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“Yep. It’s not easy. But that doesn’t mean you get to disrespect your mom, okay? Not under any circumstances. She’s pretty amazing, and she’s doing a good job with all this craziness, don’t you think?”

Dylan nodded.

“How’s your dragon feel?” I asked.

Dylan rubbed his chest. “I dunno. Bad?”

“You wanna apologize?” I felt Harley’s gaze on me.

Dylan nodded. He turned toward Harley. “Sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean it. I was just so mad.”

“It’s okay, baby,” Harley said. Dylan lunged at her and hugged her. Harley laughed and squeezed him back. “Really. It’s okay. You and your dragon aren’t in trouble now that you’ve apologized. Your dad’s gonna help you with the big feelings.”

“Okay.” Dylan pressed his face into Harley’s chest. “My dragon feels better.”

“That’s good. Why don’t you go upstairs and get some sleep, Dyl? It’s late.”

“Can I play some video games first?”

“No, sir,” Harley said. “And if I find out you did, you’ll be in major trouble.”

“Okay, fine.” He let go of Harley, then walked toward me and hugged me as well. “Night, Dad.”

I swallowed hard. “Night, Dyl. Andno video games.”

Dylan grabbed his suitcase and hurried upstairs to his room. Then Harley and me were alone in the big, empty room. The moonlight made her auburn hair shine. Dark shadows fell over her face. She sighed and made her way to the kitchen. “You have any tea?”

“Check in that far left cabinet,” I said. “It’s usually well-stocked for guests.”

Harley opened the cabinet and stood on her tiptoes to peer inside. She reached up to the top shelf for a box of teabags, and the edge of her sweatshirt slid up, revealing a thin strip of skin over the top of her denim waistband. She pulled down one of the boxes, rifled through it, and withdrew a teabag. She turned on the kettle and searched the cupboards for a mug.

I leaned against the back of the couch and watched her move around the kitchen like she owned the place.

“Sorry you had to overhear all that at Mom’s,” Harley said, leaning against the side of the kitchen island, her legs crossed at the ankle. “She’s always been…”

“Feisty?”

Harley chuckled. “That’s one way to put it.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here instead. It’ll make everything easier for Dylan.”

She nodded. “That’s what’s important to me. And… Thank you. For being so kind to him. I know this is a lot to take in.”

My dragon huffed in my chest. She wasthanking me?For doing the bare minimum to take care of our son? “You don’t need to thank me. It’s my responsibility. I’m proud and happy to do it.”

Under the moonlight, her cheeks turned faintly pink. My dragon thumped against my ribs, urging me to step closer—to touch her, to kiss her, to feel that flush of skin under my lips. Having my fated mate so close after ten years without her was an exercise in self-control for both of us.

“I’ll show you your room,” I said.

“I know where it is.”

“I know, but let me be a good host, huh?”

She huffed a small laugh, then nodded. I scooped up her bag from the foyer and led her up the stairs. Harley paused atDylan’s door, then motioned me to step closer. She cracked the door open. Inside, Dylan was sprawled on the bed, half-under the covers with one leg sticking out, dead to the world.

“He must’ve been exhausted,” I whispered.

Harley hummed her agreement.