Children of Sun and Peace

Chapter 58. - Family Dinner

There was chatter coming from the next room as Freya and Anaya silently approached the doorway. Four men sat on various sofas, glasses in their hands while they discussed strategies for Royal trials. Well, three of them were discussing. Azazeal simply sat back and watched, his usual silent self. He sensed Freya immediately because it took less than two seconds for him to turn his attention in her direction.

"Boys, are you really out here discussing battle tactics without us?" Anaya interrupted the heated conversation, her voice back to its mischievous tones, her grief and pain now buried deep within like it never existed.

"You must've heard wrong, my love. We wouldn't dare," one of the men chuckled and Freya realized he was the only one in the room she didn't recognize. Anaya just rolled her eyes at him, clearly seeing through his obvious lie.

"You are lucky I love you," Anaya said. "Freya, meet my husband Alaric. You've already met my brother Atticus, I believe?" She introduced the two men who were not Freya's mate and his twin brother. Freya's eyes landed first on Anaya's husband, who looked like an older version of twins, specifically Aaron with his dark brown eyes. Then she looked at Atticus, whom she indeed recognized as the very general with an eye patch who practically observed her rise within the Midnight Army before signing her up for those stupid trials without her consent. And all that happened without her really knowing his first name.

"Yeah, we've met," Freya replied and shook hands with both men, suppressing her urge to practically salute to Anaya's brother. It was a strange feeling as Freya was technically now a higher rank than he was, but old habits die hard. Especially if old habits were drilled in by the Midnight army. Atticus Silverstar, as she realized, was the last man standing from his own family. While his sister lost a child, Atticus lost everyone. According to Az and Aaron, his mate as well as two children were executed by the Queen, leaving only one daughter, Arachne. But the battlefields of Winterlands took her away also. It made Freya wonder how this man was still standing after losing so much. But then again, could he afford to break? He was the Silverstar Clan alpha if all the clues including his family tragedy were any hint. Maybe giving up simply wasn't an option.

"I remember how you stood at the gates of this city two years ago, too tiny to be a Northern wolf, but somehow determined to make it. You may not appreciate my methods, but look at you today. What a fine Shadow you made," Atticus chuckled at Freya's detached attitude. It was clear to her that the ability to rile her up ran in this family, because once again all she wanted to do was to slap the man. But she was smarter now then to just let him provoke her. Not today, not ever again.

"I'm a survivor, Atticus. Your methods may annoy me, but you are far from the worst obstacle I've ever had to face," Freya said, her voice cold as ice. A clear warning. She may have initially forgotten herself, but she was no longer his inferior. And she was done having her choices taken away from her. By anyone.

"Okay, how about that dinner? I'm starving," Aaron was the first one to realize the conversation was not heading in the best direction and decided to break it apart before any damage could be done.

"Yes, let's eat!" Alaric exclaimed, quickly catching on.

"Sure," Freya's stone cold expression turned into a dashing smile, once again proving just how good she now was at controlling and switching her emotions at will. How couldn't she be? She was a Shadow after all. And the general she shared the table with tonight was one of those who approved her training.

The first part of the dinner went on in silence and Freya found herself unsure whether it was necessarily uncomfortable as much as it was haunting. It was clear this house was all too big for just the people at this table and a few servants. The silence was so haunting in fact, Freya kept expecting screaming and laughter echo through the hallways from ghosts who inevitably roamed this place, forever stuck in memory for ongoing bloodshed between two families who in true werewolf fashion lived to kill one another. She should have been numb to it by now. She was numb to it. But the portrait of Amelia Silverstar was stuck in her head. A girl she never got to meet, whom she knew nothing of. Az and Aaron certainly never mentioned her either. And yet somehow she was maybe the most prominent ghost of this place. Unlike her cousins, whom Freya would more expect to adorn clan house hallways, it was her portrait that hung on the wall side by side with kings and queens.

A reminder.

"So, Freya, tell us a bit about you. We've been hoping to meet you for years now! It's been a while since any of our grown up children brought a mate home," Alaric spoke once they got to a second course, an almost raw steak along with roasted potatoes. Freya's canines itched at the smell of deer blood in the piece of meat in front of her. It looked delicious, but the words of her father-in-law broke the moment and caused a slight panic to rise in her chest. Yes, she was considered part of the clan as far as Anaya seemed to be concerned. But she swore no oaths to them. And she didn't trust Atticus. Not with her secrets.

"I... uh... I'm not that interesting really," she said, trying to keep a casual face.

"You don't have to share anything beyond Duskfall. In fact, don't," Az said in her head. She sent him feeling of gratefulness down the mate bond and he squeezed her thigh beneath the table in reassurance. She wasn't ready to share the truth of who she was with anyone but her inner circle yet. She wasn't sure she'd ever be. There were questions that came with her past. And prejudice too. Southern wolves were practically taboo in Northern society. Why wouldn't they be? They were descendants of the traitor after all.

"Come on, give us something," Alaric winked. He had the best intentions. Freya could tell. It was clear he was nothing like Atticus. Or Anaya even. He was casual, cheerful and ordinary in a way Freya couldn't quite describe.

"Uhm I was a thief in Duskfall when I met Az and Aaron and the rest of our friends," Freya finally said awkwardly before realizing that maybe that wasn't the best information to share either. However Alaric began to laugh at her statement.

"Why doesn't that surprise me," he said and Freya wasn't sure if she should be relieved or offended.

"So was this something that ran in the family?" Atticus asked slyly and Freya tensed. Unlike Alaric, it was clear Atticus had very different intentions with his question. What they were, she couldn't tell, but she didn't like it. Anaya and the twins seemed to be ready to speak up, likely sensing the same, but Freya didn't need defense from others. Not anymore.

"No. My family were cowards who gave me up and left me to die the moment I became too ambitious to handle. I was a thief because I had no choice if I didn't want to die," Freya said flatly, but the now familiar darkness began to rise in her chest. Her alpha power, which Az unwittingly shared with her and which only grew with every Royal Trial victory.

"And it was during that time I found out I don't like my choices being taken away from me," she added afterwards, authority practically dripping from her voice. And for the first time ever there was something in Atticus' eyes she's never seen there before. Just a small hint, a flash of fear. Good. He helped create the monster she was. It was time for him to reap what he sowed.

"I think it's time for dessert. And also for you, dear brother, to stop messing with my family," Anaya practically hissed at Atticus, much to Freya's surprise. The resentment Anaya's eyes showed when looking at her brother was suddenly palpable. What happened between the two siblings.

"Don't worry, ma. He knows what the deal is. He wouldn't dare mess with us. Isn't that right, uncle?" Azazeal spoke as he threw arm over Freya's chair. It was a casual gesture but his words were a clear threat. Azazeal looked so casual, amused even, as he said them, but what lay underneath was utterly terrifying. It reminded Freya just who her mate really was. A criminal. An assassin who killed the Ice Queen.