Isabelle's gaze shifted slowly between the two of them.
Then finally, she spoke. "You both need some explaining to do."
Alaric immediately recognized that tone.
That chilling calmness in her voice. That dangerously controlled dissatisfaction.
Which meant she was already angry.
Great. What a lucky day!
His eyes briefly flickered toward the staircase instinctively. Then back toward his mother.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough," Isabelle replied sharply.
The silence that followed felt heavy because suddenly the conversation from moments ago replayed perfectly inside Alaric's head.
He spoke about bringing guests every night. The boundaries that they have set between them. His intentions towards everything around him has been heard by his mother.
Fantastic.
Isabelle took a slow step forward into the living room, her expression tightening slightly as she looked directly at her son.
