“As interesting as that sounds,” Colbert replied, “supper is ready. I’ve been asked to escort everyone to the dining room.” He peered inside, studying Reid. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine.” Then to Dexter, she whispered, “Do you need a moment alone with your brother?” She wasn’t sure if anyone had informed Colbert of his father’s passing.
“I do need to talk to him,” Dexter said. “But I’m famished. We’ll talk after we eat.” He stood, pulling Reid up with him.
When Reid stepped into the hallway, Finn jumped on her, knocking her against the wall. She laughed as he licked her chin.
“Don’t let him jump on you,” Colbert said before ordering Finn to heel.
“I don’t mind.” Reid straightened her tunic.
“I didn’t ask you if you minded.” Colbert shook his head. “I don’t want him jumping on people.”
Markis exited one of the rooms, joining them in the hallway. “Where’s Gytha?”
“She’s still at the palace,” Dexter answered.
Markis rubbed the nape of his neck. “Who accompanied your group here?”
“No one,” Dexter replied. “We’re the only ones who made it out.”
“I’m sure Gytha will be fine,” Markis said as he made his way down the steps, everyone following him. “I’m going to do a perimeter run.” He exited the manor.
Reid also worried about Nara. Thankfully, the princess was a fighter and could defend herself. However, with Henrick’s death, Reid didn’t know what state of mind Nara would be in.
The group made their way toward the dining room. At the threshold, Reid froze, unable to cross. She stepped to the side, leaning against the wall as Ackley, Gordon, and Colbert entered. Sucking in a deep breath, she blew it out, trying to calm her racing heart. Her parents were in there.
“Are you okay?” Dexter asked, his deep voice rumbling through her.
She nodded, unable to speak. What would she say to her mother? Where would she begin the conversation? How are you alive? And what about Reid’s father? He was the one person she depended on and loved the most. How could he have lied to her for all these years?
Leaning down, Dexter slid his fingers around hers, clutching her hand. “You don’t have to speak to your parents right now,” he whispered. “Just go in there, eat, and listen to what they have to say. After supper, we’ll figure this out.” He pulled her away from the wall.
She untangled her hand from Dexter’s. If Reid’s father had lied to her and she knew him well, how could she trust this man whom she barely knew? What was to prevent Dexter from lying to her?
“If you’d rather head back to our bedchamber, go ahead. I’ll bring your food up later.” He took a step toward the dining room, waiting for her decision.
Everyone was in there, expecting Reid to walk through the door and join them for supper. If she hid in her room, she’d only be putting off the inevitable. At some point, she’d have to talk to them. Better to just get it over with. “No. I’ll face my parents.” She imagined invisible armor surrounding her. Later, when she was alone, she’d try to figure out how she felt about this.
“You’ve got bigger balls than I do,” Dexter murmured. “I’m not sure I could do what you’re about to.”
She glared. “Now you tell me?”
He chuckled. “Let’s go.” Taking hold of Reid’s hand, he tugged her into the dining room before coming to an abrupt halt. Reid bumped into him. “I was hoping you’d be here.”
Reid peered around Dexter’s massive shoulders to see who he was speaking to. She blinked, trying to banish the ghost of Prince Henrick, who stood next to Colbert, looking alive and well.
Dexter released Reid’s hand, rushing straight to his father and hugging him. “I wasn’t sure if you were faking your illness or not.”
“Sorry, son.” Henrick hugged him back. “I couldn’t risk anyone knowing.”
Fury built inside Reid. “Is no one dead who’s supposed to be dead?” she snapped, sick of the lying and deceit.
“Why doesn’t everyone take a seat?” Anna said.
Reid swallowed the ten nasty retorts hovering on the tip of her tongue. She needed to do as Dexter said and hear her parents out. Afterward, she could process everything and decide how to proceed. Rolling her shoulders back, she went over to an empty chair and sat. Ackley plopped on the chair next to her.
“Move,” Dexter ordered.
Ackley chuckled. “There’s a chair on her other side, cousin.”
Dexter mumbled something unintelligible, then sat on the chair to Reid’s left. Gordon sat on Dexter’s other side, her grandparents at either end of the table. Anna, Duke Ellington, Colbert, and Henrick settled across from Reid. It felt like a lifetime since she’d been here. So much had changed.
“What about Mother?” Dexter asked, addressing his father.
Glad for the distraction, Reid surreptitiously observed Anna, who seemed oblivious to the tension radiating through the room as she carefully spooned potatoes on her plate. Her aloofness made Reid want to scream.
“Your mother and I never discussed it,” Henrick answered. “I couldn’t risk anyone overhearing that conversation. She believed I was poisoned until the day of your wedding when Seb dressed as a Melenia soldier and snuck a dead body into the palace. Once the body was in my bed, I managed to get out through the secret passageways. Your mother agreed to remain behind in order to maintain the ruse.”
“Do I even want to know where the dead body came from?” Dexter asked, raising a single eyebrow.
“A farmer a few miles out died from a heart attack.”
Reid scrutinized Dexter, trying to determine if he was upset with his father for leaving his mother behind. What if something happened to her?
Ackley handed Reid a bowl of potatoes. Taking it, she scooped a helping on her plate before pushing the bowl toward Dexter.
Dexter folded his arms, leaning back in his chair. “What’s the plan?”
“There will be plenty of time to discuss it later,” Anna said. “For now, let’s enjoy supper.”
Reid cocked her head. “Enjoy supper?” Was her mother delusional? “How are we supposed to enjoy supper when a foreign army is in Marsden, our people are in danger, and those we love and care for are stuck in the palace and we have no idea if they’re all right?”
Dexter slid his hand onto Reid’s thigh, squeezing it gently. “I agree with Reid,” he said, surprising her. “We need to strategize. Everything else can wait.”
“Very well,” Anna said, setting her fork down. “I thought we’d have a nice meal, but if you wish to discuss what I have planned, we can do that.”
Dexter bristled. It was Reid’s turn to slide her hand onto his thigh, gripping it so he’d maintain his composure. When she felt the hard muscles in his leg and the heat radiating from his body, she flushed. They were in the middle of a crisis, and she was thinking about the muscles in Dexter’s leg. Reid needed to get her priorities straight. Not only that, but her father sat across from her. She could feel him watching her. When she went to remove her hand, Dexter grabbed it, holding it in place.