I knew someone was still at the house before it came into sight. I even knew who it was. The question was, how would he react to the two behind me? Hell, he was likely to kill Christian without hesitation given what he was. It wouldn’t be the first time. Nor could we hide it from them. All the dragons would recognize his power on sight.

  Stopping at the edge of the woods. Letting out a resigned sigh, I said, “Don’t say anything. Even if they ask you a direct question.” Not even a second after I said that Christian opened his mouth to ask a question. Spinning around, I put a finger to his mouth. Practically growling “What did I just say?”

  His mouth snapped closed. Head nodding in understanding. I pulled my hand back. Giving them both a quick once over before turning to look at the person sitting in my favorite porch chair. I would probably have to burn the damn thing after he left. “Hello, Gregory.”

  “Well, well, well” came my brother’s soft and deep voice. His magic causing the very wind to carry it across the distance. “If it isn’t the long-lost prodigy of the Kingston Family. Everyone thought you were dead. Care to tell me where you have been and who these two are?” I watched his eyes as he took in both the kids. Widening as he realized who, or at least what, they were.

  Before he could do something stupid like kill one of them, I said, “They are under my protection. Make that clear to the rest of the cn.” Not that it would do anything. I had been gone for too long for it to mean much. While I had been gone, I had grown weaker while they had each gotten stronger. But the words would at least stop him from being stupid, at least for a few seconds.

  His eyes locked onto mine before he shook his head, “You know we cannot do so, especially given what they are. Is she? Is he? What the hell have you done?”

  It wasn’t what I had done. But he didn’t know that. My daughter had been the one to pick him. Practically following in her mother’s footsteps, only with a more dangerous creature. Not that either of them knew that, or ever would. “All you and the elder need to know is that she is my daughter, and he is her mate.” I smiled as I looked from them to him. “Nothing either of us can do at this point.” Not that I didn’t wish I could, but right now it would keep them alive.

  “But he is…”

  I quickly cut him off, not wanting him to spill anything. Christian did not need to know. It would be safer for everyone if he never did learn what he was. “You don’t think I don’t know? Now don’t say another word about it.”

  “You mean he doesn’t…”

  “No, he doesn’t,” I snapped while hoping he would drop the damn subject already.

  “Wait,” his eyes glittered as he came to a realization. I held my breath, hoping it wasn’t something I didn’t want either of them to know. “Was it her blood the watchers detected at the farming outpost to the south?”

  Rexing a bit that he had switched away from that dangerous topic, I ughed internally. That little farming outpost was practically a town. Not that any of the dragons were willing to accept that. “Yes, they are now both registered adventurers,” I said with a smirk on my face that I knew he saw.

  His eyes rolled as he wiped his face. “You know the rules better than most.” Of course, I did, how else did I get away with most of the pranks I did as a kid? “None of the family is allowed to become adventurers by w.

  Rexing, I grinned as I said, “Well then, isn’t it a good thing that she is not registered with the family.”

  “You know that is not what the w is saying.”

  “No, the letter of the w states that no registered dragon family member may become an adventurer.” His face told me that I had won before he even responded. Hell, according to the family records, there was no Victoria. Maybe the elders had even had me struck from it given who I mated and the events that had caused me to flee this world.

  “You have not changed at all. You’re still pying the spirit of the w against the letter of it. Using whichever will provide you with what you want.”

  “Why shouldn’t I? Feel free to skedaddle now. We need to get inside and cook dinner. Tomorrow they both have training.” And both of them were likely to want to kill me by the end of it.

  “Nah, I think I will stay.”

  Rolling my eyes at his ploy to stay to figure out more of what was going on, I moved to walk up the stairs and past him. I couldn’t force him to leave, however, “I’m not feeding you.”

  “Not even if I provide some mana-enriched food in return?” That caused me to pause. While I could go hunt some up myself, it would cost me precious time and energy on top of leaving both the kids on their own, practically defenseless.

  Shaking my head I said, “I can get that myself.”

  “Fine, I will let everyone know about these two and how they are under your protection. I will even offer my protection in case some of the family argue.” The offer had me pausing from saying no again. While I didn’t have any sway with the family, he sure did. Even before I had left he had had a ton of power. “Seeing as how you left your duties when you ran away.”

  He just had to poke the damn bear. Spinning around, I jabbed a finger into his chest. Growling, “You know damn well why I ran away.” He nodded, not saying anything as he let me calm down. Taking a deep breath, I fttened my hand against his chest and gave it a gentle pat. “Fina, you can join us for dinner.”

  A smile blossomed on his face as he said, “Will you at least introduce us?”

  Sighing in defeat, I turned and said, “Victoria, Christian, this is Gregory, my Elder brother.” Both had shocked looks on their faces, but neither spoke. Still listening to what I had told them before we had left the forest. “Gregory, this is my daughter Victoria and her mate Christian. Don’t badger them too much,” gring into his eyes, I added, “Or say things you shouldn’t.”

  Seeing that he understood, I turned and entered the house. Heading for the kitchen to start cooking some dinner. I was starving.