She lifts her hands to reply, but before she manages to form any words Raj comes tearing out of the house, crimson shirt unbuttoned and feet bare. He skids to a halt when he sees us, the golden glow of our mate bond pulsing wildly in the centre of his bare chest.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asks with tight, rapid hand movements.
Of course he felt my pain through the bond and came running. My dragon calms slightly now that our treasure is here and I hold out my hand, grateful for his presence. He quickly joins me and squeezes my hand before letting go.
‘This is my mum,’I sign stiffly.
He gives a slight nod as he buttons his shirt, eyes intense on her, no trace of his usual friendliness.
Mum has questions in her eyes, but she doesn’t ask them. ‘I left your father.’ Her hand movements are tense, her attention fully on me again. ‘I couldn’t take it anymore. He banned me from contacting you after your trial, constantly monitoring my emails. He’s got worse since your release, controlling my access to my phone, checking my location, and demanding I stay home unless I’m at work.’
Dad’s behind her lack of contact with me? Somehow I’m not surprised, but I’m not sure how I feel about that. My chest is so painfully tight I can barely breathe.
‘I’ve spent years wondering why you never…’
I can’t even finish the sentence. All this time I’ve resented both my parents, wondering how Mum of all people could abandon me when she was the one who’d always been on my side.
Her expression is earnest. ‘He wouldn’t let me, Bryn. He…’ She shakes her head and squares her shoulders. ‘It doesn’t matter what else he did. I’m sorry it took Zara moving out for me to find the strength to do the same. I hope I can make it up to you in time.’
My jaw is tight, my dragon vibrating with anger, although I’m not sure which of my parents the feeling is directed at. I’ve always thought Mum was strong-willed enough to make her own choices no matter what, but if Dad’s controlling behaviour has escalated to the point of domestic abuse, then perhaps I should be a little kinder towards her.
I take three strides forward and hug Mum tightly. Her arms come around my waist, squeezing like she never wants to let go. The hug probably doesn’t last as long as she wants it to, but I’m still hurt. Forgiveness is going to take time, and probably a further explanation of what exactly she’s gone through.
I narrow my eyes at my brother as he returns. ‘You couldn’t warn me beforehand?’
There’s a tightness to his expression. ‘Look, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t risk you trying to prevent me from bringing Mum here. She needed to get away from Dad, and you two need a chance to reconnect.’
I’m not sure what I’d have done if I’d known about this in advance. Suggested she stay somewhere other than the estate, maybe. Not been willing to see her, probably. Perhaps it’s for the best that he’s done it this way.
‘Fair enough,’ I sign, some of the tension easing from my shoulders.
‘We good?’ he asks, eyebrows raised.
‘Yeah. Always.’ Milo and I might not agree on everything, but he’s the best brother a dragon could ask for—annoying spreadsheets and all.
As he takes a box from the back seat of his car, his movements far more relaxed now, I return to Raj’s side. I figure if Mum is going to be around for a while I should introduce them properly. ‘Raj, meet Oshun Ruwa. Mum, this is my bonded mate, Rajesh Puli.’
‘Bonded?’ Her eyes widen, then she smiles. ‘I’m delighted to meet you.’
He gives her a polite smile before focusing on me. ‘How do we feel about this? Because the bond is throwing all sorts at me.’
She looks at me with a combination of remorse and tentative hope in her eyes. I’ve always been able to read her emotions on her face, and there’s comfort in knowing that despite everything, that hasn’t changed.
‘I’m not sure yet,’ I sign, looking at Mum, ‘but we’re going to have plenty of time to reconnect.’
‘In that case…’ Raj turns his attention back to Mum and holds out his hand. Their handshake is polite on his side, warmer on hers.
It’ll take time and effort for Mum and me to rebuild our relationship, but I’m glad we’ll have this chance.
I pluck the strings of my Squier, the vibrations of the song forming a familiar rhythm. It’s the last of my basses that I’m testing to ensure it’s perfectly tuned before I mount it on the wall with the others. I’ve spent every spare moment since the warehouse fire cleaning them all up, restringing them, tuning them, polishing them… basically making them fit for a dragon’s hoard again and removing any trace of Lance’s touch.
My dragon is thrilled with our new living arrangements because we now have a much bigger hoard room—what would have originally been a small dressing room when the house was built. Ayo warded it to hell for me a few days ago, so it’s now my happy place where my beauties are secure and displayed to perfection for me to enjoy with my mate.
Admittedly the earplugs Raj put in an hour ago suggest I’ll be enjoying them alone more often than not, but he’s been sitting with me doing something on his laptop since he abandoned the rest of the unpacking. It’ll probably take us a few days to figure out where to put everything, especially with it being our first time living together, but between me not having much stuff and Raj only seeming particular about his clothes and haircare products, I’m sure we’ll be fine.
By some miracle, we managed to rescue the sketch of the manor I did when I was a teenager. It needed a new frame, and it’s still sooty and singed at the edges, but it’s now hanging in pride of place above the fireplace in the room we’ve designated our private living room for the moment. Once we’re all settled in, I’m planning to ask Ayo if he can clean it up with magic without losing any of the original drawing.
Satisfied that the Squier is performing as it should, I lift the strap over my head and unplug the cable before mounting the bass in the final position on the wall. I tidy away my other equipment then sit next to Raj on thefloor.
