I nodded. The thought of staying anywhere else hadn’t crossed my mind. “Of course, but first, I need to shower.”
“First, you need to eat. Follow me.” He grabbed my bags from the back of the SUV and gesturedfor me to follow him.
“It’s nearly one in the morning, I can wait for breakfast,” I countered as we walked through the halls lined with dark oak panels and plush green carpet, until we reached a grand kitchen that would make most people salivate. The farmhouse-style space was spacious, with several ranges and three double-door fridges.
A small woman was standing over one of the stoves, stirring something. Turning to greet me, she scowled as soon as what I had said registered. “You willnotbe waiting for breakfast! Sit. I’ve got some chicken soup and fresh bread here.”
She started plating the food while Griffin dragged me over to the long wooden table that could easily seat twenty. As much as sleep was calling me, the woman’s tone left no room for disagreement.
“I… Ahh… Thank you?” I stumbled over my words.
The woman, a brunette with streaks of gray running through the long strands, smiled warmly. She wore a pair of faded jeans and a large T-shirt, covered by an apron.
“No guest of mine is going to bed hungry,” she declared, placing the bowl of soup in front of me before serving bread to accompany it. “Griff told me you’ve been driving for four days straight. You look dead on your feet, dear!”
I picked up the spoon to dig in. The soup was perfect. Just the right ratio of vegetables to meat and a fresh, crispy roll to accompany it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a good home-cooked meal. Too many gas-station hot dogs had left me with a serious lack of nutrition—and flavor.
“I’m Ma, so don’t go asking for my name. Everyone around here just calls me Ma. I’m Alpha Orsen’s mother.”
“She rules the roost and makes it her mission to feed everyone who enters the den.” Griffin chuckled, throwing an arm around me.
“That, I do,” she replied proudly. “I’m annoyed my brute of a son isn’t here to welcome his guest, and one who’s traveled days to help a sick member of his horde, no less!”
She carried on grumbling to herself while moving some pots around. “Do you want anything to eat, Griff? Oh, who am I kidding? You boys always want to eat!”
She didn’t even let him answer before she started dishing up a bowl. With a bowl of soup and a piece of bread in hand, she passed them to Griffin before sitting opposite us, giving me that warm smile again. I had met folks like her before, mama dragons who thrived on caring for their horde. And in all my travels, I’d learned just how right Griff was. They ruled, indeed, as important and maybe even more so than any Alpha.
“How was the journey, my dear?”
I swallowed another bite, offering my own polite grin. “Not too bad. I slept a few hours here and there in my car. It’ll be nice to rest in a bed tonight, though.”
“I can imagine. You’re with Griff for now, is that okay? I wish we had other rooms ready at the moment.Someone”—she glared at Griffin—“gave me next to no warning you were coming, and we’ve been renovating! The room next to his will be ready in a day or two, though.”
I waved off her concern. “Oh, that’s completely fine. I’ve shared a tent with this one more times than I can count.” I laughed, nodding at Griffin.
“When you worked together? Griff hasn’t really explained how he knows you, other than you met while he was exploring.”
“We were both traveling at the same time. I was staying at one of the hordes in the south, learning what I could from their healer, when he came through town.”
Ma cocked her head to the side. “And how did you learn about shifters? Do you have some in your family? It’s so rare for a human to know of our existence.”
“Sheer curiosity and force of will.” I laughed, avoiding the real answer. I didn’t have the time or energy to go into my messy life story. “I obtained my nursing qualification, and because I already knew about dragons, I decided to branch out. Trained with some of the best healers across the country, learning a lot of the science behind shifter-specific care.”
“Rowan, here, is the reason I came back after the EasternGreen Lands territory dispute,” Griffin declared, smirking at me with pride. “She trained with Kiki from the Southern Dust Lands Horde.”
Ma turned to me, eyes wide and full of wonder. “That wasyou? We’ve all seen those scars!” She shook her head, marvel painted on her face. “Oh, youarea blessing, my dear! I’m so happy you’re here. If that blowhard Jenkins gives you any issues, let me know, and I’ll set him straight.”
“Jenkins, is he the current horde healer?” I raised my brows, looking between the two of them.
I had worked with group healers before, but they had always welcomed my input. The idea that this one wouldn’t be accommodating sounded exhausting and frustrating.
Griffin snorted. “If you can call him that. He’s a dinosaur. And his methods of healing aren’t exactly up to date. I’m guessing you’ll have a few folks vying for your opinion while you’re here.”
Ripping off a bit of bread—still warm from the oven—I nodded. “I’m happy to help whoever I can while I’m here. I’ll probably stay a week or so, just to make sure Rory is on the mend. Speaking of, I should probably go see him tonight.”
I was already running through a checklist of tests and symptoms to determine what was going on. When it came to health, waiting could be disastrous.
“He’s fast asleep, and his condition hasn’t changed in a while, so get some rest first,” Ma insisted. “You won’t be any use to him if you’re dead on your feet.”
