He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.
"You deserve all the happiness in the world, Mum."
He cupped her face gently. "But the Moon Goddess is our puppet master, and we have no choice but to dance to her tune."
Claudia sniffled, wiping under her eyes.
But then—
Her nostrils flared.
She sniffed again.
And again.
Oh no.
Eric froze.
"Where were you tonight?" she asked slowly.
Eric paled instantly. Heat crawled up his neck.
He took a step back.
Then another.
"I'm going to take a shower and come down for dinner."
Claudia's eyes widened.
Her hands flew to her hips.
"Eric. Maxwell. Blackwood!"
The full-name attack.
The verbal death sentence.
He winced visibly.
"Fine!" he snapped, defensive. "I had Cyril get me some entertainment, okay? I still had that stupid aphrodisiac you drugged me with in my system."
"Did you—" Claudia began.
Eric didn't let her finish.
He turned halfway up the stairs, one hand gripping the banister as if bracing himself.
