“I think that this conversation would be better over some tea, don't you?”
Nathan agreed. Laurel looked up to him for a moment as they walked towards the corner table. She wasn’t sure and her eyes were sad.
“Are you sure you're okay? You're being a bit forceful and you’re not usually like this. Maybe you should see what she is going to say before you judge, Laurel.” Nathan whispered so that the woman who was just a few feet away couldn’t hear him.
“She didn't come for me, I found her. Don't you wonder why that is? There is a lot I wonder and since I’ve waited so long, I don’t want to wait anymore. If my mother left me, then there must be some solid reason. I just want the answers from her.” Laurel knew she was facing a lot of abandonment issues.
All of those questions were asked when they got inside, and it was a little easier to digest with a little bit of tea in front of them. Nathan tried to calm her down so that she wasn’t spitting out questions left and right.
Star was warm and open about everything. She answered all of Laurel's questions and there were a few times that she did things that Laurel caught herself doing, like twiddling her hair around her finger. Star had a wild tale about Laurel being stolen and how she looked for her for many years. She didn't know who had taken Laurel, just that she had been left a note, saying that she would be taken care of.
“So, someone just left a note and took me?”
“It was quite unusual, obviously. We didn't have any enemies and I couldn't imagine who would do such a thing. I always worried about you. We looked for years, we still look, but I always hoped that the letter was true and that one day I would see you again.”
“How did you know that you would see me again?” Laurel was absolutely unable to keep her cool. This was all nonsense. She wanted to believe Star, but how could she?
Star smiled, patted her hand gently. “I knew that you had a great many things ahead of you and whoever had taken you, wanted to prepare you for that. Maybe it was for something that I was unable to give you or teach you. Sometimes the way is muddled until we are close enough to see. You say you had a good life, right?”
Laurel agreed.
“Yes, I did have a good life. I lived with humans, though. I just found out what I was only a few weeks ago. Before that, I thought I was human.”
“Your dragon came out?”
Laurel agreed. “Yes, it came out and saved my life.”
“And him?”
Laurel looked over at Nathan. “He says that we are going to be mated.”
“What is your last name, Nathan?”
His face showed nerves of his own. “Tungsten.”
She closed her eyes for a moment. Starr told them that she didn't know what to think of that.
“What do you mean?”
“I do not see him in your future, child. I've always seen a mystery man, but I don't know if he is it or not. I was hoping that he would clear it up, but the name means nothing to me.”
Nathan scoffed and it was Laurel's turn to pat his hand calmingly. He did not like to hear that at all but Laurel wanted to hear it all. Nathan wasn’t having it, though.
“What, are you a seer, too? That would be rich.”
“Yes, actually I am.”
“Then why did you not know where your daughter was, seer?”
Laurel gasped and looked at Nathan. Why was he so angry all of a sudden? Was it truly because Star had said something about him not being for her? He got a little touchy when that subject was brought up, and Laurel had to remind herself to talk to him about it later. But…was she wrong for liking the way he stood up for them?
“Nathan! That's rude.”
“It's becoming clear that we have made a mistake coming here. Just because she is your biological mother, Laurel, doesn't mean that she gets to have any say in this part of your life. You shouldn't listen to her.”
“And what if I were to say that she was meant to be with someone from a great family and King of Fire Island? Would that mean anything to you?”
Nathan nodded his head. “I have heard stories of the Fire Islands and the massive dragon clan that is there, though no one even knows if it’s real or where it is. I come from a great family, considered that way by everyone in the shifter community. But the two together and me as King, no. None of that means anything to me. It’s just gibberish for all I know.”
