Melanie stood with her parents in front of the well-guarded entrance to Stonefire’s land. She knew someone from the clan would arrive at any minute to take her inside, but saying goodbye to her parents was harder than she’d imagined. She was a grown woman, for crying out loud. Yet as she looked from her mom to her dad and back again, she realized this might be the last time she ever saw them, unless her assigned male granted her privileges. Yeah, the idea of a male being in charge of what she could and couldn’t do didn’t sit well with her, but she’d have to suck it up if she wanted to survive.
She really couldn’t say anything to ease their worry, and she’d never been good at lying. Still, she forced a smile and decided to stretch the truth a little. “Mom, Dad, it’ll be all right. Just look after Oliver for me. I expect a full report once I have access to a phone line again.”
Her dad cupped her cheek. “I know everything is done, but I wish you would’ve talked to us about this, Mel. We could’ve found another way.”
She stared at her father with his slightly balding head and wire rim glasses, careful to burn the image into her memory. “You know there was no other way. Without an injection of dragon’s blood, Oliver would have died. I’m aware of the risks in doing this, and Dad, I’m more than old enough to make my own decisions.”
“I know, love. But we’re going to miss you on the annual summer holiday to Scotland this year.”
She might be a grown woman, but her family had a tradition that Mel still looked forward to. Every year they took a trip to Scotland, and every year they visited a different castle. Her parents were determined to visit each and every one before they died, and the thought of her missing out on the trip for the first time in over twenty-years made her chest tighten.
Mel cleared her throat. “Just make sure it’s one of the dodgy, crap castles, and then I won’t be that upset to miss it.”
Her British dad then pulled her into a hug, the action very much the influence of Mel’s American mother. He murmured against her hair, “I love you, Mel-bell, and I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for saving Oliver’s life.”
Mel squeezed and stepped back from her father. “Just take care of him.” She looked over to her mother, who was being unusually quiet. “Mom?”
Without saying a word, her mother rushed over and embraced her. Mel closed her eyes and held her mom tight, memorizing the light lilac scent of her mother’s lotion before saying, “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, dear.” Her mother pulled back and took Mel’s face in her hands. “You can call us and let us know about anything, anything at all, once you have access to a phone.”
She fought the tears in her eyes and forced a smile. “Of course.”
Her mother’s face went stern. “I mean it. I don’t care if my grandchild ends up being half-dragon, I will love him or her with all of my heart.”
At that remark, tears started to roll down Mel’s cheeks. “You don’t know how much that means to me, Mom.”
Her mother patted her cheek. “I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks; my family comes first, no matter what their genetic heritage.”
Mel pulled her mother into another hug. While pregnancy was highly likely, she’d been afraid her parents wouldn’t approve if she did have a child. But she should have known better than to doubt her parents.
She had taken them for granted all these years. If she survived the birth and ever got out, she’d treasure them, as they deserved to be treasured.
A deep, unfamiliar male voice spoke up behind her. “Ms. Melanie Hall?”
Mel pulled away from her mom and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her cardigan before she turned around to find a tall man with dark hair and eyes, looking at her and her parents with what could only be called suspicion. The thick, black tattoo that crawled out from beneath his short sleeves to just above his elbow told her the man was a dragon-shifter.
The only question was whether he was to be her dragon-shifter or not.
Regardless, she had decided over the last two weeks that she wouldn’t be afraid of them unless they gave her a reason. Even then, she’d do everything in her power not to show her fear. She had a feeling the dragon-shifters would appreciate a show of strength.
She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “That’s me.”
“I’ll give you three minutes to say your final goodbyes. Come to me when you’re done.”