My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace novel Chapter 49

With a loud "thwack," the cue stick missed its mark, and the billiard ball stayed put, not moving an inch. The awkward moment caught the daydreaming Xanthea by surprise. She was about to point out the miss when she saw Orion set down his cue and head toward the restroom.

"Hey!"

Xanthea wanted to call him back but caught a glimpse of his face contorting slightly, and the reddish tint at the edges of his eyes.

"What's up with him?"

Was teaching her how to play pool that distressing?

"It's nothing, Uncle Orion's just got a bit of a germ thing. He just hugged you, so he's definitely going to wash his hands!"

Sebastian scampered over with his legs, and Xanthea's mouth twitched, "Thanks for the truth bomb, kid. Wish I hadn't asked."

But she sensed there was more to it. Right before that failed shot, she'd felt something intensely hot bounce off her, but before she could react, the sound came.

"Though you're even slower at learning than me! I picked up the game faster than you!"

"Are you kidding?" Xanthea chuckled at him. "I just learned from your uncle and I've already got it. Just wait, I'll show you how it's done!"

"I got it in one go too, but Uncle Orion didn't look as scary teaching me as he did teaching you."

Xanthea frowned, "He looked scary?"

"Yeah!" Sebastian nodded vigorously. "Super scary, like a fierce big bad wolf, like he wanted to gobble you up!"

Xanthea was speechless.

Seems like she really did tick him off earlier, using reverse psychology to get him to teach her.