Penny bit into the apple as it was the only edible food she could have while she tried to not look at the other plate that was in front of her. 

"It appears to look as if you are her slave more than she being yours. Has she wrapped you around your finger?" Grace asked Damien without looking up at him, smiling to herself, "Father you should be careful with brother Dami. You never know what he might do if he falls in love with her." It wasn't foreign for an owner to take care of their pets but it wasn't exactly appreciated in the society. Penny wasn't a slave who bared no mark of the slave establishment but it was something people didn't know of. Right now, she was a girl who was being cared for by Damien though not directly. 

"Always so interested in what I do. I wonder if you have something to do apart from picking on your siblings. Oh, wait I forgot you didn't have a life of your own," Damien retorted back cooly.

"What can I say, you're my family. I have to watch out for you as Sister Maggie doesn't dare to cross lines with you," Grace raised her head to smile at him and her older sister, "No offense sister, but you never speak anything to him."

"That might be because I have no issue with what he does unlike you who has a problem with what he does. Excuse me," Lady Maggie stood up from her seat after she was done dabbing her lips. Walking around the table she went to her father, to kiss his cheek and say, "I will be going to meet Mrs. Ryker. She has trouble with her daughter's governess."

"To teach?" her father's voice turned curt. 

"No, just to supervise. Don't worry father I won't be the governess," and even as she a.s.sured it to her father by standing to his side, Penny could tell that the vampiress was holding in something she wanted to say. It was as if Lady Maggie wanted to take part in the job of being governess and Penny personally thought she should as she had been teaching her well. It seemed like Quinn's family didn't like the girls of their family to work outside for anyone. It was frowned and looked down. 

"Hmm," her father hummed and she walked out of the room. 

Penny who was sitting with the apples decided to eat as quickly as she could hoping she could step out of this room too. It was as if every meal in this room had friction between the siblings coming up and out. With that thought, as discreetly as possible she ate the fruit one after another. 

His father then said, "You should stop pampering the slave, Damien. Your sister is right. We don't want you being played and twisted," the man looked at Penny, his eyes starting to judge and at the same time she felt the piece of the apple she had bit in to get stuck in her throat before she swallowed, "There have been many cases of slaves turning their owners to puppets to the point where the owners have killed entire family just by the word of the slave. You already have experienced what a slave is capable of with your dear friend." 

"Don't worry father. I love my family to not kill them at least not you and Maggie. The rest I cannot a.s.sure though with or without the slave in the picture," he looked at Grace who was easy to rile up. 

Grace turned to her father with worried eyes, "He threatens right in front of you, father. I sometimes worry where he will kill me and call it to be an accident."

"You know father you should put the girl in the theater. She would turn out to be the finest actress but then she lacks enough talent to be one," Damien took another jab. 

"I was hoping to have a peaceful breakfast. Is it hard for both of you to get along? And Grace, don't be rude to your siblings. We all know Damien only says it but it doesn't mean he will hurt his family intentionally unless you do something to him."

Grace laughed, one of mock and she threw her napkin on the table, "You are siding with him. Always taking his side. Let me show you," getting up from her table, she walked towards Penny who was sitting on the floor. Before she could reach the slave, a knife flew across her which touched the end of the other wall that had her stop suddenly from walking forward. 

"Do something to her and I will a.s.sure you, you will not see the day. Don't touch things that belong only to me," Damien's words allowed no further argument but Grace was yet to get what he meant.

The young vampiress turned around to speak to her father, "See? This is what I meant. Why is he so close with his slave?"

"If you want to be my slave, I have a spare spot for you," his voice chimed which irritated his half-blood sister. 

"I had rather die."

"I had be happy if you did. You should just do it than be a pain to all of us," he responded back. By the time they were bickering, Damien's father used the napkin on the table and left the room without another word. After all, it was another sibling fight which he let the children resolve things among themselves. Right now he had an upset wife in the room who he had to speak to. 

"One day I will have her alone and see what I do to her," Grace gritted her teeth, "You cannot keep protecting that toy of yours." 

"I hope that day never comes for your own benefit," Damien replied to see his sister walk away from the dining room leaving him and Penny seated with the butler standing with the bowl in his hand which had been asked to mix further with the meat sauce by the young vampiress during the meal.