The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,28

sleeveless jumpsuit that was beautiful on and flattering to my mom-bod. I got home and after a rinse-off shower, I put it on, then stood in front of the mirror with one nude heel on and one jet black. It took ten minutes to decide, but I went with nude and draped a towel over myself to fix up my makeup. My hair was good from this morning, but I added a subtle peach barrette to give it a little razzmatazz.

In the end, I went with the good lingerie. I had to force myself not to be critical of my post-Hayden body, even though I was a little insecure about my pooch under my belly button.

I didn’t need to feel insecure tonight.

When I finished fluffing my hair, I stood in front of my mirror and grinned. Damn. I did look pretty freaking good.

I was going to rock this date.

10

Jace

My mom threatened to show up at the bar if I didn’t come to see her. I’d arranged for the bar to be covered all day in anticipation of my date, but that had turned out to be a bad idea because it left me with far too much time on my hands.

And I was nervous. As much as I tried to convince myself not to be, my stomach wouldn’t stop clenching in fear. I’d avoided my mother all week until she’d threatened to crash the bar. She wasn’t bluffing.

I’d been avoiding explaining all the mess about the mating bond to her, not to mention the appearance of my brother, and the guilt was getting to me a little bit. It had always been me and Mom against the world. Especially when I was younger, and my father was in and out of our lives all the time. She was my lady; my best friend.

And I was a shit for lying to her.

“Here you go.” She put a plate of cookies on the coffee table. “I made your favorite.”

Classic chocolate chip. “I can’t eat too much.” Time for the first bomb of truth. “I have a date tonight.”

Didn’t stop me from grabbing a handful of cookies as my mother froze and gaped at me. “An actual date?”

I nodded with a mouthful of cookie.

She cocked her head, still staring like I’d grown a second nose. “But you don’t date. What has changed?”

Mom was right, until now. I’d only casually seen women, had hookups, etc. I didn’t date. Even if I asked a woman out, I made sure she knew up front that it was casual. And would never lead to anything.

“Well, who is it? Where are you going? Are you planning on a second date if this one goes well?” She hovered over the coffee table and rubbed her hands together nervously.

I swallowed my cookie. “Mom, sit.”

She looked concerned like she was going to try to see if I had a fever again. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.”

Her eyes narrowed. She knew I didn’t normally keep things from her. “What?”

“I’ve been processing it. Trying to deal with it.”

She didn’t interrupt, but the emotions that poured off of her told me I was going to pay for not coming to her with this sooner. I unbuttoned my sleeve and rolled it up. When I turned my arm over, Mom could see the tattoo, which had come in pretty dark and big by now, growing and deepening as my surety about the mating grew.

She gasped and clutched her chest. It was for dramatic effect, as a dragon she wouldn’t have heart palpitations. “Jace,” she whispered.

Before she could start yelling, I hurried up and told her why I was so hesitant. “I almost let the bond break.”

When she closed her eyes and leaned back against the couch, I knew though this was hard to tell her, it probably had been the right decision. She would’ve freaked out if she’d known the pain I was going through. “Briana has a little girl,” I explained.

I knew that would tell her a lot, and I was right. She jerked upright. “Oh, Jace.” She shook her head and stared at me as I continued my explanation.

“When I saw Hayden for the first time, I realized that the bond isn’t just for Briana. It clamped down on her daughter, too. We’re meant to be a family, all three of us.”

“Why would you consider breaking the bond, then?” she whispered.

I shrugged. “You know what I went through.”

Her face darkened. If anyone in this world hated that woman for what she