Page 65 of Shadowed Bond

“She’s learned fast,” Sienna says with amusement.

“I had to; he tries to shovel food into me at every chance possible,” I remark, making Mum laugh this time, too.

Ares gives me a look, and his stare, though intimidating, doesn’t faze me.

“Well, you do pick at your food,” Mum adds, and Ares looks at her triumphantly.

“See, I knew it wasn’t in my head,” he says.

“Well, it works out then, since you eat far more than your share,” Jayce says.

“Na, she needs to eat, though,” Ares grunts.

“Are you saying you’d rather she eat more than you getting extra food?” Shahira asks with pure innocence, but the cheeky glint in her eyes makes me smile.

Ares grunts. “I preferred it when you all fussed over that blob of a Westwood.” He points at Stephen, who at that moment looks almost offended. The timing makes several of us chuckle.

“He is the future Blood Moon Alpha; you can’t call him a blob,” I say, amused.

“Ares has the funniest nicknames for him; I think I like them as much as Mama’s,” Sienna says, eating some pasta.

I smile. I had heard a few of his thoughts earlier, and I wonder if Sienna knows those nicknames.

Does she know what you call her? I ask Ares through the mind-link. He narrows his eyes at me.

How do you know? he asks.

You think as loudly as you appear to, I inform him dryly.

Na, no one knows those weird-as-fuck ones, and they better not. I smile at him. Charlotte…

Fine, I won’t say anything if you tell me them all, I say. I had only heard Sienna’s and Renji’s earlier.

Fine. That’s Stubborn Sienna; she’s Shy Shahira; Heaven is Haughty Heaven, ‘cause she and Thickhead Theo are kinda a thing. I suppress a giggle as he continues. Ratbag Renji, Cunt Carter, Jackass Jayce, Sassy Skyla and Rich-boy Royce.

I stare at each person as he says them, almost laughing at Royce’s, then look up into his hazel eyes as he keeps adding food to my plate. I don’t even stop him, too surprised to do so, even if I know I can’t eat that much.

So none of them has any idea about your cute nicknames for them? I ask, genuinely surprised.

No, he growls. And that’s the way it better stay; it’s lame.

I don’t think it is, I say. Do I have one? I ask, secretly hoping I do.

He grunts. You were Chilli Charlotte; that attitude of yours is always so hostile. But I might need to upgrade it.

Chilli Charlotte… I repeat. No, I like it; don’t change it.

He smiles faintly but catches himself and looks away quickly.

Sure, he answers gruffly, making me smile.

I look up to see Royce watching us; our eyes meet, and I smile at him. I can’t mind-link him anymore since Ares marking me broke that connection, but I hope my smile is comforting enough. Mum, however, looks happy as she catches my eye and smiles warmly at the both of us.

But not being able to mind-link them, that hits harder than I expected.

“Eat,” Ares says, and I finally look down at the crazy amount of food on my plate.

“This is enough food for three people,” I say.