Chapter 13: Three at the Table

The breakfast table at Greywater seated twelve, and for the first time in Max's memory it was nearly full.

James had taken the chair at Max's right and was buttering toast with great concentration.

Joel sat on his left, upright and silent, his scarred eyebrow lowered at the jam.

Raven sat across the table with the black book beside his plate and his green eyes on nobody.

Six servants from three packs moved around them with trays, and every one of them was trying not to look.

Max looked at his tea.

Under the cloth, a knee pressed against his.

It was a broad, hard knee, and it did not move away when he shifted.

He glanced left.

Joel was reading the sugar bowl with total attention.

"You've moved the butter," James said pleasantly.

"It was in my way," said Joel.

"It was in front of Max."

"That is where I put it."

"It was in front of Max because I put it there."

"Then it was in the wrong place."

Raven reached across the cloth, took the butter dish, and set it down exactly in the middle of the table.

He picked up his pencil again.

Nobody said anything for a moment.

"Thank you, Raven," Max said.

Raven nodded once.

At the far end of the table, the door opened and Linda came in, in a morning gown the color of primroses, with her gloves already on.

She stopped.

For six months, Joel had sat at her right hand at every meal in this house.

That chair was now filled by the Greywater cat, who had decided it was warm.

"Joel," she said, with a bright little laugh. "Your place."

"I'm comfortable here," said Joel.

"But you always sit by me."

"Do I?"

He took a slow sip of tea, and Max felt the knee against his own press harder.

Linda looked at James.

"James, darling, come and tell me about your horses."

Keep reading free with an account. Start They Took His Inheritance, He Claimed Three Alpha Mates from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.