My mother smiled at Seth, and he hunched. I whispered against his ear, “It’s alright. I’m here.”
He bobbed his head.
“Mother,” I said, holding Seth tight, “this is my mate, Seth Harris. Seth, this is my mother, Empress Vyn.”
“Hello,” he said, barely audible.
“It’s lovely to meet you.”
Seth didn’t respond.
Mother glanced at me, but I smiled. I wanted to draw him onto my lap and snuggle him, but I doubted he would like it with our current audience, and he truly didn’t need it—Seth was fine.
Taking a deep breath, he straightened. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“My son cares for you a great deal.”
“I’m right here,” I protested.
Seth replied like I hadn’t even spoken. “I care about him too.”
“Always beneficial,” she teased. “Your father mentioned the two of you were getting along.”
Seth visibly deflated. I squeezed him. “I should press charges against him for that.”
“You’d never succeed, but I’d enjoy watching you try,” she remarked.
“He shouldn’t have done that.”
“You should have answered our pings.”
Frowning, I refused to reply.
“I will leave you to your bliss. Besides, you will be here soon enough, and hopefully providing me with more grandchildren.”
“Mother,” I snapped, but she simply raised her eyebrows and disappeared.
Seth burrowed against me, and I drew him onto my lap. His face pressed against my neck. His voice was muffled as he said, “I have never been more embarrassed in my entire life.”
“Don’t be.” I pressed a kiss to his hair. “She’s teasing you. My mother already likes you.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
“It doesn’t matter. She saw me painting. She saw how happy I am. And she knows you defended me. She loves you for all those things. When she gets to know you, she will love you more.”
“I haven’t had a family for a long time.” His voice was barely a whisper.
“You do now. You have annoying parents, even more annoying brothers, Talvax who’s like an overprotective aunt, Urgg who’s definitely the fun cousin, Monqilcolnen who’s the boring cousin, Wyn who’s the less annoying brother, and NAID who’s the crazy grandparent.
“You have a family. All who love you,” I said.
“And you.”
“And me. Always me.”
He didn’t reply, but he didn’t need to. I felt the tears dripping onto my neck. I rubbed his back, holding the love of my life.
Chapter 45
