Page 17 of Beneath Scarred Vows

"I'm sure he won't mind."

Emma hesitates, then nods, applying only what I've requested.

When I'm dressed, she steps back to look at me.

"You look very beautiful, ma'am."

I smile and look in the mirror. It's a nice dress. I like the beadwork very much. I'm also surprised by how conservative the dress is. It only hints at my figure—something my uncle always aimed to exploit when having guests for dinner.

When I step out of the bedroom, Ares is waiting in the hallway. His eyes widen slightly at the sight of me.

"A beautiful choice," he says, his voice neutral.

"I thought so."

He offers his arm. I ignore it, walking ahead of him down the hallway. I hear him sigh, and then he stops me.

"Katerina, it's important to me that we appear as a unit."

His words are controlled, like everything else about him. But something about the way he says it makes me pause. Does it actually matter to him? Or is this just another layer of control?

I remind myself that whatever his reasons are for caring so much about this, I don't care much at all. About any of this.

Either way, I nod and take his arm.

We make our way down the stairs, and I can feel the heat radiating off Ares as we get closer to the dining room.

I find it interesting that he's reacting this way. Should I be the one worried? Shouldn't it be me who's scared?

We enter the dining area, and three people turn to look at us—or should I say, look at me. Ares might as well not even be here. Their gazes are intense. A Kastaris family trait.

"Family," Ares says, patting my hand. "This is my wife, Katerina."

The tallest man steps forward first, his eyes cool and assessing.

"I'm Theo," he says, extending his hand. "I was at your wedding, though I didn't have the opportunity to formally meet you."

The other man, younger and more relaxed in stance, smiles slightly but doesn't approach. He nods. "I'm Dimitri. Nice to meet you."

I smile.

And finally, the woman who has been watching me with undisguised curiosity approaches.

"I'm Calli. It's good to finally meet you. Ares has told us so little."

"Well, that's probably because there's little to tell," I reply.

Calli laughs, a bright sound that seems out of place in this cold house. "Oh, I like her already." She embraces me, ignoring my stiffness. "We need more women in this family who don't worship the ground my brothers walk on."

"Calli," Ares warns, but there's affection in his tone.

"What? It's true." She links her arm through mine. "Come on, let's eat. I'm starving."

The dining room is as grand as the rest of the house. A table long enough to seat twenty holds place settings for just five people. Crystal glitters under chandelier light. Silver catches and reflects the candles on the table.

We sit, Ares at the head, me to his right. Theo to his left. Dimitri and Calli sit across from each other. Calli's next to me.

After a brief moment of silence, conversation flows around me—business matters, family gossip, politics.