AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She turns to me and I stiffen, waiting for the questions and scrutiny, but she simply pulls me into a bear hug. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she gushes. “We have heard so much about you, Reign.”
“Um, you have?” I hedge. I can’t remember the last time a mother figure hugged me. Pulling back, she looks me over. “Of course! You look hungry. Come, let me get you something.”
The door opens behind me and she grins. “Boys!” They give her one-armed hugs as they pass her, bringing in our bags. Even Dal accepts a stiff hug, and she tugs at his clothes. “You’ve lost weight.”
“I’m fine, thank you,” he says, but I see him relax a little, and I know why she did it. Whatever happened in Dal’s past, it clearly involves his family and it messed him up, just like my own. She’s being the mother I don’t think he ever had to all of them, and when her eyes sweep to me, I realize that now includes me.
No questions, no complaints, no judgment—just a loving welcome.
I wonder what it must have felt like to grow up in such an environment. No wonder Astro turned out as amazing as he did.
“Your house is beautiful,” I blurt, trying to remember my manners.
“Thank you, Reign.” She loops her arm through mine and drags me to the kitchen, where she sits me at a wooden table. “Sit, I’ll grab you all something.”
“Oh, can I help?” I ask, starting to rise.
“Don’t be silly!” She hustles into the kitchen, humming to herself as Astro kisses my head.
“Don’t offer, it will offend her.” He chuckles as he throws himself into a chair next to me. “Where’s Dad?”
“Out tinkering,” Gloria grumbles, “in that stupid workshop.”
Raffiel and Cillian sit, and Dal hovers, but when Gloria turns her gaze to him, she points. “Sit now, boy.” He quickly follows suit, making me giggle.
As quickly as we sit, plates appear before us, overflowing with food, along with water bottles, and then she sits, grinning at us.
“Well, eat!”
Astro plates me some and hands it over.
“Thank you,” I tell him as I try to eat, not wanting to be rude but still feeling slightly sick from what I saw in my house. At the first bite of her food, though, I moan and dig in. I don’t stop until the plate is empty, and I blush with embarrassment.
“Now that’s my type of girl.” She winks and eyes Astro with a knowing look as he quickly makes me another plate. Just then, the back door opens, and a huge, gruff man who looks like an older version of Astro steps in.
“I’m starving. I smelled—Astro!”
Astro gets up, and his dad bear hugs him. “Hey, boys, how’s it going?” he calls and then looks at me. “You’re not one of these heathens.” He holds out his hand before wincing and wiping it when he sees there’s oil on it. “Sorry.”
I take it as I stand, uncaring about the oil. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Reign.”
“Reign?” His eyes widen and he grins at Astro. “Is that right? It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Glein. Let me wash up.”
I sit as he scrubs his hands before coming and sitting heavily.
“So, is everything okay?” Glein asks, getting straight to the point.
“Some sicko broke into Reign’s house, so we wanted to bring her somewhere safe for a few days where she can lie low,” Astro answers honestly, and I freeze, expecting Raff to be mad, but he just nods.
“Well then, welcome home, Reign,” Glein says. “Are you all okay? This sicko didn’t do anything?”
“No, sir, just, uh, left some things in my house, and I didn’t want to be there,” I reply.
“I don’t blame you,” Glein says. “But if my boys are on the case, they’ll catch him and keep you safe.”
“Nonna!” comes a yell, and we all look up to see a small head peeking around the stairs.
“Young man, it’s way past your bedtime,” Gloria scolds. “Off with you.”
