Queen of Darkness WATTPAD VERSION [Inter-Universal Protectors: Book 3]

5

Amneris convinced herself to go down to dinner. It had nothing to do with Colt's attempt to get her to, in all honestly. Nope. It was because Nikki was the one cooking. Amneris loved the Shifter's food. She always used some sort of exotic spice in her meals - usually more than one - which made them unique. 

And delicious. 

And usually left the rest of the Court begging for more, much to Nikki's delight.

Amneris was the last person at the table. They were eating outside today, the weather having finally cleared up enough for them to sit out the large outside table. The only remaining seat was between Nikki and Colt. She sat. The latter took her hand under the table. He squeezed it and, for some reason, she felt herself relax.

She found herself look around the table as food was passed around. A few things had changed in the two years she was gone. They were becoming more obvious each day.

Leo and Nikki were sitting side-by-side, chatting in hushed whispers. Nikki would occasionally have a giggling fit. And were they holding hands?

Jay and Kayla were also beside each other but, for some reason, Kayla refused to make eye contact with her boyfriend. Clearly something had happened. Perhaps it had something to do with that other Fae woman.

Still, that wasn't what bothered Amneris the most.

What really caught her attention was how Zoe and Hathor were sitting at opposite ends of the table. They would catch each other's gaze every now and then, but would look away quickly. Amneris couldn't help but watch in, well, amazement.

"It's been like this for months now," Colt murmured as she passed her a plate of sweet-smelling meat. "They all refused to talk about it, but I've seen Jay and Dan talking. Carmin and Hathy talk alone at times, as well. Hathy and Jay have also become rather close."

"I see," she said, placing slices from the plate onto her own. "I would like to know more."

"Ask them."

"Later." Amneris passed the plate to Nikki as a bowl filled to the brim with golden-coloured rice came alone. "I don't want to ruin this meal."

"I'm glad you came to eat with us tonight, Tali," he said. "I know that must have been hard."

She shrugged slightly.

Colt kissed her cheek. "I'm proud of you."

Her face burned as she mutely passed the bowl to him.

* * * * * * * * 

The meal had been awkward, to say the last. Amneris couldn't help but blame herself for that. Colt, Leo, and Carmin had insisted while cleaning up after dinner that the rifts between Jay and Kayla and Zoe and Hathor had nothing to do with her. It didn't help. Amneris still felt responsible.

From what she'd heard, so much had gone wrong over the last two years. Even more so since her awakening a few months back. It sounded like the only good thing which had taken place was the sort-of peace treaty between Lyriumia and Terpola. Now that had been a shock.

While she was very concerned about the four of them - even Jay, much to her surprise - Amneris found herself most worried about Hathor. This was one of the few times she'd seen her daughter around the house. According to Carmin, Hathor spent the majority of the last two years at the Academy. According to the calendar on the wall, she was on break. If there was any time to talk to the girl, now was the time to do it.

She knocked on her daughter's bedroom door, only three doors down from her own.

"Come in," said a voice from inside.