“No, Mom, I’m sorry. I have no excuse for how rude I was just now other than it’s been a very stressful morning.”
Mom hugged me back hard.
“You weren’t rude, baby. You were glorious in your protection of what is yours.”
I flinched, and she felt it because she released me to look me in the eyes.
“I admit, I’m not sure what you need right now. Your reaction is a very typical reaction any succubus about to feed would give. While I don’t think you want to hear that or think about it, I can’t let you believe for a moment that I’m upset by that very natural display. But it does tell me that you’re very serious about Fenris, and I swear to you that I recognize your claim on the boy and that you have nothing to fear from me. Because he’s yours, I’ll view him as a son.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Unless he hurts you. Then, I’ll view him from the top of his grave.”
I couldn’t stop the surge of anger that erupted.
“You are glorious, Eliana,” Mom said, immediately looking at the table again. “I’m so proud of the woman you’re becoming and for finding your own way to become her.”
Her words calmed me enough that I could retreat a few steps.
“We shouldn’t have come here,” I said.
“Of course you should have. Your father is ecstatic to meet Fenris. Sit down. Tell me that he makes you happy and dislikes Adira as much as we do.”
The tension inside of me melted away, and I grinned at Mom.
“I don’t think anyone dislikes Adira as much as you.”
“I don’t know about that. Your father would tell you he is equally matched. Speaking of, he’s keeping Fenris away from me until you’re comfortable with them joining us.” She paused, her motherly concern peeking through. “Are you comfortable?”
“I would be more comfortable if we were both dressed.”
“Will this work?” Fenris asked from behind me.
I startled when a shirt appeared before me. I could feel Mom watching as I stared at Fenris’s exposed forearm. He wore one of my dad’s shirts with the sleeves rolled up.
When I slowly turned to look at all of him, I saw that he was wearing slacks, too. But, he was barefoot. And the top two buttons of his shirt were undone.
“Not sure that’s an improvement,” I whispered.
Fenris’s usually boyish grin remained firmly in place while I flushed.
Thankfully, the sight of my dad just behind him helped distract me.
“I can find another shirt if you’d like,” Dad said. “I’d offer a pair of my boxers, but your mother doesn’t allow me to wear any.”
I looked at Fenris, horrified by the open comment.
“That’s right,” he mouthed. “Commando.”
I should have known he wouldn’t care.
“Jason, darling, you know Eliana doesn’t want to hear those details about her father. Why don’t you and Fenris make us some breakfast?”
Fenris quirked a brow at me, which made me flush further.
“Mom, Fenris doesn’t need to—”
“Lavish you with signs of my affection? I believe I do,” Fenris said, his humor lighting his eyes. I realized that had been something I hadn’t witnessed in a while. And it kind of made me nervous that he was letting his mischief show now. Here. In my parents’ home.
