Page 18 of Sassy Embrace

“I came here to speak with Aria about something in particular,” Claude said while Trevan closed the door behind him. “If she's resting, then perhaps we can talk."

Trevan could not conceal his shock. Claude consciously ignored it as they sailed into the kitchen together, where tea was indeed brewing in an olive green teapot. Next to it were freshly cut lemon slices.

“Lemon?” Trevan said.

Claude nodded, then shoved his hands into his pockets. Trevan quietly poured each of them a mug of steaming hot orange pekoe, then squeezed a hint of lemon into each withvigor. There was an awkwardness to the silence of the giant home, but Claude forced himself to push through it.

“Sugar?"

“No, thank you.”

“Milk?"

“Lemon works for me,” Claude said.

He took the mug and saucer from Trevan, then leaned up against the kitchen counter. Trevan stayed where he was, stirring a comically small silver spoon. He was still smiling with a smugness that bothered Claude.

The silver clinked obnoxiously against the glassware.

“I know you aren't much of a talker,” Trevan said, breaking the silence. “Aria says so. But I’m here and listening. Have a go. Let's see what I can do."

Claude held the mug and saucer in front of his face, blowing at the steam. He spoke while gazing down into the reddish-brown liquid as if scrying.

“I have been asked to oversee the reconstruction of Embraced. I'm sure Aria has told you that. And I’m working with a wolf. I’m sure you knew that too."

Claude could see Trevan nodding in his peripheral vision. He went on, treading carefully.

“While I was there, a vampire named Kim showed up. She didn't seem very fond of the idea of wolves and vampires working together. She attacked the woman I was working with. She’s fine, but if I wasn't there, I'm not sure what would have happened."

Claude gazed up at the wolf-vampire just in time to see the smug expression fall away like an autumn leaf. He turned somber, lifting the mug up to his lips, and muttered.

“Kim is Damon’s widow,” Trevan explained. “When Damon died, Kim disappeared. No one could find her. We would have reached out to her otherwise. That was nasty, nasty business."

“Indeed."

Silence hung like a heavy shroud between them. Claude had no interest in excavating the past or making Trevan feel guilty. He placed the mug on the island of marble between them and laid his palms flat against the cool surface.

“Aria needs to know. Kim fled before I had time to confront her. So if you could pass that along…”

Trevan nodded, his eyes glassy.

“I will. Thank you for coming, Claude."

Claude considered leaving, feeling his own wave of guilt for bringing up the necessary deed of taking out Damon. But then something else rose in his mind, so he went for it.

“Trevan, there's one more thing."

A diluted version of the shock that had moved over Trevan’s face when he'd first arrived rippled over the wolf-vampire, then disappeared just as fast. His voice that time seemed genuine and compassionate.

“Anything for family,” he said.

“How are things with Aria? Living life with a vampire leader like this?”

Claude waited for him to scowl, but that didn’t happen. Instead, he was met with a blank stare.

“Things? In what capacity?"

“You are half-wolf, half-vampire. You spent most of your life loathing us. Now you’re mated to one of the most influential and powerful of our kind. What allowed you to do that?"