Page 78 of Upon Shattered Bonds

“Regardless of what you may believe, any of your fledglings would risk our lives for you, just as you would do and have done for us. We’re family. You are my sire. Without you, none of us would be where we are today. In the future, trust me—trust us—to make our own decisions.”

Nina’s shoulders sagged. Drake caught her up in his arms, dragging her against his chest once more as her eyes misted. Touched by his display of loyalty—of love—she found contentment in his arms.

“I’m not used to depending on others, Drake.”

“Perhaps you should learn,” he replied with a smile in his voice. “Luckily, your saint of a son won’t hold it against you—not forever, anyway. What we will hold against you, though, is disappearing on us again.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

It wasn’t long before Nero began pestering Zeke and Nina to see them. Somewhat reluctantly, the newly mated couple agreed to meet with the remaining sovereigns of the Quint Treaty. Their usual meeting spot in Lexington was still occupied by a host of Raeths establishing dominance among themselves.

Spring was well on the way by the time they were able to assemble, the group coming together on Isaiah’s territory for the first time in history. Nina had rarely visited the Utah location, and the last time it’d ended with her and Isaiah in a rather compromising situation.

Inwardly shuddering, she let Zeke telepathically ping the other sovereign. Though their relationship had always been rocky, Isaiah had recently mated with Rukia, and he’d been nothing but cordial to Nina ever since. In fact, he’d been downright pleasant on occasion.

Once Zeke had received the coordinates, he teleported them both to the Utah clan lands in a blur of motion. Weightless, Nina’s feet hit solid earth seconds later, and she squeezed her mate’s hand.

Isaiah’s home, a stark black and white fixture amid red rock, was just as she’d remembered. Except, perhaps, the feminine touches that decorated the terrace. A sizable fountain bubbled briskly on the sandy red stone; a blue and white wreath that’d have looked at home on a seaside chateau hung on the front door. Rukia had added her own touches, and for that, Nina was glad. Happily mated to the water Elemental, Isaiah had fundamentally changed.

Even before Zeke lifted a hand to knock, Rukia’s smirking face appeared behind the door. “Please, no one else knocks. I’ve gotten rather used to our clansmen just barging in whenever we’re at home. Making out on the couch has become a spectator sport these days.”

Chuckling, Nina followed their host with Zeke trailing silently behind. Through their mating bond, his discomfort was masked almost entirely by amusement.

Entering through the vast expanse of a kitchen, Nina was slightly taken aback. Clearly, the gleaming galley was crafted for someone well versed in the culinary arts.

“Do you cook, Rukia?”

“Per Isaiah, I can’t even boil water properly,” she replied with a dismissive flip of her hand. “He’s the gourmet chef around here. I just take advantage of it.”

A bark of laughter before Rukia led them into the living room, where Nero was speaking with Isaiah. As if magnetized, the water Elemental left their side and coiled herself around her mate with an overtly possessive air.

Isaiah wrapped her in his embrace with the ease of a familiar gesture before glancing up. “Welcome to our territory.”

“Our?” Rukia’s lips twisted in a wry grin. “It was your territory this morning when I wanted to add another lake.”

His responding chuckle, genial and almost sweet, loosened the tension in Nina’s shoulders. “I’m going to be swimming to our house if you keep adding lakes. It is the desert, woman.”

“Hence the water,” Rukia jeered, eyes glinting with humor before turning to Nina and Zeke. “Anyway, I’m relieved to see you two merrily mated.”

“Are you?” Zeke asked, surprised.

She raised a single eyebrow at him. “Of course I am, Zeke. Now that you’ve snagged this one off the market, there’s no chance that these two—” she gestured between Isaiah and Nina, “—will run off into the sunset together.”

Isaiah’s mouth dropped open in genuine astonishment, chorused by Nina’s gasp. Though she was caught off guard, Nina couldn’t admit that she’d been surprised by Rukia’s honesty.

What happened between Isaiah and Nina decades ago hadn’t exactly remained a secret, and Isaiah wouldn’t have kept such a bombshell from his mate.

Zeke, on the other hand, had reacted rather poorly to the news when he’d first heard it. Chancing a glance at him now, the smooth lines of his face bore only a hint of humor before he shifted his attention to Isaiah. The Raeth in question was hiding behind his hand, rubbing his temples.

“I can see why you like her, Isaiah,” came Zeke’s amused reply. “You’re basically the same person.”

“What, this jerk?” Rukia chuckled.

“You’re not helping my case.” Shaking his head, Isaiah’s ready grin brightened his features. “My apologies for my mate. She has no filter.”

“Not unlike another person I know,” Nero interjected.

Grunting, Isaiah pressed an adoring kiss into his mate’s forehead while she beamed unrepentantly. “I do happen to like my mate. On occasion.”

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