Chapter 205

Julian’s POV

I wasn’t a big fan of Mary. That was particularly apparent after spending more than five minutes with her. If she wasn’t Rafael’s, and therefore Amber’s, cousin, I would demand that this tiresome woman be removed from the premises almost immediately.

The first thing out of her mouth when arriving at Rafael’s was, “Where is this cousin of ours? Hiding from me, and her responsibilities, no doubt.”

“Mary,” Rafael said. “I need you to be civil.”

“She’s resting because she spent all of yesterday and last night and this morning curing another incurable disease,” I said flatly, extremely unimpressed with Mary’s attitude.

Mary looked at me sideways. “You are an Alpha, so I will give you respect. But you are not part of this family, so I’d kindly ask you to butt out.”

“Julian saved my life only yesterday,” Rafael said. “He might not be part of this family, but he is still part of the conversation, especially as Amber’s mate.”

It was strange hearing Rafael stand up for me, but I was extremely grateful for it. No longer at odds, we could unite against a common enemy here, someone who clearly didn’t think very highly of Amber despite them supposedly being family.

Mary sneered at me, but decided to hold her other comments for now. “Well, if Amber is resting, I assume that means we aren’t having the family dinner I requested.”

“She should be up soon,” I said. Even as tired as she was, I couldn’t imagine her sleeping all day. That just wasn’t like her at all.

“Julian,” Rafael said to me. “Perhaps you could go check on her. I would like to share a few private words with my cousin.”

I didn’t mind checking in on Amber. Nor did I mind giving these two some room, especially when it sounded like they were going to have an argument.

“I will,” I said, and turned. Even before I left the room, I heard Rafael snap at Mary.

“If you only came here to stir the pot, you can leave right now,” Rafael said. “Amber’s been through enough as it is.”

I didn’t hear the rest, as I headed to the stairs and then up to Amber’s room. I knocked lightly on her door and then entered. As I did, I saw her sitting up in bed, yawning and stretching her arms.

She looked at me with tired eyes. “How long was I out?” she asked.

“Not long enough,” I told her. “Go back to bed.”

“If I do, I’ll be up all night. Where’s Alice?”

“Coloring with Anna.”

“Oh, good. Anna’s still here.”

“She wasn’t going to leave without talking to you,” I said. “She’s been worried. Like the rest of us.”

Amber hung her head a little. “I know I overdid it here, but I can’t regret it, not since it helped Alice. I hope you can understand.”

“I do understand,” I told her, “but that doesn’t mean that I’m happy about it. I need you both to be okay.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

She pushed herself up onto her feet. She had changed into her nightgown for this extra-long nap and it clung delightfully to all of her curves. I couldn’t look away, entranced by what I was seeing. But, eventually, I forced my eyes closed.

Now really wasn’t the time to get lost in my lust. Not with an angry Mary just downstairs – something I had yet to prepare Amber for.

“Your cousin is here, by the way,” I said. “Mary.”

Amber sighed. “I guess I can’t catch a break.”

“Rafael is already lecturing her,” I added.

“Well, I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Sensing a weakness in her, likely from her tiredness, I put my libido on hold and approached her. Pulling her into my arms, I held her closely against me, offering her what comfort I could.

“I don’t care why she’s here,” I said. “But I won’t let her speak to you with any kind of negative tone.”

“It’s fine,” Amber said. “She’s family.”

“All the more reason she shouldn’t talk to you like that.”

Amber rested her forehead down onto my chest and heaved a great breath. “Why can’t things ever be easy?”

“They will be someday,” I told her. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I really did envision a future where our little family lived regular lives. Maybe it wouldn’t be easy exactly, but I didn’t think it would be this hard.

We just had to do what we could to get there.

When Amber was dressed, we went back downstairs. Mary and Rafael were still arguing.

“You are ignoring facts.” That was Mary’s shrill voice.

“I don’t care what your paperwork says. I don’t even care if it’s real or not. Amber is my sister in every way that matters, whether we are of the same blood or no. Now, stop trying to stir up trouble before –”

Rafael’s voice abruptly cut off as Amber and I entered the room.

“Sister,” he said, more stilted.

“There you are,” Mary said. “I’ve been waiting for you. You have a lot to answer for.”

“I was hoping you would come by, Mary,” Amber said, surprising everyone in the room, including me.

“You were?” Mary asked.

“Yes,” Amber said. “You see, I’ve just developed a cure for a rare disease and I need your help to distribute it to all the packs of the continent.”

Mary scoffed. “Why on earth would I do that?”

“There’s no one else who could do it,” Amber continued. “You have so many connections, all of your influential contacts. I don’t think I could trust anyone with this task as much as I could trust you with it.”

I could see then exactly what Amber was doing. She knew Mary had come here with bad intentions against her, and instead of arguing, Amber was buttering her up and appealing to her ego.

“Oh,” Mary said, somewhat surprised but entirely pleased, if the growing smile on her lips was anything to go by. “Well, yes, that’s true. I am quite influential myself, you know.”

“I know that,” Amber said. “That’s why I feel I can trust you with this.”

“Well, yes… I mean…” Mary frowned then, as some confusion crossed her face. She seemed entirely conflicted on the matter.

Pride swelled in my heart for Amber and what she’d been able to accomplish here with only a few words.

“Does that mean you will help us?” Amber asked. “I’m sure it will be a joy when you share the news. Everyone you tell will probably thank you profusely.”

“Yes, that does sound nice,” Mary said, warming up to the idea now, more fully. “I do deserve to hear more praise.”

“Well,” Rafael said, seemingly pleased himself, likely with how Amber handled this so well. “Shall we head in to dinner? I can have the servants call Anna and Alice.”

“Yes, I suppose we had better,” Mary said. “I am quite hungry and it seems I have a lot of calls to make.”

“Brother,” Amber said, stopping Rafael from following Mary into the dining room. To him and to me, she said, “There are two people to whom I would like to deliver the cure personally.”

I knew who she meant, and I was already nodding in agreement before she even said his name.

“Matthew and his grandma.”