~Trigger Warning:
~Emotional manipulation
~Misogynistic/slut-shaming language
~Emotional distress/panic response
~Scent destabilization during emotional overwhelm
~Controlling behavior and social coercion
~Brief physical violence (slap)
~Discussions of restrictive treatment/control of Omegas
~Familial conflict and emotional neglect
~Intense suppressive aura/power dynamics
~Predatory behavioral undertones
~Psychological distress/panic
~Hierarchical dominance/submission themes
~Emotional overwhelm and loss of control
Zen
I didn't want Nyx to hear what Nina had told Pai, but I accepted this was going to be a rip-the-bandage-off situation. I've never told anyone about the scheming side of Nina. I've just endured her unwanted attention since Mãezinha (dear mom) fell ill.
I wouldn't say she abused me, but I certainly was treated differently by her for some reason. My only conclusion is that she is a possessive omega who wants herself and her eldest daughter to be the only treasured Omegas in this house.
I suspect she is somehow keeping my Mãezinha, who is also an omega, ill, but that is just my gut feeling. I have no evidence to support it.
I sighed wearily, then took up an at-rest guard stance. Glancing at Elias in a similar position, I adjusted my stance until it mirrored his. Elias and Nyx's lips quirked in unison, but it was the pride in their eyes that warmed and energized me.
I puffed my chest out, feeling that I had pleased two people I greatly respected. I tried not to lose that pride when Pai cleared his throat.
"My wife told me Zen wanted out of her relationship with Byron Ivy because he wouldn't sleep with her. That she has found multiple men who would so she can create her own harem of submissive men."
I had to bite my tongue to not say a word. I stopped shy of making myself bleed. "Nina said she was still getting the details about the situation, but that we shouldn't indulge Zen's willfulness."
This man hadn't truly looked at me since Mãezinha became bedridden. He now looked at me with such disappointment that I felt I could drown in it.
Looking but still not seeing me. I don't know how we became this disconnected. He isn't under mind control. I've checked. Yet he can still sit here and act like her lies are truth. Nothing she said is backed by fact. If he bothered investigating, he would know that.
I glanced at Elias, then imitated his neutral expression. I would not cry. He does not deserve my tears.
"I have to agree with that assessment. Is it not right of us to hold Zen to her word? Am I wrong for wanting Zen to work through this conflict in a calm and collected manner? Instead, she pulls you into this mess in an attempt to force my hand into breaking off our social contract with the Ivys?" The scent of anger, hurt, and confusion burned my nose. The repeated slap of his hand against the armrest echoed like a rhythm in my ears.
"This arrangement in time could become a blessed engagement and mating for her! Why can't she see that? What is the rush in becoming intimate? Shouldn't she be focused on her studies and projects?"The tangled mess of his emotions tried to smother the warm pride in my chest. I didn't understand how one of my biggest supporters just six years ago had become this man.
A man who had listened to lies long enough that he doesn't bother looking beyond them to the truth. At least not about me and not without proof. Nina is good at covering or obscuring her actions.
I lost control of my scent. The scent of biting, strained, potent citrus and faint, tight, edged sweetness permeated the room. I tried to pull it in. But like sand, it kept slipping from my control.
Not here. Can't break. He will think I'm putting on an act again. Hold it together. Don't let his ignorance hurt you.
I felt I was going to pass out from not being able to breathe. The room was spinning. I think I heard a sharp question from Pai. I was about to faint when a cool hand grasped my wrist, instantly grounding me.
I could breathe, and with breath, I was able to control my scent. I felt the world right itself just in time to hear Nyx ask Pai a single question.
"Did you verify any of that?" The Nyx holding my wrist and sending me calm, grounding energy was not the Nyx I knew.
This Nyx was all noble lady. She was cold and fierce. She was giving Matriarch energy. I think I have a girl crush. Pai's attention had been on me, but now it was entirely fixed on Nyx. Nyx's question surprised him enough to break his composure.
"Lady Nyxara," he said, straightening. "Nina is in the process of . . ."
"I didn't ask about what your wife was doing. I'm asking if you, her father, had personally verified anything you were told." Nyx released my wrist, crossed her legs, then waited for Pai's response.
A heavy silence weighed upon the room. Pai's expression hardened slightly. "I trust my wife."
I bowed my head, hurt by his admission even after promising myself I wouldn't let him hurt me.
Nyx, on the other hand, held his gaze. Her next question had such a mocking tone to it that my head snapped up in shock.
