“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“I wish I could say the same.”
“Mother,” Draco growled.
Eduard looked concerned. “If I’ve offended you in some way—”
“Do you know what I wish for, Eduard?”
“No, ma’am.”
“I wish to buy a home near my precious son and his new mates. I wish to have the opportunity to be close to him, so that I might enjoy more of their company.”
Eduard suddenly had a very guilty expression on his face.
“Eduard?” Draco asked.
His mother turned her glare to him. “Are you so unaware of your mate’s actions, my son?”
“Mom,” Draco growled again.
“He purchases every property for sale within a hundred mile radius!”
“Not a hun—” Eduard tried to explain, but his mother cut him off.
“Might as well be!” His mother turned her ire back toward Eduard.
“I was unaware that you—”
“I’m sure you were! Frustrated at every turn. Nowhere acceptable for my family. What am I to think, Eduard? You do not wish for me to spend time with my son and his mates, is that it?”
“Mother, enough,” Draco said. “My mate focuses on keeping us safe. Do not doubt his motives. I forbid it.”
She turned her glare to him and flames lit within her eyes. “Pardon me?”
“You heard me, Mom.”
“I’m not sure I did.”
“I forbid it,” Draco repeated. “No one speaks to my mates that way. Not even you.”
The flames deepened.
His own fire built in response.
“Mrs. Volsunga, come look!”
Sawyer hurried over, and Draco prepared to fight. He would not let her speak rudely to Sawyer. He wouldn’t allow it.
“Son.”
His father’s hand touched his shoulder as Sawyer darted their way. Sawyer was unaware of the tension, hadn’t so much as glanced their way since the first introduction. Draco was constantly aware of Sawyer, even in his current state of anger.
“Dalinda, control yourself,” Blaise said sternly.
His father rarely spoke in such a tone to his mother, and she turned her glare to him. But only for a moment. One look at Blaise and the flames dimmed. “Yes, my love,” she said gently.
Sawyer ran over with a rock in his hand. But not just any rock. One his other father had formed with his flames. Joash had taken up art in recent years, finding ways to use his flames to change forms, mold them into other beautiful objects.
