“He’s my mate. And yes, he does.”
“Evie...”
She put up a hand. “Don’t, Mum. Just tell me why you’re here now. I haven’t heard from you since you left the country five years ago.”
Her mum clenched a fist over her heart. “I wanted to come, I did. But your father was dead set against it. He’d lost his job, his friends, and nearly his life because of your career choice. The harassments and death threats never ceased and would’ve continued if we stayed in England.”
Evie shook her head. “That’s not an excuse. I asked several times if you could handle what would happen if I joined the DDA, and both of you assured me that you could.” Her throat closed up and Evie closed her eyes a second before she continued, “We were never really close as a family, and I’d accepted that. But father disowned me and said you two didn’t have a daughter anymore.” Evie opened her eyes. “And that hurt.”
“Believe me, love, I tried to change his mind. But you know how your father is. His word is final. Not even you and your arguments could ever persuade him to alter his decision.”
Memories of heated arguments filled her mind and Evie forced them away. “And now, Mother? What did he say about you coming?”
Karen took a step toward her. “He forbade me to come. He didn’t want me to risk my life.”
“Then how are you here?”
Her mother took another step toward her. “I’d had enough. I wanted to see my daughter and grandchildren. He wouldn’t allow it, so I left him.”
Some of Evie’s anger melted away. “Oh, Mum.”
Tears filled Karen’s eyes. “It took me a long time to realize and accept that he’d changed from the man I fell in love with. I finally did what was right and chose you, Evie Marie.” Her mum opened her arms. “Will you forgive me?”
She paused a second before replying, “That depends. Are you really going to stick by me and my new family? It won’t be easy. Our clan is at the forefront of trying to change the status quo for dragon-shifters and that brings danger.”
Her mother nodded and lowered her arms. “I’m here for good this time, Evie. As long as you accept me. Those were Bram’s terms.”
“What terms?”
“I can have permission to stay on Stonefire for as long as Bram allows it.” Karen patted her jacket pocket. “I have the paperwork right here. All it needs is Bram’s signature.”
Evie tried to digest everything that had happened. If her mother had permission papers, then Bram had been working on bringing her mother to Stonefire for a while.
As she stared at her mum’s pale, round face and bloodshot eyes, Evie could tell the decision to come to Stonefire hadn’t been easy. A small part of her wanted to envelop Karen Marshall in a hug and never let go.
But Evie didn’t want to put herself or her children through heartbreak. She needed to be certain of her mother’s intentions first. “If you stay, then you’ll rarely be allowed off the clan’s lands without a dragon-shifter escort or two. Any friends or family you have will need to go through the Home Secretary’s office to obtain visitation passes. And, most importantly, if you run back to Dad, Stonefire won’t offer you any protection. You’ll be on your own.”
It might sound a bit harsh, but Evie needed to protect her clan first and foremost. They had become her family.
Karen tilted her head. “If that means I can get to know my daughter better, then it’s worth it, Evie. I will go through any test you toss my way. I’m staying for good this time.”
Her mother’s tone was confident. Evie couldn’t remember her mother speaking with such conviction since Evie had been a child.
Karen opened her arms again. “Come here, my little angel. I’ve missed you.”
At her mother’s pet name for her as a little girl, tears pricked her eyes. Rushing into her mother’s arms, Evie hugged her tight and whispered, “Please don’t hurt me again, Mum. I don’t think I can take it.”
Karen leaned back and took Evie’s face in her hands. “Never again, Evie. Never again.” Her mother smiled. “Now how about you show me my grandchildren? And, hopefully, somewhere to stay. I’m not sure if dragon-shifters like to sleep outside, but it’s bloody cold out there. All I want is a warm fire, my daughter, and my grandchildren for Christmas.”
Evie smiled. “I may threaten Bram with sending him to sleep outside from time to time, but dragons hate the cold. Well, at least, my dragonman hat
es the cold.” Evie wiped her eyes. “Bram, I know you can hear me, so come in.”
Karen blinked as Bram opened the door with little Eleanor asleep in his arms. Her mate looked at Evie and her mother before asking, “So? Is my surprise a good one or a bad one?”
Evie gave her mum one last squeeze before turning toward Bram. “Since you heard every word, I’m not sure why you’re asking. Gloating isn’t good for you.”
Bram put on a fake look of innocence. “I can’t read your mind. Can’t you tell me?” He changed his voice into a mock female one. “Oh, Bram. It’s the best present ever. I’m going to have to find many ways to reward you.”