Daegan's POV
I stood in the shadow of the staircase, not intending to intrude on their mother-daughter talk.
But in those few minutes, every flicker of tension on Lilith's face was plain to me.
When she picked at her nail for the third time, I even caught the faint metallic scent of blood. That was all it took to jolt my wolf to full alert.
My mate was unsettled. I wasn't about to sit back and let that happen.
"Lunch is ready." My voice reached them before my steps did.
Lilith's head snapped up, her eyes wide with panic.
Vera didn't so much as flinch. She turned gracefully toward me, lips curving in a practiced smile, the kind that belonged to a gracious matron. "Yes, it is lunchtime indeed."
She didn't rise. Instead, she shifted into a more comfortable position, making it clear sh
