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I watched in utter fascination and shock as the dragon receded from Robin's eyes and some of the crushing power that I had felt even with my human senses diminished. Robin gave Achlys's head one more little warning shake, then patted her cheek before she released her and stood, yanking at the bottom of her shirt and acting as if she hadn't just completely lost control of her beast side.

"Apologies, darling," she said to Ruya in a lazy, droll sort of voice. "Was there something you wanted to add?"

Ruya rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. As if the omega hadn't just commanded an alpha of immense power. "Oh, do I get a say now? How very kind of you to let me speak to my own mother before you threaten her." She shoved Robin out of the way. The alpha narrowed her eyes, but allowed it, taking a single step back.

Ruya sighed as she took Cicely's place at her mother's side. "Look," she said tiredly. "I'm sorry about that needless display. Unfortunately, alphas just can't seem to help themselves."

Several sets of eyes narrowed at the insult, but no one contradicted the omega.

Achlys rubbed the long red almost-scratch on her cheek as she replied. "I'm happy to see you surrounded by such… protective friends." Then she arched a brow at Ruya. "Do you think we could speak alone? That might be less triggering for your alphas."

Robin growled.

Sadavir hissed.

Yukio shook his head and took control of the situation, like the gamma he was. "Out," he said, pointing at the door. "Robin. Snake. If you piss her off any more, your precious omega is never going to give you the time of day again. Move it. I'll make you food."

Dusek joined the pixie in herding the alphas. "Martina, you too. I see you fingering your knife. They aren't going anywhere. There is nothing the banshee can do here in the heart of our nest. She'd be dead in an instant if she pulled anything." That last was a clear warning directed at Achlys.

Robin shook her head. "Who is the alpha of this court? I swear, you all need disciplining." Her tone was light. But the look in her eyes said she absolutely was not happy about being ordered around by a couple of gammas, especially in front of a stranger.

Sanka finally diffused the situation. "Take a break, alpha," he told Robin in a light tone. "Get something to eat, rest for a bit. Then you can get back to terrorizing people. I've got this."

She narrowed her eyes at him. But Sanka was a good beta and a strong sorcerer. "You will not leave this room," she told him firmly.

He just nodded. "Of course, alpha."

They all filed out except the big sorcerer. I dallied, taking my time straightening things and picking up Achlys's abandoned teacup. But eventually my eyes met Sanka's and he lifted a brow. "Did you need something, Josh?"

I glanced between Ruya and her mother, hating my place in all this. Not only was I a beta. I was also human, which meant I was absolutely the lowest ranking person here. I wanted to stay with Ruya. But I knew I wouldn't win that battle.

"No," I said softly. "I'll see myself out."

"Josh?" Ruya said, halting my progress toward the door. "Would you mind bringing me some hot chocolate?"

I smiled faintly, well aware she was only making the request so I would have a reason to return. "Of course, Ruya. I'll bring some for all of you."

I glanced at Sanka, and he winked. "Once you're done with that, you can come back with snacks, too. I'm pretty sure Yukio is currently baking as we speak."

I nodded in acknowledgement. It sounded like he was ordering me about, but Sanka wasn't as oblivious as he liked to make people believe. He was giving me more excuses to return. I felt seen. It was a novel feeling, and one I could really get used to.

Chapter 16

Ruya

Itook a deep breath and let it out, centering myself, as Josh went to get us snacks and the others left the room. Sanka remained standing on the other side of the room by the door, on guard duty. Otherwise, I was finally alone with the woman who called herself my mother.

I understood the others' wariness and caution. They were probably right to suspect that she might not be who she claimed to be, or that this was some elaborate scheme of the emperor's. I couldn't see her, couldn't look for familiar features. And I had no memories of my birth parents—probably thanks to more magical tampering from the cult who had stolen me. But I could still sense it, somehow… some deep familiarity that I thought was more than just my banshee side reacting to a similar type of magic user. I didn't feel some insane urge to throw myself into her arms or anything like that. But I did want to hear what she had to say, without Robin's rage and every else's protectiveness getting in the way.

I suspected there was more to Robin's over-the-top reaction than simply having her plans foiled. But I filed that away under "things to deal with later." It seemed like that list was ever-growing these days.

Keeping the composure that had been drilled into me since I was a child, I moved to sit on the couch next to the banshee woman who was probably my mother. "Tell me," I said evenly. "All of it. I know nothing of who I really am. My powers and abilities. Any of it. Up until a few months ago, I thought The Mother was my actual mother, and she told me my father was a witch who died on some charity mission. The cult told me I was an unusually gifted witch. That's all. When my banshee powers started manifesting just recently, I thought I was losing my mind." I gave her a wry look. "I promise to listen and not burn you alive."

She chuckled dryly. "That dragon of yours certainly is a force of nature. Like a barely contained wildfire."

I sighed, ignoring the question in her tone, the way she referred to Robin as my dragon. "I'm aware." Clearly, she was curious about my relationship with the others, but we weren't on such familiar terms.

She relented and moved on to more relevant matters. Thankfully. Patience was something that was hardwired into me. But I could feel my large reserves of the virtue running low. I wanted to hear what Achlys had to say. Then I wanted to go to my own room, in my own home, and take a nice long nap. Preferably surrounded by all of the other family members I had been missing so badly over what still felt to me like weeks, despite how differently time had moved here.

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