His mother gave him a look, but she smiled at Sawyer and looped his arm through hers. “I’m sure you think so, dear. I’ll be having a talk with my son about this later. Now, I see Augustus over there and would love to remake his acquaintance. It’s been many years. Would you mind escorting me, sweetheart?”
“I’d be honored,” Sawyer said.
He led her away and Draco tried not to groan. He was in so much trouble already.
“Don’t worry about her, son,” Blaise said. “You know how she gets. Nod and smile.”
Blaise gave Draco a quick hug before turning to Henry. “Are those your wards?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Impressive.”
Henry beamed and Draco felt a little tension leave. If his dad was impressed, it would go a long way toward soothing the savage beast that was his mother.
“Son,” Joash said. He held out his arms and Draco stepped in for a hug. He’d always had a special bond with his middle father, and they spoke weekly. “You look good. Don’t mind what your mother says. You’ve been flying a lot, haven’t you? Look at those arms. Fantastic.”
“Yes, sir. Training with Andvari. We’re developing a new fighting technique.”
“Excellent.”
“What’s this?” Volos said. “A new technique?”
Draco’s third dad had kept his attention on the wards and the surrounding guards. Always on the lookout, much like Andvari and Loch. Volos was extremely overprotective and the main reason Draco and his sister hadn’t gotten away with much when they were young. “We’re working on a way for Andvari, my vampire mate, to best use his blades while we fly.”
Volos looked intrigued. “Tell me more.”
“After we meet the others,” Joash said. “Don’t be a heathen, Volos.”
Volos wrapped his arm around Joash and kissed him to shut him up. Draco’d learned the technique at his father’s knee. It was the only way his dads got in a word edgewise with his mother. He often found it useful with his own mates.
Henry leaned against him and smiled.
“I like your dads.”
Blaise smiled. “And will we get to meet your fathers, young mage?”
“Yes, sir. They’re coming by later. Dad has a patient so they can’t stay long, but they’re going to come for a little while. They really want to meet everyone.”
“Excellent. Tell me more about these wards,” Blaise said as he led Henry away.
“Draco! Are you planning on introducing me to your other mates or are you going to stand there like a lump all afternoon? I swear, I taught him better manners, Augustus. What can you do once they’re out of the house?” Dalinda sighed and tossed her red hair over her shoulder with an annoyed flick.
Joash chuckled and patted Draco’s back. “Sorry, son, you stepped right into the trap of that one. Go on and introduce her and let her do her thing. I’m going to grab a seat and catch up with Augustus.”
Draco hurried to do as she asked. He led her around the pool, meeting each of his mates in turn. She approved of Andvari and his weapons, cooed over Loch’s blue hair, and wrapped Saeward up in a hug the likes of which the hippocamp had never seen. He actually had tears in his eyes when she pulled away. “Draco, make sure Saeward has my number. You call me any time, sweetheart.”
Saeward actually sighed.
Times like these he remembered just why he loved his mother so much. “I’ll make sure he has it, and I’ll even make sure he uses it.”
“Such a good son when you remember your manners. Now, there’s one more, isn’t there?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Eduard stood by the back door of the house, having a quick conference with Viv about dinner. Draco led her over, excited for her to meet his final mate. He should have known his mother had something on her mind. The clues had all been there, if only he’d caught them in time.
“Eduard Eastaughffe,” Dalinda said.
