Page 104 of The Mating Claim

She felt older than her years. “I forgive you. You did the right thing, Tristan.” Lacey felt for Drust’s hand, squeezed it to loan herself strength. “I fear that if I had remained with her, she… would have eventually killedme.”

Lacey stepped back. “And now? What do we do about getting your son back,Tristan?”

The Silver Wizard’s gaze darkened to onyx. “We must lure her here. And I am afraid you, my dear, will be thebait.”

Chapter 20

It did not takelong to set everything up. The wizards of the Brehon had easily located Melanie. Keegan, to her great relief, wasunharmed.

Tristan, with all his tremendous powers, could easily materialize by Melanie and take his son back. But it would not bring closure Lacey desperately needed. The confrontation with her real mother, and acknowledgement of what happened in thepast.

They set everything up at the Mitchell Ranch. Aiden insisted. He cleared the grounds around the barn, set out patrols, and Tristan warded the area to ensure no one would interfere. Right now Keegan was vulnerable while he was with Melanie. If Lacey’s mother took him out in public, shifters would see the glow of immortality abouthim.

Tristan had enemies who would love to capture his son. So she appreciated the wizard doing this forher.

Hiding in the barn behind bales of hay, she looked around. The tight confines were necessary. Even though Melanie was no longer capable of flying, she was still a dangerous dragon. If the plan went askew, Drust and Tristan needed to act quickly to contain her and protect thebaby.

“You ready?” Drust searched her face. “I’ll be in the loft, invisible, but if you need me, I’mhere.”

“I’m ready. I’ll beokay.”

Drust nodded at Tristan. “Do it. Call herhere.”

Closing his eyes, Tristan murmured a chant. The ancient words rippled through the air, filling it with magick so intense, her eyes watered. This was the true power of the Brehon, to call forth a reluctant shifter to their side, no matter where in the world theywere.

Melanie materialized, Keegan in her arms. She looked confused for a moment, and then sawTristan.

“You bastard! Come any closer and I’ll hurt your son the way you hurt my baby!” sheyelled.

Tristan said nothing. Did nothing. If he felt panicked, angered or alarmed, he showed none of it. He did not even look atKeegan.

Not even when Keegan saw his father and whimpered, “Dada!”

A muscle jumped in his clenched jaw. It was as if the Silver Wizard wouldshatter.

Drust jumped down from the hayloft. “It’s over now, Melanie. As the wizard who is your guardian and judge, I order you to return Keegan to hisfather.”

“He took my child from me! My only child, my daughter,” Melanie yelled. “It was only just that I take Tristan’s child inreturn!”

Keegan screamed as Melanie squeezed him tighter. If they agitated Melanie further, she might hurt the toddler or suffocatehim.

“Do it, Melanie,” Drust saidsoftly.

Knowing that tone of voice, knowing this situation deteriorated rapidly and only she could amend it, Lacey took a step from the shadows. “No he did not… mother. I amhere.”

Melanie stared, her tight grip loosening on Keegan. “Lacey? Lacey… you leftme.”

“Yes. I left you, Mother. But I am herenow.”

“No.” Melanie shook her head. “You hate me. You hate me for what I did to you, for everything bad I did… I can’t bear it. With this baby I can start over again. I can have a fresh beginning. You’ll never forgiveme.”

Then her mother looked at her with such hope and despair, Lacey’s heart almost broke. “Can you forgiveme?”

Swallowing hard she held out her arms. “Please, give the baby back to his mother. She misses him so very much, just like you missed me. I want to hug you, mom, but to do that you need to put Keegandown.”

“No. He’smine.”

Lacey sucked in a breath. “Just for a minute, mom. Please. Come here and let me hug you. I forgiveyou.”