They looked up as Layla and Quin approached, and Layla's heart squeezed at the sight of her grandparents' expressions and auras. They were worried sick about her, and she wasn't doing enough to reassure them. Walking to each of them in turn, she wrapped her arms around their shoulders and kissed their heads, and they noticeably cheered up, giving her heart a reprieve.
Quin held her chair out as he waited for her to finish. Then they took their seats between Morrigan and Cordelia. Everyone went back to their meals, and Quin filled his and Layla’s plates as she studied the surrounding faces and auras.
Everyone was remarkably subdued and remained that way through the first half of dinner, barely speaking and using low voices when they did. The silence depressed Layla, the weight of it adding layers to her guilt. Not one time had she known her family to go so long without saying a positive word, let alone without saying anything at all, and as she watched their faces, she wondered if they kept quiet due to despair, or if they were walking on eggshells because she was an emotional train wreck.
She glanced at Quin, who seemed calm and contemplative as he ate. Then another thought struck Layla, and her throat swelled as she searched everyone's auras. Maybe they were mad at her for taking off from the glacier only an hour and a half after getting there. Maybe they thought she'd been rude, and that she should acknowledge her lack of consideration and apologize for her ridiculous emotional outburst.
With a great deal of effort, she swallowed the bite she'd been chewing. Then she tried to strengthen her nerve while taking three large drinks of wine. Once the goblet was back on the table, she looked up and cleared her throat. “I'm sorry I took off like that earlier.” It was the loudest anyone had spoken since she’d sat down. “That was rude of me to leave everyone standing there with no reason to stay. I'm sorry I didn't take that into consideration.”
Quin stared at her with wide eyes, his chewing on hold. Then he scowled and swallowed. “Why are you apologizing?”
She straightened her shoulders and scowled back. “Because it's the polite thing to do when you make a rude exit.”
“Nobody here thinks you were rude, and if by some chance they do, they can take it up with me, because I'm the one who carried you out of there. And if they're mad at me, they can piss off, because I'm not apologizing.”
He took a bite, and Layla watched him with her mouth hanging open.
After swallowing, he raised his eyebrows at her. “What?”
“That was rude,” she pointed out, stunned by his behavior. Usually he was an exemplar of politeness, especially around his family.
He grinned and stabbed another bite. “Were you offended?”
“Well, no, I guess not, but they might have been.”
He looked around the table. “Did I offend someone?”
A few people mumbled no while others shook their heads or waved a dismissive hand. Then Weylin set his fork down with a noisy clang, a mischievous glimmer in his sea-green eyes. “As a matter of fact,” he objected, elbowing Banning in the side, “you did offend me. Bann, too. He just told me so.”
Quin laughed and took a bite. “So what do you want, Wey? An apology?”
“Hell, yeah, I want an apology.”
“And if I don't give it to you? Will Bann whip me into shape?”
Several people laughed, and Layla raised an eyebrow at Quin’s feistiness.
Weylin slapped Banning’s back while taking a heaping bite of mashed potatoes. “Go for it, kid. Show Quin what happens when he forgets his manners.”
“You must think I'm an idiot,” Banning refused. “Quin would tie me in a knot.”
Quin pointed his fork at Banning. “Smart kid. You should take a lesson from him, Wey.”
Weylin’s eyes narrowed, and Quin set his fork down while pulling his arm from around Layla’s shoulders. Flashing her a wink, he scooted his chair back. Then he turned his ornery dimples on Weylin. “You could use some more common sense. You're about as clever as that plate you're scraping clean.”
Weylin impishly grinned. Then he soared over the table as Quin shot into the air. Their bodies collided with a loud crunch, and Layla jolted as they flew backward. She twisted in her chair, gasping as they hit the ground rolling. Then they both jumped to their feet, meeting each other's stare for a split second before moving into battle.
Layla clutched the back of her chair and started to rise, but Morrigan’s palm came down on her shoulder, returning her to the seat. “Don't worry, sweetie. They'll be fine.”
Morrigan casually speared a bite, and Layla returned her incredulous gaze to the wrestling match, wondering how Quin could possibly equal Weylin in a physical battle, a question soon answered. Speed… sexy and shirtless speed. With athletic grace and extraordinary reflexes, Quin stayed a step ahead of Weylin, anticipating every move before it could be executed. And Weylin was far from slow or clumsy. Considering his size, he was incredibly agile, and he probably would have looked damn sexy if he’d been shirtless, but after nearly five minutes of cat and mouse, he began wearing down, so Quin showed mercy and made his move. Dodging Weylin’s grab, Quin darted in and swept the giant’s legs out from under him while slamming his shoulder into his chest.