Page 33 of Burn of Obsidian
“Why do you have those scratches along your face?” Rosey mock whispered, having been working up the courage to ask for a while.
Dorothea gasped. “Rosey Hart! That is not an appropriate – ”
“I was attacked when I was young, just a little older than you,” he answered honestly, glancing at Thea to gauge her reaction. She seemed just as curious, hiding the bottom half of her face behind her glass.
Rosey giggled, her black curls dancing around her shoulders. “Does it hurt?”
Jax shook his head, not sure how to deal with someone so young and unfamiliar with the cruelty of the world. “No, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“But it did hurt?” Her light brown eyes saddened, dipping to the end of his scar on his upper lip. “What about when you kiss Thea? Does it hurt then?”
“Rosey,” Ayden chuckled. “That’s enough.”
“Will your babies have the same scratches?” she continued, insouciantly. “Will they have Thea’s magic hands?”
Thea choked, coughing, as she settled her glass down. “Okay, I think that’s enough talking about kissing and babies.”
Dorothea grinned, laughing behind a napkin.
Rosey copied her mum, revealing the gap in her teeth. “Will my babies have magic hands?”
“Not unless you marry and have babies with someone like Thea,” Ayden said with a gentle smile. “But I think you’re a bit young.” His arm began to shake, but he hid it quickly beneath the table.
Dorothea dropped her napkin, turning to whisper softly to him. “Molly?” she said louder. “Could you get your dad’s pillows ready, please?”
Molly shot up without question, Rosey racing off behind her. “I’ll help! I’ll help!”
Ayden glanced at Thea. “Look at the first class service I get,” he chuckled.
“You’re just being spoilt now.” Thea smiled, but it wasn’t as bright as before. “Dad, go sit down. I’ll tidy up and join you.”
Dorothea started stacking the plates. “No, I’ll tidy. You go settle your father.”
Ayden stood, helped by his wife. “Jax, I would love to learn more about you next time. If my Thea will allow you to answer any of my questions, that is.” He shot his eldest daughter a grin. It seemed he knew she was evading him all along.
Jax nodded. “I look forward to that, too.” He felt Thea’s gaze on his face, her expression unreadable.
Abruptly, she shot to her feet, going around the table to subtly take her father’s arm. They moved slowly, but Ayden walked with his back straight and a smile on his face.
Cutlery clattered loudly, Dorothea watching him as she lifted the stack and turned towards the kitchen.
Jax waited a breath, collecting the rest of the plates before following her. He found her by the sink, her sleeves rolled up with bright pink washing up gloves on. They even had fur edges.
“I wash; you dry,” she said over her shoulder.
Placing his pile of plates beside her, he followed the instructions without question. The kitchen was small, pale cabinets lining parallel to the window with an open arch on each side. One led to the dining room, while the other led back out into the hall. The wooden counters were worn, old, and well-used. Scratches marked the grain, as well as a few markers and pictures of hearts, stars, and what he guessed was supposed to be a unicorn.
“So, you’re not exactly my daughter’s usual type,” she commented after a moment, her voice soft, but edged with steel.
“What’s her usual type?”
“If I tell you that, you wouldn’t have to work harder for her attention.” She raised a brow, handing him a wet plate. “She’s different, you know.”
Using the tea towel, he quickly dried it, placing it neatly on the counter beside him. “Because she’s Fae?”
Dorothea cleared her throat, her hand gripping a steak knife covered in soapy suds. “No, because she’s special.” Turning, she settled her back against the sink, the knife casually held in her right hand.
Jax couldn’t help but be amused.