Spectrum (Stone Society #14) - Faith Gibson Page 0,76

get reacquainted with. Still, it felt good to be part of such a large, welcoming family.

Remy stood in the doorway leading from the kitchen into the living room. Isla and Rain were huddled together on the sofa. Rain was chatting away about Amelia and Connor while Isla smiled at their son, taking in every word. She brushed his hair off his forehead, ran her knuckles down his cheek, pressed kisses to the top of his head. She constantly touched him in some way, much the same way Remy had done when he first got Rain back. When it was time for Rain to go to bed, Isla looked to Remy for direction. His heart broke for his mate. In her absence, Remy continued with their normal ritual of getting Rain settled for the night. Bath first, then story time.

“All right. Bath time, then a couple chapters,” Remy said more for Isla’s benefit than Rain’s.

“Mum, will you read to me? Papa tries, but you make all the voices.”

Isla laughed, her eyes bright with tears. “What are we reading?”

“Percy Jackson! His papa is a god.” Rain jumped up and ran down the hallway into the bathroom. Remy didn’t trust the boy to bathe properly when he was this excited.

“You go help with his bath, and I’ll lock up the house.” Remy pulled Isla to her feet. “Nothing’s changed, Sweetheart. I’ve kept the same routines, and I know he’d rather have you take care of him now that you’re home.” Isla tipped her face up, and Remy gave her the kiss she was silently asking for. “There are other routines that need to continue, if you get my drift.”

Isla slid her hands around to Remy’s backside and squeezed his ass. “I get your drift. I’ve missed you, Mate.”

“As I’ve missed you.” Remy kissed her again before stepping back. “Go,” he urged because if they stood there any longer, he would take her on the floor. That was not how he wanted their reunion to be. He planned on making love to his mate all night. In bed. Remy locked up the house, then he grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and leaned against the island. He took his time sipping instead of chugging to give Isla and Rain much-needed time alone. They had been apart for years, but as he listened in, he smiled at their laughter.

Remy enjoyed three bottles of his favorite ale before joining his little family. Rain was in his pajamas sitting against his pillows with Isla seated beside him holding the latest Percy Jackson book. The stories were for older kids, but Remy read the series before introducing them to his son. He also asked the psychiatrist, who told Remy to use his judgement as Rain’s father. In the end, Remy decided they were the right amount of good versus evil, and if there were aspects Rain didn’t comprehend, Remy took the time to explain whatever Rain had questions about.

Isla opened the paperback to the beginning. Instead of getting Rain an e-reader, Remy purchased the physical books so Rain would have them to read on his own when he was older. His bookshelf wasn’t full, but it was getting there. Isla cleared her throat, but Rain placed his hand on the book.

“Mum?”

“What is it?” Isla placed the book on her lap, giving Rain her full attention.

“Where were you?” Rain picked at a small thread on his blanket, not looking at his mother.

Isla glanced up at Remy, and he nodded. They hadn’t discussed what to tell Rain, but Remy felt the truth was the best course of action.

“For most of my time away, I was with Dr. Craven.”

“Did he leave you in a tunnel too?” Rain whispered.

“No. He sent me to live with a couple named Elias and Anna.”

“Did they hurt you?” Rain’s eyes were filled with unshed tears.

Isla wrapped her arm around their son’s shoulder and pulled him to her. “No, Baby. They didn’t hurt me. They didn’t let me go outside the house, but other than that, they took care of me.”

“If they were nice, why didn’t they let you come back to me and Papa?” Rain had reverted back to calling Remy Papa more often than not.

“I didn’t say they were nice; I just said they didn’t hurt me. There’s a difference. They wanted something from me, and until I gave it to them, I couldn’t leave.”

Rain raised his eyes to Isla’s. “What did they want?”

Remy held his breath. Maybe the truth wasn’t such a good idea,