End Of Breakfast

"Caius!" Queen Violeta cried out. She looked on the verge of tears. "Why would you say something like that about your father?"

Caius wanted to say there was no way that man was his father, but he didn't want the issue to escalate further than it already had. The point of it was to tell his mother to stay away from Rose and let her know her petty plans wouldn't work—he wouldn't allow it. Hopefully, she got the idea. If she didn't, it would not be a good idea for her to keep trying.

"Mother," he said, his tone still. "Your food is getting cold."

Her eyes widened and her face reddened as she swelled. It looked like she might explode in anger, but Caius didn't care. He hadn't cared in a long time, and it certainly wouldn't change now.