The dining room was a picture of opulence, with a long table set with gleaming silverware and an array of dishes that filled the air with tantalizing aromas. Ahicia entered alongside Damian, her posture regal and unyielding despite the maelstrom of emotions within.
Her father sat at the head of the table, his gaze cold and calculating. Her mother and sister occupied seats beside him, their expressions a mix of disdain and curiosity. Damian's family filled the remaining chairs, each of them exuding the same commanding presence as their host.
As the meal began, the atmosphere grew tense. Polite conversation masked the undercurrents of hostility, but it wasn't long before the thin veneer of civility cracked.
"It's no wonder she ended up here," her father said abruptly, his voice cutting through the low murmur of voices. He set down his glass, looking directly at Ahicia. "You always were a disappointment."
The words hung in the air like a slap. Ahicia met his gaze steadily, though her hands clenched into fists beneath the table.
"Father," her sister chimed in, her tone more condescending than concerned. "You can't blame her entirely. She was never raised properly. She's… feral."
"Enough," her mother said sharply, though her expression betrayed no sympathy. "What's done is done. The question now is how we proceed."
"Proceed?" Ahicia echoed, her voice calm but icy. "You make it sound as if I'm some problem to be solved."
Her father's eyes narrowed. "You've brought shame to our name, Ahicia. Turning our backs on you was the only logical choice."
"Logical?" she said, her voice rising despite herself. "You abandoned me. And now you have the audacity to sit here and lecture me on logic?"
The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Damian, who had remained silent until now, leaned back in his chair, observing the exchange with keen interest.
"You've always been reckless, you were always a defect" her mother said, her tone sharp. "And now you will always be, here you are, dragging us into yet another mess."
Ahicia's chest tightened with a mixture of anger and hurt, but she refused to let them see her falter. "If I'm such a disgrace and a defect, why are you even here?" she demanded.
Her father's gaze flickered to Damian, then back to her. "We were summoned. And it seems there's more to your situation than meets the eye."
Damian finally spoke, his voice calm but authoritative. "Enough. This is neither the time nor place for such discussions."
His golden eyes swept over the table, silencing any further outbursts. "You're all here for a reason, and it's not to rehash old grievances. Let's focus on what matters."
Ahicia shot him a grateful glance, though she knew better than to trust his intervention completely. Whatever game he was playing, she would need to stay sharp to avoid becoming a pawn.