
“Anything for you three, you know that.” He stood up as each of them approached him and thanked him by kissing him on the cheek.
“Are you guys coming?” Adele asked us.
Zayden looked at Sedrik and then up at her. “You go. We’ll be there in a minute.”
“Don’t be long.”
“Come on, Brutus. You can stay with us tonight.” Jaylyn said.
The dog looked up at Sedrik for his approval. “Hmmm. Tempting offer. I’d take it before it gets away.” Brutus barked and followed the girls out of the dining hall.
We stayed behind like Zayden wanted of us and kept glancing up at Sedrik from across the table.
“Your girls are quite delightful. You are truly lucky men.” Sedrik sat back down and held up his glass to us.
“Yes, we are.” Zayden replied. “But you can stop pretending now, they’re gone. We all know what you’re really like.”
“Oh, Zayden, you always were so determined to see things your way, even as a child but you’re forgetting something.”
“Oh, really and what might that be?”
“We’re not children anymore and if I so choose, as King, I could tell you that your marriages aren’t honored here and have every one of your girls as my own.”
I sat tense. I’d like to see him try.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Sedrik laughed. “Oh, of course not. It’d be all too easy. You know I live for a challenge.”
“You’re over your head on this one, Sedrik. You forget what we can do if you pursue this.”
“Oh, right, right. The Great Seni Fighters come to call. Are you going to kill me, Zayden? Is that you’re plan?”
“It’s crossed my mind once or twice.”
“It’s because I’m a threat. You’re worried that Adele will realize who she should truly be with and when she does, she’ll come crawling back and I think I just might permit her to stay down there for a while, you know what I mean? She’s always been quite the enthusiast.”
Zayden immediately stood up and Troy and I stood up after him. “You can go ahead and think whatever you want but know that will never happen. So, I suggest you should be the one to worry.”
We turned our backs to Sedrik and walked out.
“Wow.” Troy muttered. “Trever was right about him, wasn’t he?”
“Yup. He covers it well around the others.”
“I’m sure that’s part of his plan.” I said. “We better all keep an eye on him.”
Chapter 50
Troy
That was by far the worst dinner I’ve ever been to. I walked back a little tempered. The girls were clearly hung over him in some way and it was worse to me that Jaylyn was. I didn’t want her to stay here another minute but it would at least have to be for the night.
The three of them were sitting up on one of the beds with Brutus when we entered and Adele immediately scolded Zayden. “You didn’t hit him again, did you?”
“No. Wanted to but didn’t.” Adele glared and it was painful to watch. How could she not see it? “Shit, Love. You didn’t notice what he was doing at all?”
“What do you mean? We were having a polite conversation.”
I turned away and acted like I just didn’t hear that after getting to know the real Sedrik. She was completely—distracted.
“Come on, Adele. I didn’t want to get involved but he’s not exactly how we remember.” Ruby said. “Yes, he is still extremely charming and just as good looking but he’s doing that to try and win you back. Even I can see that. Why can’t you?”
“That’s crazy! Is this how everyone feels?” No one said a word though we all wanted to. “All right. Fine.” She got up and started walking to the door.
“Where are you going?” Zayden asked.
“I’m going to ask him myself.”
She left the room and Zayden turned to Ruby with just a look. “I’m on it.” She got up and left right after her.
We were left standing in the room with Jaylyn petting Brutus on the bed and he started to growl at us or at least Rift who was clung to Zayden’s ankles.
“Get that dog out of here.” Zayden said.
“Oh, he won’t do anything.” Jaylyn put her arms around the dog’s neck like she was hugging him. “You can’t be mad at him because you don’t like his master. Brutus is sweet.”
“Just like you think Sedrik is sweet?” I was thinking it but even more surprised in myself that I actually said it out loud
.
Jaylyn’s reaction was somewhat unplanned. She looked at me like she used to look at Kole when she was mad at him and her voice sounded more like Adele’s. “I really hope you’re not serious.”
“You didn’t exactly try to hide how you felt.” The truth.
“I don’t feel anything!”
“Oh, please. You and Ruby were practically drooling like that damn dog.”
“His name is Brutus and you’re really in a bad position to be making me mad right now.”
“Really? How am I making you mad because you know I’m right?”
“You really better watch it. There is only four people in this world he obeys and you are getting on the wrong side of one of them. So, if you don’t want to be torn to pieces, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”
“You think I’d let that dog close enough to me to do that?”
“His name is Brutus and you would have to because you left this over here.” Jaylyn reached behind her and picked up my sword.
She planned this or at least saw this coming in some way.
“You put that there didn’t you?”
She just smiled, proving that I was right. “You’re not the only one who thinks of everything.” I took a step forward toward her in anger but that mutt next to her sat up and started growling at me. “I wouldn’t come over here if I were you.”
I was only getting madder. I pointed at her and took a deep breath, trying to calm all this fury while saying all things foul in my head. “You are completely—” My anger made me pause and turn away, not finishing my sentence.
“I’m completely what, Troy?”
“Blinded!”
“Oh, I’m blinded? Really? I can’t believe you! Do you actually think that I’m like everyone else around here?!”
I calmed my voice when hers started to crack from being upset. “I never said that.”
“You don’t have to say it! It’s pretty clear that that’s what you’re thinking!”
“Now, wait a second.”
“Just forget it. I can’t be around you right now. Come, Brutus. We’re leaving.” She walked to the door leading outside in the gardens and the dog followed.
Forgotten Days (Fate's Intent Book 6) Page 22
