Before Damon could argue further, Blaise cleared his throat loudly.

"Madame, the curry is getting cold," he said as he drew everyone’s attention back to himself. He scooped a large spoonful of rice and curry on his spoon. "But I hope your kind offer is still on the table, despite the hostilities that have been exchanged between my brother and I."

"Blaise, you can’t be serious! Put down that spoon this instant!" Damon yelled, a note of panic entering his voice as he glared at Blaise, but Blaise ignored him.

My eyes met Blaise’s and he only gave me a soft smile. Through the bond, I detected his attempt at comforting the maelstrom of emotions that whirled within me.

Then he turned his gaze back to my mother, who was smiling at him in delight.

"Of course it is! You have my word. Simply finish your meal, and I’ll let Harper bring you to her room. I’m open-minded enough to not even demand that you keep the door open."

"Mom!" I exclaimed, my face turning red at the implications of her words. But I also realized what a great opportunity it was― she was effectively promising to give Blaise and I privacy, something I had desperately needed for the past few days.

Of course, whether or not she held up her end of the bargain was another matter. Yet again, what other choice did I have? The alternative would be Damon and Blaise taking on my mother, Gus, and an entire city of hunters on my behalf.

God. They didn’t even know Gus was inside the tower. Even if they could smell a vampire, they had no way of knowing this particular vampire was the one responsible for Blaise’s near-death.

"Thank you for your consideration," Blaise said, his shoulders relaxing minutely. "In that case, I have no reason not to take up this offer. Bon appetit."

"No, don’t―" Damon leaped from his chair, but it was too late. Damon and I could only watch in horror as Blaise popped that large spoonful of food into his mouth. He chewed at it thoughtfully, a tiny frown appearing at the furrow of his eyes before he let out a cough.

Damon jumped as though he had been shot, pointing an accusing finger at my mother.

"You’re poisoning him!"

"I did no such thing," my mother said haughtily. "Blaise, how do you find the food?"

"It tastes like very spicy curry." Blaise shrugged. "It’s a bit cold now, but it still packs a punch. May I trouble you for some water?" He then took a second mouthful, and this time, he finished it a lot faster than his first.

"Spit it out right now!" Damon demanded, grabbing Blaise’s plate as if he wanted nothing more than to throw it at my mother’s face. "Are you feeling chills? Weakness? Is your tongue swollen?" Damon fired a volley of questions at Blaise.

I also rushed towards him, frantically looking over Blaise.

"Damon, that’s very impolite," Blaise pointed out. "Besides, I’ve already swallowed it. Harper, don’t look so worried. I feel fine. It’s just spicier than I expected. Madame, you must have incredible spice tolerance to eat this without crying."

"Have you never heard of a slow-acting poison?" Damon exclaimed, his face red with anger. This close, I could see his veins threatening to explode. "Vomit it out this instance! Who knows what this witch had put inside?"

"For Harper’s sake, I’d eat even arsenic," Blaise said, his tone deadly serious.

"Isn’t this sweet? This is the kind of devotion my daughter deserves to have." My mother sighed wistfully as she rang for water.

But all geniality faded as she stared stonily back at Damon.

"Alpha Damon, if you cannot restrain yourself, I will get people to escort you from this table and out of this city immediately. Is that clear?"

Damon snarled, but kept silent, glaring daggers at my mother.

"And Harper, dear, come back and sit down. You’ll have plenty of time with your beloved later," my mother added, and I reluctantly went back to her side, but my eyes never left Blaise’s face. His face was slowly getting redder and redder, with sweat forming on his temples.

Was it the spice, or did my mother tamper with the food?

However, Blaise continued to eat with no signs of stopping. He cleared his own plate and chugged down a glass of cold water, before proceeding on Damon’s too. Damon’s hands were clenched tightly into fists, his nostrils flaring helplessly as he watched his own brother eat his share.

"Mom, I think that might be too much for Blaise to eat," I protested weakly. "He can’t eat for two!"

Blaise waved off my objections and continued to eat.

"It’s fine, we have excellent bathrooms here," my mother said blithely. "It’ll be out of his intestines by tonight. You should eat your own dinner too, Harper. I have a feeling you’ll need the energy for your nightly activities."

Now, it was my turn to have a red face. I looked down at the table and started shoving my food in my mouth, just so I could escape the dining hall. I felt Damon’s eyes boring into my head, his feelings of hurt and worry palpable through the bond.

Things would be fine. I tried to reassure him and Blaise. We just had to get through the dinner first.

Eventually, Blaise cleared the last grain of rice from both plates, slamming his glass of water on the table after he drained it dry.

"Oh god. I’m done, I’m stuffed," Blaise said, patting his stomach.

"Excellent!" My mother clapped her hands, and at once, multiple servants entered the room.

That wouldn’t have been cause for concern, if not for the fact that all of them were armed. Damon and Blaise leaped up from their seats, ready for a fight.

"Mother! What’s the meaning of this?"

My mother stood up slowly. "I’m holding onto my end of the bargain. Harper, escort Blaise to your room. These men are here to escort Damon Valentine out of this city."