Page 71 of Shiny Things

“It’s me, Mom. Is Dad home yet?”

“Elias? What a nice surprise. He just got home and is upstairs changing into something comfortable. Who’s this?” she asked noticing me for the first time.

As she realized who I was and then looked down to see his arm possessively around me, her entire demeanor changed.

“Elias, what is this about? What is she doing here?”

“Mom, this is Kim.”

“I know who she is. What is she doing here with you?”

“My mate,” he continued as if she hadn’t even spoken.

Helena looked from him to me and then back again, no doubt trying to discern if he was joking or not. She must have settled on not, because her shoulders stiffened, and her chin rose in defiance.

“She can wait outside while we discuss this.”

I sighed. It was just as I expected.

But when I started to leave, his grip around my waist tightened.

“That’s not how this is going to go. We can wait for Dad if you want, but Kim’s not going anywhere, Mom. She is my mate, my one true mate.”

She gasped and her hands covered her mouth as she stared at me in horror.

Unshed tears burned my eyes, but I refused to cry or show weakness. I owed that to him. This was his mother, his Flock, his flesh and blood. And yet, through it all, his assurance that I belonged there by his side never once waivered.

His father came down, interrupting the awkward quiet showdown between mother and son. I’d been told of my proper place my entire life and on occasion I even rebuked it in defiance, but never had I felt so uncomfortable.

Elias eased up a bit and started to rub my back, likely sensing my unease. His touch soothed me, and I started to relax a bit.

The surprised look on Helena’s face told me the gesture had not gone unnoticed.

“Ah. You’re here faster than I expected. Thought I’d have time to prepare her.”

Her head whipped towards her mate. “You knew about this?” she demanded.

He cringed just a bit under her scrutiny.

“Sweetheart, hear them out. I know this comes as a shock, and I only just found out about it this morning. It’s important, Helena.”

She burst into tears. “This cannot be happening. It has to be a joke.”

“It’s not a joke,” Elias assured her.

“Well, I forbid it. Get her out of my house right now. This will never happen.”

“Dear, be reasonable,” his father said.

“Reasonable,” she yelled close to hysterics now. “She’s aGrimes, Edward.”

I cringed at the animosity in her voice.

“She’s a raven,” he corrected.

“A Grimes raven.” She turned on Elias again. “Would you bring this family down by diluting our bloodline in this way? Would you bring down our Flock? Be reasonable, Elias.”

“Mother, let me be perfectly clear. I would bring down this entire planet, scorch the whole Earth, if it meant protecting my mate. But the last person I expected to have to protect her from was you. You’re my mother. All the pretenses in the world shouldn’t matter. Why can’t you just be happy for me for once? I found my mate. I am crazy in love with her. Kim Grimes is mine. You can either accept it or leave us alone. That’s your choice.”

---