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“I heard that,” my mom called from the kitchen.

“I assumed you would,” I yelled back. Tapping my ear, I mouthed, “Her hearing is incredible, even for a daywalker.”

Braeden laughed softly as we made our way down the stairs, but I was too nervous to find any humor in our situation. I wasn’t sure what to expect from my parents. I assumed they would be happy that I’d found my destined consort, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they found a way to overreact since they almost always did.

When we walked into the kitchen, my mom was at the stove stirring something in a bowl, and my dad was seated on one of the stools at the counter. Shaking my head, I sighed, “Gee, Mom. Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”

My mom finished pouring pancake mix into a heated pan before turning and pointing a spatula at me. “This is my son-in-law’s house, is it not?”

“Yes,” I answered hesitantly.

My mom nodded and turned back toward the stove. “Then why wouldn’t I make myself at home? Braeden is family now.”

“Not that you bothered to tell us you’d found your destined consort,” my dad muttered after taking a sip of his coffee. “We weren’t aware of the happy news until one of your mother’s friends called to offer their congratulations.”

“If Delores’s daughter hadn’t been at Sheridan’s party, who knows how long it would’ve been before we learned of your good fortune,” my mom complained as she flipped the pancakes.

I wasn’t surprised that Lucinda had gone rushing home to spill the beans to her mother. She’d always been a blabbermouth, and the apple didn’t fall very far from that tree. The only reason we were friends was because my mom kept pushing me to spend time with her. With her at the party, I should have realized the news would reach them quickly. “Sorry, Mom. If I’d been thinking straight, I would’ve let you know what happened.”

My mom’s gaze drifted toward my dad, and she smiled. “I guess I can understand. Finding your destined consort and being claimed is an overwhelming time for all daywalkers.”

“It’s hard to believe our baby girl is old enough to have found hers,” my dad sighed with a shake of his head.

The next half an hour passed in a blur of introductions and breakfast—a meal my mom insisted on cooking, and my parents invited themselves to enjoy with us. Just as I was starting to think that I’d been worrying over nothing, I realized my mom had just lulled me into a false sense of security.

Braeden flashed a grin at my mom as he handed me the last plate to load into the dishwasher. “Thanks for making breakfast.”

“I was more than happy to cook for you both. You need to keep up your energy, after all.” My mom beamed a high-wattage smile at us and winked. “I don’t want to wait forever to become a grandmother.”

I dropped my head against the counter and muttered, “Someone, please, just shoot me now.”

“Shooting you wouldn’t do any good, baby. I’d have to chop off your head and set you on fire or else you’d still survive,” Braeden teased, remaining completely unflustered by my mom’s mention of babies within the first hour of meeting him.

“Now that breakfast is over, it’s past time to stop ignoring the elephant in the room.” My dad’s gaze settled on my neck, and I braced myself for what was coming next. “Why haven’t you claimed each other yet?”

I’d only been mildly embarrassed about my mom’s mention of babies, but my dad’s question was mortifying. My lips parted, but I had no idea what to say. They would never be able to understand why I wanted to wait.

Luckily, Braeden didn’t have the same problem. He pulled me against his side, and his voice was firm as he said, “Mr. and Mrs. Yellen, while I appreciate your excitement over Callie and me finding each other, the timeline of our relationship is nobody’s concern but ours.”

“But we’re her parents,” my mom argued.

“And I’m her destined consort.” His tone made it clear the subject was finished as far as he was concerned.

I was stunned when my dad moved closer to my mom and gripped her shoulder. “Braeden is right, my dear. He’s her priority now.”

“Fine,” my mom huffed. “But I still reserve the right to pester them about grandbabies from time to time.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I murmured, relieved that they’d let the matter drop so easily.

I couldn’t help but wonder if I was wrong about needing to wait for the claiming. From everything I’d seen in the short time Braeden and I had been together, he only supported me in anything I needed. Even if it was the opposite of what he wanted.

7

Braeden

“Let’s go, baby,” I whispered in Callie’s ear as I leaned over her sleeping form.


Tags: Fiona Davenport Fantasy