Image courtesy of Wolfsong Publishing “Don’t you dare tell me who I can or cannot see!” Damara snarled across the family dining room table at her brother. They were supposed to be having a nice family lunch with their uncle.
William’s voice was filled with ice. “You will do what you are told. You know the laws of the clan as well if not better than any of the others.”
“To hell with the laws! I love Scott, and that’s not going to change. He knows all about us already because of his father. I’m over twenty-one Will I can choose a mate for myself. You don’t understand because you haven’t let yourself fall in love.”
Raising his chin so that he was looking down his nose at her he responded in an arrogant tone. “It doesn’t matter if I’ve been in love or not. I don’t need to fall for anyone to know that getting involved with people different from us is a bad idea.”
“You’re referring to Mom and Dad. Sorry, big difference here. I am not going to hide anything from Scott. Not like Dad did to Mom.” Damara narrowed her eyes as she glared across the table at her overbearing sibling.
“You two need to stop. This arguing isn’t doing either of you any good, and it’s giving me indigestion,” Uncle Mac interjected, frowning down at his bowl of venison stew. He had been looking forward to eating lunch at home with his niece and nephew for a change.
“Sorry, Uncle Mac, you’re right though, this isn’t getting us anywhere.” She turned to face her brother, and let ice filled her voice, “If you don’t back off on trying to run my life, you are going to regret it dear brother.”
“Oh, what are you going to do?” William asked, his voice dripping sarcasm as he leaned back in his seat cross his arms over his chest.
With a smile that could make the stoutest man’s blood run cold, she leaned slightly across the table pushing her bowl of stew aside and in a quiet voice she answered him. “What will I do? How about this dear big brother, if you do not back off I’m going to use all the spell knowledge I have to teach you a lesson. And not only that, but the spell will stay in effect until you find a woman that you can love.”
“Oh, sure you will. Like I’d be able to fall in love with a woman while under some bloody spell of yours.”
“I swear by the Goddess you wouldn’t know love if it bit you on your hairy arse! Besides, you are forgetting just how strong I am at spell casting. You would never even know what was happening until it was too late.” A smug smile played upon her lips she leaned back, her eyes glittering with contempt.
“You wouldn’t dare. There would be too many questions as to where I was, not including the repercussions that would occur at the next convocation. And you know that the elders would call for an early one if I was to disappear,” William said smugly.
“Both of you just knock it off! William, you do need to back off on bossing your sister about regarding her life or anything else. And you,” Uncle Mac said, rounding on Damara, “you just stop with the spell threats right here and now.”
“I’m sorry that we’re upsetting you Uncle Mac. But, just to clarify, I am not threatening. I am simply stating fact. I am tired of trying to do everything for everyone else. I have been the dutiful one in this family and am tired of it. I love Scott, period, and there will be no changing that. William, if you continue to anger me and try to run my life, I will follow through on what I said. Believe me if you want. Ignore me at your own risk. It is your choice.” Damara got up from the table and stalked out of the kitchen.
A low growl rumbled from deep in William’s chest as he started to sputter in disbelief. “I can’t believe that stubborn, ungrateful, irresponsible…”
His Uncle looked in the direction that Damara had gone, then turned and quietly stated, “Don’t push her, lad. She can, and probably will do what she said. We both know this.” William started to interrupt his uncle who held up a hand for silence, “Just listen for a change. You keep at her the way you have been and I may just have to see about helping her follow through on what she said. Think about it laddie. I’m going back to work now.”
Uncle Mac got up and walked out of the dining room just as Damara had moments before. William sat there stunned, unable to fathom how crazy everyone in his immediate family was getting. Keeping control over the entire clan seemed to be much easier that controlling his own family. He looked around the table at all the dishes and uneaten food. Shaking his head he got up from the table and put all the food away and the dishes into the sink, before he too headed back to work.
~~~~~
(Sometimes big brothers really should listen to their baby sisters as William will learn the hard way.)
William’s voice was filled with ice. “You will do what you are told. You know the laws of the clan as well if not better than any of the others.”
“To hell with the laws! I love Scott, and that’s not going to change. He knows all about us already because of his father. I’m over twenty-one Will I can choose a mate for myself. You don’t understand because you haven’t let yourself fall in love.”
Raising his chin so that he was looking down his nose at her he responded in an arrogant tone. “It doesn’t matter if I’ve been in love or not. I don’t need to fall for anyone to know that getting involved with people different from us is a bad idea.”
“You’re referring to Mom and Dad. Sorry, big difference here. I am not going to hide anything from Scott. Not like Dad did to Mom.” Damara narrowed her eyes as she glared across the table at her overbearing sibling.
“You two need to stop. This arguing isn’t doing either of you any good, and it’s giving me indigestion,” Uncle Mac interjected, frowning down at his bowl of venison stew. He had been looking forward to eating lunch at home with his niece and nephew for a change.
“Sorry, Uncle Mac, you’re right though, this isn’t getting us anywhere.” She turned to face her brother, and let ice filled her voice, “If you don’t back off on trying to run my life, you are going to regret it dear brother.”
“Oh, what are you going to do?” William asked, his voice dripping sarcasm as he leaned back in his seat cross his arms over his chest.
With a smile that could make the stoutest man’s blood run cold, she leaned slightly across the table pushing her bowl of stew aside and in a quiet voice she answered him. “What will I do? How about this dear big brother, if you do not back off I’m going to use all the spell knowledge I have to teach you a lesson. And not only that, but the spell will stay in effect until you find a woman that you can love.”
“Oh, sure you will. Like I’d be able to fall in love with a woman while under some bloody spell of yours.”
“I swear by the Goddess you wouldn’t know love if it bit you on your hairy arse! Besides, you are forgetting just how strong I am at spell casting. You would never even know what was happening until it was too late.” A smug smile played upon her lips she leaned back, her eyes glittering with contempt.
“You wouldn’t dare. There would be too many questions as to where I was, not including the repercussions that would occur at the next convocation. And you know that the elders would call for an early one if I was to disappear,” William said smugly.
“Both of you just knock it off! William, you do need to back off on bossing your sister about regarding her life or anything else. And you,” Uncle Mac said, rounding on Damara, “you just stop with the spell threats right here and now.”
“I’m sorry that we’re upsetting you Uncle Mac. But, just to clarify, I am not threatening. I am simply stating fact. I am tired of trying to do everything for everyone else. I have been the dutiful one in this family and am tired of it. I love Scott, period, and there will be no changing that. William, if you continue to anger me and try to run my life, I will follow through on what I said. Believe me if you want. Ignore me at your own risk. It is your choice.” Damara got up from the table and stalked out of the kitchen.
A low growl rumbled from deep in William’s chest as he started to sputter in disbelief. “I can’t believe that stubborn, ungrateful, irresponsible…”
His Uncle looked in the direction that Damara had gone, then turned and quietly stated, “Don’t push her, lad. She can, and probably will do what she said. We both know this.” William started to interrupt his uncle who held up a hand for silence, “Just listen for a change. You keep at her the way you have been and I may just have to see about helping her follow through on what she said. Think about it laddie. I’m going back to work now.”
Uncle Mac got up and walked out of the dining room just as Damara had moments before. William sat there stunned, unable to fathom how crazy everyone in his immediate family was getting. Keeping control over the entire clan seemed to be much easier that controlling his own family. He looked around the table at all the dishes and uneaten food. Shaking his head he got up from the table and put all the food away and the dishes into the sink, before he too headed back to work.
~~~~~
(Sometimes big brothers really should listen to their baby sisters as William will learn the hard way.)
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