Page 92 of The Cannibal

Her face turned to me now.

“Then I was thinking of a promenade in the park.”

There was an audible sigh, and at the very least she let go of the tension in her jaw.

“It isn’t anything too irregular. Dress proper for each activity and occasion, be cordial, and then there’s the diet change. Though I feel you may not stomach that anyway.”

“What about formalities? Titles?”

Her face lit up slightly. “Yes, apologies, you’re right. There is something else.” Her shoulders relaxed a bit as she dug into specifics. “Sires are addressed as Sir. Dams are Madame. Everyone else is the regular suffix. Hosts brought from other Nests are off limits to anyone other than those who brought them, but Hosts in the entertaining household are open to guests.”

“Seems rather objectifying.”

She shot me a glare.

“Apologies, continue,” I mumbled.

“You were able to get away with improper addressing before, when you were ignorant to our world. But now it will be expected of you, especially since you find yourself a Dam. I would say normally they will give newly turned members grace—but they’ll be looking for a reason to dislike you.”

“So nothing far from the ordinary.”

“You are correct, you dreadful, off-putting thing.” She slapped my knee playfully.

I placed my hands over my heart. “You are too generous with your compliments today, my dearest.”

Phoebe couldn’t even hide her smirk, then her eyes darted to my high collar.

Instinctually, I covered it, feeling the quickly healing bite. Not quickly enough, apparently.

“You and Silas are well, then?” She quirked a brow.

“More than well.”

She shook her head with a grin as she went back to looking at her list. “Just means you’re his new keeper.”

“So little faith in him,” I teased.

“Can you blame me?” she laughed.

“He seems different this time.” I crossed my arms. “I don’t think I can call it maturity.”

“Only took about two hundred years.”

“Focus, Phoebe.” I poked her leg with my slipper. “Is there anything else?”

She chewed on the tip of her pencil before she looked up again. “Yes! When the trial is over, and say it is favorable⁠—”

“When it is favorable,” I corrected.

She smiled politely, holding back some choice words for me. “As I was saying, if the results are favorable, we have a few options,” she began.

I sat up, feeling as if I should be taking notes but I’m sure she will nag me if I ever forget.

“We can choose to remain an independent Nest, or they will make group or individual offers for joining theirs.”

“I’m following.” I nodded, clasping my hands over my knee.

“Not that you would, but it is very important that you do not agree to any offers, verbal or on paper. Our members know well enough that if they accepted anything, it would just be a repeating cycle and there would have been no point in joining Chimera in the first place.”