Page 41 of The Dragon's Stormwoven Bond

“Turn the page.”

I did as she asked, and there was a close-up of the home in question.

“The Ainsworths decided to move to Alaska, and I got first dibs.”

“Because of our babies?” I didn’t think of sales contracts as baby perks.

“No, because that was the house your father and I originally wanted, but we were a day late and they got it.”

I knew our place hadn’t been their first choice, but they never mentioned which house was.

“The contract’s already signed? And you bought that for me?”

“Yes, but no. I signed the contract, but it’s the surprise for your father. My plan is to gift you and Valen the family home.”

That was unexpected and not something I could accept on my own. Baby gifts should be car seats and diapers, not estates.

“What about my brother? You’re just going to make him move?” He’d been spending time with me, time I knew he had other things to do. I appreciated it, but I couldn’t help but feel like he was struggling with something. He always said he was fine when I tried to discuss it. And fine was never fine. That was fact.

“When has anybody made your brother do anything?” she teased.

“Never?” It came out as a question. He was stubborn, sure. But also, we spent our childhood convincing each other to do foolish things so… there was that.

“Exactly. But back to the matter at hand, the sale’s been finalized. It’s a done deal.” That was fast. “I wanted to tell you before I told your father, because he would ruin the surprise and call your mate first.”

“They really are getting along better, aren’t they?”

“Yeah. And I’m glad. Keeping friendships isn’t easy—not for weeks, months, or years—but when they span centuries, you need to hold on.”

I was pretty sure that my mom’s influence had been integral in my father coming around so quickly.

“Mom, you didn’t like Valen, but you turned around quickly. How come?”

“No, I always liked Valen. I just thought he had… shall we say, made bad personal choices.” Meaning he had a habit of one-and-dones. I didn’t love knowing that, but also, he was hundreds of years old. Expecting him to be alone all that time wasn’t realistic. “Those days are behind him now. He only has eyes for you.”

She tapped my nose and went back to the kitchen. Apparently, our conversation was over.

I slowly climbed out of the nest and went over to help her peel the shrimp.

“My dragon’s been not too happy about us being here. He wants our eggs hatched someplace else. And for the longesttime, I didn’t realize what that someplace was. But now that I’m thinking back… remember that day when I found my nest and Dad nearly turned my mate to ash? And I couldn’t get myself to leave?”

She chuckled, which was huge. It meant there was no residual pain from what had, at the time, been a pretty shitty day… not the finding out we were pregnant part, but all the family drama.

“I remember.”

“I think… that’s where my dragon wants our babies to be born.”

“Well, shit.” She dropped the clam she was working on, went to the sink, and washed her hands. The whole time I watched her, my jaw open. My mother didn’t curse, and she definitely didn’t just give up on a meal midway like this.

“Call your mate. Tell him we need him. I gotta make some calls.”

My mate was home in record time. He was good like that. Also, he was probably worried, because I couldn’t tell him why, other than “my mom said so.”

She had my brother, my father, and a bunch of their friends and colleagues over pretty quickly, along with the travel nest and a van.

“What’s going on?” Valen was holding me from behind as the chaos began.

“I’m not really sure.”

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