"And that's enough for you? Your youngest child is essentially being accused of being a slut with no evidence given, and you just believe it?"
"Nina has kept me up to date with Zen's bad habits and behaviors. So yes, I believe her," he replied, a thread of irritation entering his tone now. "I don't know how my daughter has become so unruly."
At this point, I was beginning to wonder if I wasn't his child. Maybe I'm adopted? But I look just like Mãezinha, Florien, and irmã (sister) Ximena.
"Nina said some Omegas are just naturally wilder in nature. That a lot of Omegas are treated like little princesses, so they feel they can just do whatever they want." He looked so righteous and just that if he wasn't talking about me, I would totally believe he was in the right. Pai has always been charismatic. It's in our bloodline from vovô (grandfather).
I do not appreciate him using it in this way. "I will not let her act like some spoiled princess. She will honor the agreement and. . ." He didn't get to finish that sentence. Nyx had leaned forward faster than my eyes could track, and her hand was just as fast. The crack echoed through the room. The silence that followed was sharp and complete.
For half a second, no one moved. I watched as a purple handprint bloomed on Pai's face. I wasn't sure he was still breathing. He was so still. Nyx returned to her seat, arms and legs crossed. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.
Elias and Líma were no longer by the door. While I was still processing, Líma guided me around the sofa to sit next to Nyx. Elias took up my spot beside Nyx, and Líma was now positioned beside me, hands clasped at her waist.
But it wasn't their movement that caught my attention. Dave had been pushing a tea cart in but had frozen a few steps into the room. Florien was beside him, watching everything with a neutral expression. He moved closer but stopped a few steps from Pai. He was glancing back and forth between Pai and Nyx, mouth opening and closing.
Nina hadn't made it past the doorway. Her expression was flickering between shock and something far less controlled.
Pai's head had turned with the force of the strike. Slowly—very slowly—he turned his face back towards us. The mark on his cheek was becoming more vivid by the second.
I felt so many emotions that I was dizzy. I didn't see this coming. When I turned to look at Nyx, one feeling surfaced out of the tangle—gratitude. Gratitude. Nyx had promised she would fight this battle with me, and she has not broken her word to me.
What is she going to do next?
Nyx
I felt it when this ignorant man doubled down on his bullshit. Not anger. I wasn't angry. Anger is not control, and I was very much in control of myself. I was claiming control of this situation before I had to explain to my parents why I put Master Salgrave in the hospital.
What I felt was something deeper and colder. I listened to my instincts, and my aura expanded in response.
The air in the room collapsed inward, pressure snapping into place like a vice. It slammed into everyone not beside me at once, forcing the breath from their lungs, driving them down.
The butler hit one knee.
Florien staggered, caught himself before voluntarily kneeling.
Nina dropped entirely, her composure shattered as she gasped against the weight pressing her into the floor.
Master Salgrave slid out of his chair onto the floor a heartbeat later. His expression became more bewildered by the second under the sudden, overwhelming force.
I claimed dominion over this space. I triggered one of the older aspects of the master/subordinate bond between our families. I needed their undivided attention and submission to get my point across.
My aura expanded, unrestrained for the first time in a controlled space. The room became saturated in my scent of dusk-bloomed sandalwood and black tea. Beneath the sandalwood and tea, something sharper and older tried to peek through, then it vanished before I could truly register it.
I got to my feet slowly. I stepped around the coffee table, then walked to each kneeling form. Each step I took was deliberate and measured. The floor felt different now, like the house itself was aware of me in a way it hadn't been when I arrived.
Eventually, I came to a stop in front of the curled-up form of Master Salgrave. I crouched down calmly. I didn't speak at first. I just studied him. Elias shifted closer but did not invade my space.
I turned my gaze back to the rest of the room. Everyone else was breathing hard, with only Florien and the butler able to look up to meet my eyes.
When I made eye contact with them, the pressure on them released, but they did not stand up. They waited in silence. My focus returned to Master Salgrave. I calmly lifted his face up. Whatever he saw in my eyes seemed to scare him to the point he looked like he would faint.
I pinched his chin. My thumbnail pierced his skin, making a drop of blood well up. With a deceptively gentle smile, I spoke softly but firmly.
"Let's try this again."
Silence always changed after power settled over a room. Especially when it's a show of suppressive power like I just displayed. I'm actually surprised at how well I'm faking that I know what I'm doing.
