Page 77 of Ignite

Lydia’s gaze cuts to Cain, and I see that same fire in her that dances at Cain’s core. “Are you not feeding him properly?”

Cain sighs. “We were busy.”

“Busy.” Alaric snorts, appearing behind the screen door with a steaming mug in his hands. I catch the sharp look Cain directs at him.

Lydia wraps an arm around my shoulders, and I want to fucking cry. Shit, Iamcrying. Cain ruffles my hair as his mother clings to me.

“So sorry. Happy tears, I swear it,” I mumble when Lydia takes my face in her hands like she did with her son. “This is all new to me.”

“Oh, honey. Don’t apologize. Come in and sit down at the table. Cain, are you two spending the night? Isaac and Alaric are.”

Cain sighs and shoves his hands into his coat pockets. He tips his head up at the velvet night sky, and I follow his gaze, trying to puzzle out what’s going on in that head of his.

“Didn’t plan on it.”

His response to his mother’s simple request has me worried. Does Cain not visit home often? Did something happen between him and his parents? That seems unlikely from what I’ve observed so far.

I glance at Isaac and catch him frowning at his brother.

“We’d love to come back soon, if it’s not too much trouble,” I throw out, unable to stop myself.

Lydia rubs a hand up and down my arm. “Baby, we’ve got plenty of spare bedrooms here. You’re welcome anytime.”

Escorted inside, Cain’s parents seat us at a worn table off the l-shaped kitchen and stuff us with enough food to make me question how long I’m going to have to work off all the calories.

After dinner, Isaac slaps a deck of cards on the table. “Alaric, get in here. You’re playing hearts with us. No excuses.”

Alaric groans but peels himself off the couch to join us.

“And Cain, put the phone away. Rev’s more than capable of running that place for a few hours.”

I giggle over Isaac’s surprising bossiness. He seems to be the most vocal of the family.

Cain scowls but tosses his phone on the counter. “Fine. Don’t know why you always insist on playing this game. You never win.”

It’s surprising how quick Isaac’s attitude shifts when I end up winning most of the rounds.

“Hot wings for lunch?” I offer, hoping it’ll be enough to earn Isaac’s forgiveness for destroying him in cards.

He pouts. “Wingsandbeer.”

I turn to Cain. “Can I have some money to buy Isaac lunch?”

Everyone but Cain bursts into laughter. Before he can open his mouth to complain, I lean over and peck a kiss to his lips. “Thanks.”

Cain releases a low, frustrated chuckle as I hold up his wallet that I swiped from the pocket of his coat hanging on the back of his chair. “Little thief. I suppose we should talk about compensating you while you go through training. But I pay Isaac enough to buy his own damn food.”

“Ezra, honey. Do you work for Sinro, too?” Lydia inquires.

Alaric and Isaac both snort.

“Cain, why don’t you tell Mom how you held Ezra captive before you decided to bring him on as an unofficial, unpaid intern?” Isaac teases.

Both of Cain’s parents look between me and Cain in surprise. I sink further into my chair. “I may have deserved it, sneaking into his company and all.”

Alaric nods, sipping at the green martini Isaac made him. His face puckers. “Your attempt was quite entertaining to watch.”

Cain’s head snaps to Alaric. “So youwerewatching. I should fire you.”