“That’s all right.” He placed his hand on my back, helping me take my seat.
I was so proud I didn’t completely lose it at his touch, not even outwardly shuddering like my insides did. I peered down at my food, asking him, “You ordered for me?”
He held up a hand. “Don’t be mad. I just knew you’d want to eat if everyone else was.”
“Right.” I glanced at his plate—chicken fettuccini. Mine was a hamburger. “Thank you.”
He draped his napkin on his lap. “I wasn’t a hundred per cent sure what you would want, so if you want to switch we can.”
I blinked up into his silver eyes. “No.” I grabbed my napkin, placing it on my lap.
He tilted his head to peer into my eyes. “Are you all right, Sprite? You seem a little distant.”
“I’m still tired from yesterday. I could have slept even longer than I did.”
“Ah,” he whispered. I tried to keep my body relaxed as he bent, placing his lips on my temple. “Are you still mad at me? Or have I been forgiven?”
I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat, keeping my head dipped. “I guess we’ll see.” I nudged his arm, lifting my own burger. “Try to behave with your parents here.” I looked up, making my lips curve. “Or forgiveness won’t happen. Ever.”
He winked. “Duly noted.”
He started eating as I did.
He didn’t even notice when I took a roll off his plate, feeding it to Tristan where he sat behind my chair.
Mrs Damon stated between bites of her meal, “I think I would have liked to see that play the others went to.” She flipped an agitated wrist at King Collins. “Next time, please inform us if there’s a change in activities, so we can attend if we wish.”
King Collins’s nod was humble, properly chastised. “I’ll do that in the future.”
Mr Damon grinned at me from across the table, munching on his own burger. “So, Caro, it’s not every day someone gets the slip on my son at the Temple. Not only that, you stole from him.” He winked. “Your background suited you well to escape our clutches.”
“Dad…” Leric growled before shaking his head at me. “I’m sorry, but decorum hasn’t ever been one of his finer traits.”
I forced a chuckle. “Your dad’s fine.”
Mr Damon examined my features. “What did you steal, anyway?”
“A way home,” I murmured, lifting a fry that tasted absolutely dreadful, my stomach still churning. “I achieved my goal.”
He blinked slowly. “You wanted to go home…so you snuck into his bedroom?”
I waved an absent-minded hand. “I stole the…” My brows puckered, glancing to Leric. “What was it called? The Pono Diamond, or something like that?” I shrugged a shoulder, my attention swinging back to Mr Damon. “You saw me use it in the memory. The Pono Diamond thing gave me that access.”
Leric chuckled quietly. “The Primal Diamond.” He tapped my nose lightly. “You stole it, and you didn’t even know what it was called?”
“I just knew it would take me home,” I stated candidly, gnawing on another fry.
His mom huffed. “You stole the Primal Diamond?” Her eyes were enormous as they swung to Leric. “She did give it back to you, didn’t she?”
Leric waved a hand. “Calm down, mom. I’m sure she’ll give it back soon.” He blinked, glancing down at me. “Sprite, you do know where my token is, don’t you?” Another blink, his eyes narrowing. “That bastard Philip Masterson didn’t take it from you, did he?”
Realizing a large majority of the spirits at the table were listening to the conversation, quiet as they ate, I went with the safe answer. I kept my tone apologetic. “I don’t have it anymore, Leric.” I made my gaze worried, darting my eyes back and forth between his. “I lost it a long time ago when Sin and I had to run.”
“What?” Mrs Damon practically shouted across the table.
Interesting. But I kept my worried gaze on Leric.
Waving a hand at his mom, he cupped my cheek with his other hand. “It’s all right, Sprite.” Again, I had to swallow down a shit-ton of bile as he kissed my forehead. “We can figure it out eventually, don’t upset yourself over it.”
“I am sorry,” I murmured, pulling my head away from him to peer up into his eyes.
“I know.” His lips quirked.
Acting properly remorseful, I peered down. My eyes dipped to everyone’s plates.
Which were empty enough.
And I sneezed.
All hell broke loose in that instant.
Elder Merrick, sitting on Leric’s other side, smashed his fist against Leric’s face.
Both of them tumbled onto the ground behind me.
King Collins blasted Mr Damon with a spray of icy water from his outstretched hands, throwing him across the room. He jumped to his feet, following and holding him immobile.
Brann tossed Mrs Damon across the room right behind her husband.
King Zeller blurred, grabbing Reese by the throat. He tackled him onto the table, and plates flew everywhere.