I don't.
I'm simply following my instincts and sending out continuous prayers that I don't get this wrong. I felt like I was in the big leagues now. And it's terrifying.
I kept my gentle smile steady and consistent while staring into this man's scared hazel eyes.
In the reflection of his eyes, I saw that mine were now slitted and glowing a honey amber color. Ah, that is why he is scared. I would be scared too if someone I had only superficially respected suddenly proved herself a predator in her own right.
My smile shifted into a wide grin. I could literally smell the intoxicating fear on him now. I was becoming entranced by my own gaze reflected in his eyes until I felt a foot lightly tap my right heel.
I was subtly jolted out of my reverie. I released Cortez Salgrave and stood up with Elias's help. With my hand in his, he guided me to my seat next to Zen.
I met his eyes and gave him a nod. He winked back, lips quirking slightly. I fought to keep my own lips from quirking.
I still have to finish handling this situation. Now is not the time to get distracted by a handsome face. No one else had moved. Since I had established my authority, I must now maintain it.
I gave Líma a look. With a nod of her head, she stepped forward with a graceful smile.
"My mistress gives you all permission to rise. I will assist Butler Dave in distributing the refreshments. Master Florien and…Second Mrs. Salgrave, please be seated. My mistress is sure you have valuable insight into how we should best handle the dissolution of Lady Zenaida's social relationship with Byron Ivy."
In mere moments, Líma had the butler back on his feet and was helping distribute refreshments across the coffee table. Mr. Salgrave pushed himself up, slower than his pride probably preferred. His hand briefly braced against the arm of his armchair before he gained his footing. Then he settled slowly into its cushions.
Florien was the next to stand. His jaw was tight, and his eyes stared at me like he was recalibrating everything he thought he knew. He seated himself in a chair close to Zen. He was taking everything in, thinking so hard I could see steam pouring from his ears. Literally. The man was manifesting steam.
Zen lightly kicked him to make him stop the cartoonish display. Florien gave us a bashful smile. Zen rolled her eyes. Nina was standing hesitantly, like she was unsure if she wanted to stay or leave. She was giving Cortez Salgrave the most nauseatingly pleading look.
She stopped the moment she felt my gaze settle on her. She didn't meet my eyes, only looked at the floor.
"Sit."
She understood this was not a suggestion. She inserted herself into this meeting. She should bear the consequences. Nina Salgrave tried, unsuccessfully, to act as though staying had been her choice. She sat herself on the arm of Cortez Salgrave's armchair. Cortez Salgrave did not acknowledge her attempts to get his focus. Instead, he was looking at me with tentative respect.
I did nothing to ease the tension in the room. I accepted a plate of strawberry cookies and lemonade squares from Líma. Zen placed a cup of tea in front of me.
I felt slightly calmer now. I finished one cookie, one square, and half my tea before I gave the rest of the room my attention again. Unlike Zen and Florien, Mr. and Mrs. Salgrave didn't select any of the delicious snacks set between us.
I could feel it in the way they held themselves. The way their breath hitched, shallow and careful, like any sudden motion might provoke the pressure again. Good. He will listen now.
I let the last of my aura retract, not fully gone, just…contained. Present enough to remind them. Softened enough to let them breathe.
I focused on Nina. I took in her carefully perfected appearance. I noticed she was gripping Mr. Salgrave's sleeve."You are not to speak during this discussion." Her lips parted instantly. I stared until she slowly closed those plush lips again.
Without turning from the couple before me, I took the trembling hand beside me. "Zen, honey, I need you to do me a favor. It will help this discussion proceed more smoothly."
She didn't respond right away. I let my gaze shift to her. In her eyes, I saw that my eyes had somewhat returned to their usual silver color, just darker. Her breath caught under my gaze, but she nodded nonetheless.
"Mute her. There is nothing she could say that would be worth hearing." Mr. and Mrs. Salgrave opened their mouths to protest, but Zen's hesitation lasted less than a second this time.
Zen lifted her hand as essence moved through her fingers in a soft, practiced flow. The Zerith (silence) sigil settled over Nina with a faint shimmer that snapped into place the moment it touched her. Mr. Salgrave pulled the now silent, pitifully crying woman into his arms. I stared unmoved by this display.
Zen and Florien looked indifferent. So this isn't an unusual display; the only difference is probably that she is silent. Good. I would end up putting hands on her if I could hear her sobbing noises.