“Where’s your mate?” I asked Maximus. He slowed his food intake just long enough to answer.

“She’s with her nest mates. They’re celebrating something.”

I stared at him for a few long beats. “You know you don’t have to miss out on those moments for us, we understand that you’re part of her family now too.”

I sort of understood that.

His lips narrowed, like he had some heavy thoughts going on. “We decided to take it slowly, this blending of two families. For now, I’m okay with that. I can feel her here.” He touched his chest. Lucky bastard didn’t have some weird, half-bond thing.

I squinted, trying to see the energy ties that Jonathon had talked of to recognize mates, but I saw nothing.

I caught my sister’s eye. She had been quiet for most of the meal, eyes downcast as she finished eating her ridiculously small amount of food. I seriously had to get some cake into her, she was becoming uncomfortably thin – fading away even, which was never a good sign for a shifter.

Melancholy seemed to have settled over her and I wasn’t liking it.

She caught my eye. “I’m sorry about your partial bond … maybe you got my share of matehood as well.” She attempted a grin, it was a ghost of true happiness.

I realized she must have been pondering my half bond, and behind her pitiful smile I could see the layers of pain radiating from her. Something was wrong with my sister; heartache bled from her. Could this just be about Maximus, or was there more? I needed to take the time and figure out what it was.

“You have a mate out there, Misch, and hopefully it’s a little less complicated than my … thing,” I said.

Tyson snorted then. “She called you a thing, Brax. God, I love Jess, but she’s going to destroy you, man. Run now, run while you can.”

I leaned across and punched the wizard on the arm. He ruffled my hair like I hadn’t just whacked him. Ass.

Pulling back, I met Braxton’s blue eyes. The dragon shifter didn’t reply to Tyson’s assness, but I could see the anticipation of a challenge in his gaze. I knew he wasn’t worried about us. We totally had this.

I was just reaching out to link my hand with his, when a thin, cold voice trailed over us. “Mischa, it’s time to introduce us to your sister.”

Swiveling around, I focused on the two females about ten feet from us. Judging by the Compass’ expressions, they were not friends. Both were blond, a smooth creamy yellow, unnatural, with large eyes that were dark and empty, and stick-thin figures. They looked to be about the same height as me.