Add in the visits to Snowridge to visit Kai’s family and help Delia learn to control her dragon once more, and sometimes Jane wondered how she remembered to breathe.
It would be a few weeks yet before they finally could go back to their normal routine, so Jane merely soaked in her dragonman’s heat and the sense of comfort that always came with being near him.
Kai spoke up. “I know part of your restlessness is because you’re worried about my sister, but she’s nearly back to her old self.”
Delia’s dragon had barely spoken to her at first and had acted more like a young child than a teenager. But with intensive training from Kai, Rhydian, Snowridge’s tracker, Carys, and other alpha dragon-shifters, Delia’s dragon was learning and maturing. Everyone was hopeful for the future.
Well, at least for Delia’s.
“Your sister might be nearly back to normal, but we won’t know for years about the other children.”
Squeezing her good shoulder, Kai answered, “With all of Stonefire’s doctors working on a cure, they’ll find something. I know they will.”
“I hope so.”
A comfortable silence fell. Jane’s eyes grew heavy, but just as she struggled to keep them open, her mother’s familiar Australian accent boomed from the entrance. “Jane Elizabeth Hartley, come give your mother a hug.”
She looked up to see the tall, red-haired figure of her mother, Leonie Hartley. “Hi, Mum.”
When Jane didn’t get up, her mother closed the distance and scrutinized her face. “Should you even be socializing yet? You had a nasty injury not that long ago and look tired.” She glanced at Kai. “Are you going to back me up on this, Kai?”
Jane put up a hand. “Just stop, please, Mother. Today isn’t about my health.” She stood and hugged her mum. “Where are the others? And Dad?”
“Your father is with Rafe and Nikki. Something about Rafe wanting to make sure Nikki doesn’t fall down the stairs.”
Jane rolled her eyes. “She might be six months pregnant, but she’s not that big yet.”
“You know your brother and how protective he is of those he cares for. He could have twenty people telling him Nikki was fine and he’d remain skeptical.” Leonie placed a hand on her hip and stared at Kai. “Where’re your parents?”
Kai looked over at the door leading to the kitchen. “They should’ve heard you come in.”
Jane wondered if Kai was referencing her mother’s tendency to talk loudly, but managed not to smile. She merely patted Kai’s arm. “Go get them. The more people in the room when Rafe arrives, the better. You’ll both behave more.”
Grunting, Kai glared at her. “I can behave. He’s the one being irrational. You’d think he had pregnancy hormones racing through his body instead of Nikki.”
Snorting, Jane opened her mouth to reply when her mother cut her off. “Of course you can behave, dear. But I’d like to meet your mother. We did just drive more hours than I’d like just to get here.”
Sighing, Jane resisted placing her face in her hands. She loved her mother, but sometimes she was a bit over the top. “Please don’t guilt trip him this early in the visit, Mum.”
Her mum tsked. “I’m just being honest. If you don’t know that my nature is to speak the truth by now, then I don’t know how you ever made a living as a journalist.”
Jane was tempted to rub her forehead. “How about maybe toning it down just a bit? At least until after I can introduce you to Kai’s family? I don’t want them running for the hills before that. Speaking of which, maybe that’s why they’re hiding.”
“Jane Hartley, I appreciate some backbone, but I expect a little respect from my favorite daughter.”
“I’m your only daughter.”
Her mum waved a hand. “That doesn’t matter. And this is who I am, so if it embarrasses you, I’ll leave.”
Kai chuckled. “Please don’t, Leonie. You and Jane are more alike than I think my mate wants to acknowledge.”
Jane was about to protest, but Lily and Gareth entered the room, with Delia right behind him. Jane jumped at the distraction. “Mum, this is Kai’s mum and stepdad, Lily and Gareth. The younger one is his sister, Delia. Everyone, this is my mum, Leonie Hartley.”
Lily rushed to Jane’s mum and smiled. “Nice to finally meet you, Leonie. It’ll be nice to trade stories with another parent of a stubborn child.”
“Tell me about it. Jane made not eating her lunches into an art form.”
“Mum, please,” Jane said.