“Mother, please listen to Sasha instead of jumping to conclusions,” Blaze said.
Max sent him another grateful smile.
“We’ve traveled from the monastery on Smoking Isle,” Griffith said. “I’m starving. Can we have something to eat and drink while we discuss where Sasha has been and why it has taken her so long to return home?”
“Good idea,” Blaze said and shunted their mother toward a door over to their right.
Noel marched over to Tiberius and tugged on his hand. Surprised, Tiberius glanced down at the boy. “Are you a dragon?” Noel asked.
“Yes,” Tiberius said.
Noel held out his hand for Tiberius to take. “I like dragons. Shasha is a dragon.”
Tiberius led Noel over toDalinda, and Noel held out his free hand to Sasha’s mother.Dalinda laughed, the sound a delighted tinkle.
“Your brother has cut through their bluster,” Blaze said in a low voice. “You’re lucky to have him along.”
Sasha grinned at the interaction between her parents and Noel. Max groaned when his brother asked if they had cookies because he loved the ones Sasha made him.
“Don’t worry,” Sasha whispered with a tearful smile. “Everything is going to be fine.”
Max thought so too, but there was always an outside chance they might keep his brother and kick Max out for daring to touch their daughter. Sasha urged him to follow her parents and brothers, and Max walked at her side.
Sasha led him into a large room that turned out to be a kitchen. Two women wearing white aprons to protect their gowns were busy toiling at a sturdy wooden table. One was peeling what looked like a root vegetable while the other was stirring the contents of a large bowl.
“Normally, we’d sit in here, but for this conversation, I believe we’ll go into the formal dining room,”Dalinda said. “Sasha, show Max and his brother to the dining room while I organize tea.” She turned to Max. “What will Noel drink?”
“Noel likes milk,” Sasha said. “Come on, Max. This way.”
Max was aware of Tiberius following closely behind while Blaze and Griffith remained behind to chat with their mother.
The dining room held bulky wooden chairs and a sturdy table that looked as if it would comfortably seat a dozen people. Decorative cushions sat on each chair.
“Sit here,” Sasha said in a quiet voice. She tugged out another chair for Noel and helped him to clamber up while Max took stock of the rest of the room. The space was as clean as the kitchen had been, and the wooden surfaces gleamed from frequent polishing. A floral scent drifted through an open window. A large painting of the ocean on a stormy day dominated one wall of the room.
Tiberius took a seat at the head of the table while Sasha sat beside Max. Blaze and Griffith entered, banter racing between them. Blaze sat on the other side of Noel.
Dalinda bustled into the room, not long afterward. “Our meal won’t be long.” She sat at the other end of the table, making it clear as to their position of authority within the family. “Right, young lady. Where have you been?”
“I flew over the sea before going to visit my friend. Anger drove me after our conversation about Bruceous. I thought to fly off some of my temper.”
Tiberius andDalinda exchanged a glance before turning their attention back to Sasha.
“Go on,” Tiberius said.
“While I was flying, the air turned thick, and it was like fighting through heavy syrup. I kept flying, and the next minute, I spotted a long sandy beach. I wasn’t sure of my location and landed to get my bearings. It turned out I’d crossed through the barrier and ended up on the mainland. My dragon and I heard crying, and we shifted and dressed before investigating. I found Noel. He’d become lost. I helped him and met Max, who offered me a job looking after Noel. Since I already liked Noel, and it was apparent Max cared for his brother, plus I needed somewhere to stay, I accepted. The more I got to know Max and Noel, the more I liked them.
“When Max’s grandmother paid people to kidnap Noel, I had to shift to my dragon form to save him. Things became worse when Max’s grandmother involved the law, and they ordered Max to give Noel to her. We journeyed to Holy Island to avoid the reporters, the grandmother, and the law. By this time, Max knew I was a dragon, and he said we should check the barrier in case I could travel home. The barrier was strong and impassable, but we met Liza and Cherry on the beach. I smelled the dragon on them, and we followed their trail. That’s where we met Blaze.”
Tiberius glanced from Sasha to Max and back. “You left out the part where you became mates.”
“I—” Sasha began.
“Let me answer this one,” Max said. “Your daughter is amazing. She’s unlike any other woman I’ve met. She’s smart and beautiful.”
“You forgot gorgeous,”Sasha’s dragon shrieked.
Max smiled and winked at Sasha. “She’s gorgeous. Adaptable. Sensible. She loves Noel and taught him to swim. It’s been amazing watching my brother bloom under her care. Our parents died in an accident just over six months ago, and it has been difficult. I had to work, and my grandmother was toiling behind the scenes to take Noel from me.”
