Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 74

“I thought you were watching Max?” my mother inquires, and my father freezes, about to pour his gravy.

“I was. We were in the playroom,” he says, drowning his dinner in the thick gravy.

“And you watched him by yourself?” she asks.

“Yes, Soren was… on… on a very important phone call, love.” I raise an eyebrow at him. “You know how busy he is,” he shrugs, setting the gravy down.

“I told you to bring Max; at least someone would have watched him if you had come,” my mother snaps.

“I told you I was watching the boy. Ask him. We were in the playroom,” he motions to Max, who shrinks in his seat.

“Well, you

couldn’t have been watching him too well!” my mother quips, turning her attention to Max. “Max, darling, what was dear Grandpa doing while you played by yourself?” my mother asks.

“Catching flies!” Max says, then imitates my father sleeping with his mouth open and snoring.

“Is that right?” my mother asks. My father cuts him a glare.

“You little traitor, you gave me away.”

“No, Alaric. You gave yourself away by not checking a mirror before coming down here,” she tells him. He looks at her

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father snatches up the gravy pot, using the stainless–steel surface as a mirror, and gasps. He looks at all of us in disbelief that

folds his arms across his chest,

she tells him, taking a bite of her chicken. We eat in silence, barely keeping

for dinner, son.” my mother says. Damian grabs a plate and serves

with the war paint, Pa?” he asks, glancing at

is sulking about dessert.” my

for dessert?” Damian asks.

tells him and Damian

flashing with mischief. He chuckles to himself, then, noticing my father’s sour face, immediately turns solemn and says with great exaggeration, “I am sorry

about ‘disloyal offspring‘ and continues eating his dinner. Bree tries to

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up in a fit of giggles, her shoulders shaking as

I’m pleased to see that she is trying to fit in. It’s not easy

them. One goes around the table for everyone else while my father watches mournfully as his favorite dessert is passed around without stopping at him. My father reaches for it, and my mother

helps

to a second slice, helping before the plates are cleared away; my