My Sister Stole My Mate And I Let Her (Seraphina) novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Chapter 164 JUST A GAME

DANIEL’S POV

After being apart for so long, all I wanted to do was stay by Mom’s side.

But as we got to the party, I realized I couldn’t do that tonight. Tonight, she wasn’t just my mom; she was a winner. A champion. And I couldn’t be prouder.

She looked so happy—laughing with her friends, her eyes shining in that way that made everything feel brighter.

I stood at the snack table, my paper plate forgotten, watching people greet her with hugs, congratulations, and excited questions about the Trials.

I was so glad to see her this way. Most of my life, at parties like this, she always stayed in a corner, quiet and alone, and I’d always hated it.

I loved my mom, and even though I wanted to be by her side forever, I was so happy she’d made new friends. Her circle was growing, and people were seeing her for the wonderful person she’d always been.

Dad, on the other hand, was not having as much fun as Mom was.

I watched him at the bar, his back hunching and his eyebrows scrunched together like they did when he was thinking hard. I could see it in his eyes, a pain I didn’t understand, whenever he looked at Mom.

Like now.

I wondered if he regretted the divorce. Especially since Aunt Celeste seemed like the worst person in the world.

I would have liked my parents back together, but if Dad only wanted Mom now that she was popular, I wasn’t sure about it.

Uncle Ethan appeared near the snack table, holding a plate stacked with cupcakes. He smiled widely at me.

“Danny-boy!” he called. “You look like a little Alpha tonight.”

I grinned, hopping excitedly. “Uncle Ethan!”

He bent and ruffled my hair. Why did adults like doing that so much? “You see your mom over there?” He nodded toward her, his tone softening. “She’s glowing.”

I puffed up a little, proud. “She always glows.”

Ethan laughed. “That she does. You get your charm from her, I think.”

We shared a grin, and he handed me one of the cupcakes. The frosting was gold, sprinkled with tiny silver flakes that glittered under the lights.

As we ate, I saw his mate, Aunt Maya, dragging Mom toward the dance floor with Mom’s other friends. Mom was laughing so hard her cheeks had gone pink.

I’d just met Aunt Maya when I first landed a few hours ago. She and Uncle Ethan came to pick me up, and she seemed like a lot of fun. Anyone who was good to my mom was a hero in my eyes.

Uncle Ethan clapped his hands suddenly. “Come on. This party’s boring. Let’s find something more our speed.”

I followed him eagerly toward the game area—a section tucked away near the back of the hall with big screens, couches, and consoles.

There were a few older kids from the families of the partygoers and even some adults already playing, but when they saw Ethan Lockwood, they moved aside instantly. Everyone liked him.

He winked at me and tossed me a controller as he set up Dragon Blight III: Firestorm Quest. “Ready to lose?”

I gasped dramatically. “You’re going down, Uncle Ethan!”

The match began—bright flashes, loud music, characters shouting battle cries. My fingers flew over the buttons.

I’d played this game nonstop almost every day and was badass at it, but Uncle Ethan was fast, too fast.

“No fair!” I complained when he won the first round. “You cheated!”

“I’ve been playing video games for years,” he teased. “You’ll need backup if you want to beat me.”

I crossed my arms. “Mom’s busy.”

“Then call your old man. He used to be my partner in crime, remember?” Ethan chuckled, clearly trying to sound casual. “You two against me.”

I hesitated. Lucian had joined Dad at the bar. They looked...tense.

Even from across the room, I could tell something wasn’t right. Their shoulders were stiff, their faces unreadable. They looked like the dragon riders facing off just before the battle started.

They needed a distraction before they started fighting and ruined Mom’s party.

So I headed for them. “Dad! Lucian!”

They looked surprised to see me, and it felt like I’d caught a glass cup just before it fell and shattered.

“Uncle Ethan and I are playing video games,” I announced. “You both have to join us!”

“Video games, huh?” Dad chuckled.

I nodded. “Yeah! Me, Lucian, Uncle Ethan, and you!”

I saw the surprise on Lucian’s face. Dad and Uncle Ethan, too.

I hadn’t had a chance to hang out with Lucian yet. I knew he liked Mom, and Mom liked him, so I needed to know what kind of person he was before they got any closer.

“Sure.” He smiled. “Why not?”

“Well,” I heard Uncle Ethan murmur as we headed back to the game corner, “this should be interesting.”

Soon, the four of us were seated. Dad took the controller beside Uncle Ethan and sat next to me. Lucian sat on my other side.

“Two versus two,” Uncle Ethan said, grinning.

“I call Daniel,” Lucian said immediately, slinging an arm over the back of my chair. “We’re the champions tonight.”

I giggled. “Yeah!”

Dad raised an eyebrow. “That’s not how it works, Lucian. You can’t just—”

But Lucian had already chosen the game mode and handed me the second controller. “Too late.”

Dad raised an eyebrow, and that pained look was in his eyes again. Did he not like me hanging out with Lucian?

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