“A good or bad one?” she asked, feeling a wave of nerves bubble under her skin.

“Either.”

She clenched her fists over her thighs. She’d lived her whole life in the shadows, wishing and begging for things to be different, but now she wasn’t so sure that’s what she wanted.

“But why will they think I’m this daż?”

“Because you look just like your mother,” Jaeros said, sitting back and rubbing his hand down his beard.

Her eyes widened, and her voice came out higher than usual. “I do?”

“Eerily so, yes. So, you might as well get used to the idea of being stared at because it’s only going to get worse.”

“Don’t tell her what to do,” Jaren snapped, fingers twitching on the table.

Vera rolled her eyes, but even the bite of his temper couldn’t keep away the small smile that tugged at her lips. She looked like her mother.

Focusing her attention back on Jaeros, she asked, “Will you answer any questions I have? Even if you don’t think I’ll like the answer?”

Jaeros cringed, pushing stray strands of hair out of his face. “No, my dear, I won’t. At least, not the questions I know you want to ask.”

Jaren tensed like an arrow seconds from exploding from its bow, but part of her was thankful for Jaeros’s blunt honesty. She’d take that over quick-tongued, empty promises any day.

“I will happily tell you about the years you lived with us,” he continued, “but for any questions about that night, or your mother, I will not discuss without Dedryn present.”

He narrowed his eyes at the furious male next to her. “Don’t give me that look unless you want me to smack it off your face, boy. He deserves to be heard as well before you damn us for eternity.”

“Too late.”

Jaeros flinched, but hid it quickly, picking up his mug and taking a sip. “Dedryn will be expecting my return by tomorrow night if you wish to meet him then. Last night, I instructed the stable north of here to have three horses ready in case you chose to leave with me.”

“Thank you,” she said, sincerely meaning it even though the thought of traveling again so soon after they’d arrived sounded horrendous. “That’s very—”

“We will do no such thing,” Jaren barked, smacking his palms on the table. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve done this trip more than you and know the damn way. We do not need, nor desire, your assistance.”

Vera’s blood boiled. Fuck that. Mate or not, if he thought he was going to keep talking over her, he had another thing coming. Reaching across his lap, she grabbed the soft underside of his arm and pinched as hard as she could.

He lurched away, barking out a curse and snatching her hand faster than she could avoid. Her chair legs screeched against the floor as he dragged her right up against him.

“Something you want to say?” he asked, a threat lacing each word as he gripped her arm tighter and loomed over her.