Page 105 of The Mating Claim

“Youdo?”

Nodding, her throat too tight to speak, she watched. Took a step forward. “Come here to me,mom.”

Melanie set Keegan down. In a heartbeat, Drust swooped up the child and returned him to Tristan, who held him tight, showering him with kisses. When her mother engulfed her in a hug, Lacey hugged her back, tears pouring from her eyes as Melaniesobbed.

For a few moments they stood, embracing each other. Then Melanie stepped back, offered a smile. “You’ve grown into such a young lady. A dragon. Do you havewings?”

To reassure her mother, she shifted into her dragon form, making it small enough to fit into the barn, and stretched out herwings.

“Green. Forest green, like your eyes. Like my dragon.” Melanie’s smile wobbled. “I miss mywings.”

Lacey shifted back to her human form. “I knowmom.”

“It’s time to go, Melanie.” Drust’s voice was kind. “Tell your daughter what you need tosay.”

“I’m sorry, Lacey. I’m so sorry I did all those things to you. Thank you for coming here tome.”

She gently kissed her mother’s cheek. “Good byemom.”

Drust put a hand on Melanie’s shoulder and theyvanished.

Tristan, still holding his son, regardedher.

“Where did Drust takeher?”

“She will spend her days in confinement in the dragon colony I created, but living in a peaceful illusion where she will no longer be haunted by memories of how she tormented you, Lacey. She will not remember taking my son, nor your meeting and forgiving her. If this is what you wish. Unless you wish her to suffer as payment for what she did to you.” Tristan kissed his son’shead.

All those years she’d thought of Melanie as someone who needed to be found and punished. A woman who was cruel and deserved only cruelty in return. But Melanie was her real mother and a troubled one who had suffered herself. All the emotion fled her, leaving Lacey empty anddrained.

“No. The violence done to her made her hate above everything else. I think she didn’t want to hurt me, but took everything out on me because I’m part witch. I can see… she’s quite… mad.” A new worry filled her. “Will I be the same? Am I destined to turn as nutty as bad fruitcake like Melanie is? Or a power mad asshole like myfather?”

Tristan’s mouth quirked slightly. “No, Lacey. Your father lost sight of what is truly most important in life, after he found a love that fulfilled him. That is not you. Your mother lost control of her mind when she lost her wings and your father abandoned her. She allowed her hatred to overcome the love she had for you. You are nothing like either of them, mydear.”

She hesitated. “If she was happy where she was before, what caused her to leave and seek revenge? It was my wish, wasn’t it? The power of wishing brought on by thebook.”

Tristannodded.

That damn book. It wrecked everyone.Everything.

She had to ask Tristan something. “Why couldn’t my father love my mother? Why didn’t he protect her from thecoven?”

Tristan adjusted Keegan in his arms. “A dragon’s love burns hot and fierce. Your father tried to love your mother. He did the best he could. But it was not enough forher.”

She thought of how her mother had seemed quiet in the end, almost meek. Defeated. “Is it okay… if I visit her sometime? I mean under supervision, if Ican.”

Tristan’s smile was almost radiant. “I was hoping you would saythat.”

Though she didn’t really want to know, she had to ask. “What will happen to Patrick? What will Aiden do tohim?”

The Silver Wizard’s expression turned hard. “He will give Patrick a chance to outrun the pack. If he makes out of Aiden’s territory, he will live. Ifnot...”

Sheshuddered.

“It is a large territory and there is little chance Patrick will outrun them. It is necessary, Lacey. The pack protects their own. They cannot have one like Patrick among them, greedy and eager to turn on them for money. Come, Niki would like to say something toyou.”

He waved a hand, and then they appeared in the nursery. Niki cried out as she saw Keegan. The toddler floated over into his mother’s arms, who hugged and kissed him. Kara, toddling toward her father, clapped herhands.

“Keegan home!” She giggled as Tristan picked herup.