“I just need a moment. You’re right. If I can find a way to avoid forcing it from them then that would be good. If I sit and think in the quiet, I might be able to sort through the bonds and single out people before the meeting. But I’m not leaving you. I’ll just be in the sitting room in the front, okay? I’ll send my mother in.” He strode to me and pressed a firm kiss to my lips. “Don’t go anywhere. Promise?” He rested his forehead against mine, waiting for my answer.

“Okay.”

He left, and a second later Donovan’s mother walked into the room carrying a tray with tea. Now that I had time to actually look at her, I could see the similarity between mother and son. They had the same glass-blue eyes, the same round faces, and identical grins. Her hair was white as snow, and rolled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck. Her dress was a thick black wool that had a classic line—fitted at the top with a square neck and a full skirt. She looked to be in her seventies, but I hadn’t a clue how old she really was.

“You’ve decided to age?” I asked.

She set down the tray on the bedside table. “In a way. I decided that a long time ago when my mate died. But my great-grandmother was fey.” She started pouring the tea into simple white-china cups. “It’s made the aging process go on a bit longer than normal.” She picked up a lump of sugar with the tongs and looked to me.

“Yes, please,” I said. “Do you ever stay with the fey?”

“Lord, no!” She stirred my tea with a little silver spoon before handing the cup and saucer to me. “I don’t even think my grandmother did. I’ve always been pack. I try and stay away from that side of the family. Too much drama for me.”

I winced. “Isn’t the pack a lot of drama?”

“Yes. But from what I’ve heard, fey are much more trouble.” Riona motioned to the bed. “May I?”

“Yes. Please, sit.” I tried to scoot over, but with my sides and the tea, I only managed to move an inch.

“I want to thank you. I saw my end in the creature’s eyes, and at first I wasn’t scared of it. My George has been gone a long time, and I ache to see him again. But when I saw you, I knew I couldn’t give in so easily. My Donovan has found his true mate.”

“Yes. He has.”