Kai imagined his wings shrinking into his back, his talons turning into fingers, and his snout returning to a human nose.
Once he was in his human form, Jane rushed at him and handed him his clothes. Kai quickly dressed.
Just as he tugged on his jumper, his mother’s form appeared. Even though Lily Owens had the same blonde hair mixed with gray and a smile on her face as always, he could also see the strain of worry at the corner of her eyes and in her slightly hunched posture.
Jane rushed up to his mother and hugged her. “We’ll find her, Lily. I promise.”
His mother hugged back and released her. “I know.” She looked to Kai. “Rhydian is waiting to see you, Kai. Unless you need a quick rest beforehand?”
Under normal circumstances, Kai would tell his mother that he wasn’t a child. But until he found Delia, he would make an effort to be nicer. “I’m fine, Mum.”
“Good. Then Jane can come with me whilst you talk with Rhydian.”
Kai grunted. “No. Jane comes with me.”
“After all this time, you can spare her a few minutes, Kai Wilbur Sutherland,” Lily stated.
Jane spoke up. “It’s not that, Lily. I’d love to sit down with tea and biscuits and chat with you, but I’m here to help Kai find Delia. If I go with him now, then it’ll save us a lot of time later.”
Lily frowned at him. “Why didn’t you just say that? Sometimes, I wish you’d be a little more chatty.”
From the sides of his eyes, Kai noticed that Jane bit her lip to keep from smiling. He ignored his mate to focus on his mum. “So you’ve said many times before. However, Delia is our focus for the moment. Where’s Rhydian now?”
Lily motioned toward the entrance into the mountain. “In his office. Since you’ve never set foot there before, I’ll take you.”
In the next instant, Lily turned her head away and raised a hand to her face. Shit. He only hoped his strong, cheerful mum wasn’t crying.
Maybe she and Rhydian had played down the danger to Delia.
He glanced at Jane, and she motioned with her head at his mother.
His beast spoke up. She wants us to lend support. It won’t kill you to hug her.
I sometimes wonder how you were ever paired with me.
You’re just lucky.
Resisting a sigh, Kai went to his mother’s side and put an arm around her shoulders. He was a good six inches taller, so he kissed the top of her head. “I’ll find her, Mum. I vow it.”
Lily sniffed. “I know you will, Kai. But it’s hard not knowing if she’s all right or if her call was forced. I didn’t hear fear or nervousness, but it was a short message, and sometimes even the best mother can be fooled by a teenager.”
Jane jumped in. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Lily. I’m positive that Kai inherited his ability to detect liars and deceivers from you. Not even a determined teenage daughter should be able to fool you.” Jane took a step toward the mountain’s entrance. “Now, how about we see your clan leader? The sooner we have information, the faster we can find Delia.”
His mum murmured her assent and finally started walking.
As Lily guided them into one of the mountain passages and down a corridor carved into the rock, Kai did his best to support his mother. He’d been a horrible son for so many years, avoiding her in order to protect his heart from Maggie. The least he could do was find Delia and bring her back safely. It would go a long way toward making up for his neglect.
Although once he found his sister, Kai would hug her once and then give a rather long, stern lecture about common sense and using it.
His beast snorted. As if that will work. It didn’t work with us, either, at her age.
It doesn’t mean I won’t try. After all, I know what sort of trouble she could get into.
Rather than answer, his dragon merely shook his head.
His mother made one last turn and stopped in front of an old, wide door made of wood and metal. She knocked, and Kai did his best to pack away his dislike of the Snowridge leader. Their meetings had been few, but the male had never been friendly or warm like Bram. He also had a tendency to share the bare minimum.
In other words, Kai had his work cut out for him.