Page 38 of Rafe


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Suddenly, Jade’s cloudy composure vanished, replaced by a radiant smile, and she leaped from the sleigh without waiting for him to help her down. Rafe knew exactly why.

“Excited to see your boy?” he asked.

“I missed him,” she admitted, flashing a glance at him.

He soaked in the sight of her happy face.

What if she doesn’t want to be a dragon’s mate? What if this makes her unhappy?

It was a valid concern. Only a woman who valued her freedom would leave her world behind this way- without a partner or family to protect her.

Jade might be devastated to learn that he wanted her to be bound to him.

“Someone is very happy to see you,” the nanny-bot said from the front door.

“Gus,” Jade cried out, running to him.

The sight of the boy tugged at something in Rafe’s heart, and for a moment he felt his own bitter jealousy. Why couldn’t he run to the little one, and take him in his arms?

As if reading his thoughts, Jade called to him with Gus cuddled to her chest, gesturing for Rafe to join them.

Unable to believe how much joy it gave him, he ran to them both, wrapping his arms around Jade and the little one without thinking twice about whether it was what he was supposed to do.

This is where you belong, the dragon whispered.

“That’s better,” Jade laughed. “Now all your people are here.”

Gus squeaked in agreement, grabbing Rafe’s leather armor in his chubby fist and tugging for all he was worth.

“A messenger from Dancing Deer Farms stopped by to let you know your herd will be dropped off here in a week or so,” the nanny-bot said before launching into a detailed description of all Gus had eaten, as well as the content of each diaper she had changed and a full report on how his bath had gone.

“Thank you so much, Nanee-12,” Jade said when the bot was finished. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

Rafe was smiling at the silliness of thanking a bot when he noticed that her chest lights seemed to be glowing a little brighter than usual.

“It was my pleasure to care for your son,” Nanee-12 said. “I would be happy to perform menial tasks now, please let me know where to start.”

“I think you should start with some self-service,” Jade said. “If you gave the boy a bath, I’ll bet you need a whisk-dry and an oil mist.”

“I am most appreciative, madam,” the bot said, her lights blinking like fireflies.

“If I ever fail to remember your maintenance, will you remind me?” Jade asked. “You are very important to us. We want to keep you working smoothly.”

“Of course,” the bot said.

Rafe watched it sail off toward the utility room at the back of the house, shaking his head.

“You are a riot with bots,” he said.

“She could save Gus’s life one day,” she replied thoughtfully. “Might have already, for all we know. I want her to have confidence and speak up, that way it’s more likely she can help us.”

The truth of that hit him like a photon blast, and he simply gazed down at his little mate in wonder.

“What?” she asked.

“We need to talk,” he heard himself say.

“Right now?” she asked.

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