Page 31 of The Mating Magic
Evie bit her lip. “But now I realize I am good enough for him. I love Chase and if I’m not your ideal, I’m sorry. It won’t keep me from loving him, for as long as Ilive.”
Chase’s mother looked at her with gentle eyes, as blue as her son’s. “My dear, that would never bother me. How you treat my son, and how much he loves you matters more than being a dragon. Physical defects have a way of strengthening us, and when we find someone who loves us despite them, they’re worthkeeping.”
To her shock, the elegant socialite slipped off her right sneaker and sock. It was then Evie saw Mrs. Burke’ foot was missing threetoes.
“Frostbite, the winter Cal and I were visiting the Alps. I was so enchanted with the scenery I forgot how susceptible we dragons are to the cold. By that time, I was too cold to summon magick and shapeshift to fly away. I could have died, but he carried me, on his back, for four miles until we foundhelp.”
“I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, Charlotte,” Mr. Burke said softly, squeezing his wife’s hand. “Losing you was not anoption.”
The adoring look Mrs. Burke gave her husband as he squeezed her hand made Evie’s heart clench. This was the kind of love that sustained a marriage, a solid, real love that surpassedeverything.
“Mother, that’s all very sweet, but there’s no excuse for how Helen and Lynna treated Evie. You allowed them to become bullies,” Chasegrowled.
Charlotte sighed. “You are correct, my son. We’ve indulged them because we never had daughters of our own to spoil. They needdiscipline.”
“And I shall be the one administering it. I have power enough to control all dragons.” Chase bellowed a roar and his parents stepped back, alarm on theirfaces.
“Come out from hiding,” he yelled. “Come out or it shall be much worse foryou!”
To her shock, he waved a hand and Helen and her twin sister materialized before them. But the magick took a toll, for he grew deadly pale, gasped and put a hand over hisheart.
Even where she stood Evie could tell it raced harder and harder. The more magick hedid…
“Please Chase, please don’t hurt us,” Lynnasqueaked.
“No Chase.” Evie knew she was the only one he’d listen to, not his parents and certainly not the twins. “Helen and Lynna are still family. Let your mother and father deal withthem.”
“They won’t,” heprotested.
Horrified, she watched him summon an energy ball. “My family all deserves todie.”
Oh dear goddess, he meant it as well. The potion was warping his mind, making him see every one of his family as the enemy. His parents stepped back, and the twins huddled in front ofthem.
She must stop this. Evie stepped in front of him, worried about the sweat trickling down his temples, the vein pounding in hisneck.
“Chase, don’t do this. I’ve never had a mother of my own. But I’ve known love, and I know how much you love your parents.” A side glance for the twins. “Even if Helen and Lynna are jerks, your parents are not. They don’t deserve youranger.”
Chase hesitated a moment. Then with a mighty roar, he took the energy ball and flung it at an elegant white pillar in the living room. She pulled his parents’ downward and shielded her head as the pillar exploded, showering them withdust.
He went over to a chair and sat, breathing deep. Evie sat on the armrest, slid an arm around his shaking shoulders. She could tell he tried hard to control himself, but pain grippedhim.
Despite the twins’ fear, she didn’t trust they would seize the advantage if they sensed Chase’sweakness.
“They won’t do anything, Evie. They won’t discipline them for hurtingyou.”
“Oh, but we will.” Mrs. Burke glared at the twins. “We’ve been far too indulgent for too long. It’s time they left our house and went back to New Mexico. Their parents have been urging them into attending college. Or selectingmates.”
“No! We like it here better, there’s no night life like there is here, auntie,” Helenwailed.
“Give us another chance,” Lynnapleaded.
Mr. Burke gave the twins a stern look. “Go upstairs and pack your things. We’re going to escort you out tonight. From this moment on, there will be no disrespecting anyone, no matter what. Is thatunderstood?”
“Yes Uncle Cal,” Helen saidmeekly.
“Of course Uncle Cal,” addedLynna.
The twins trudged upstairs, not even glancing at Chase, who struggled to control his breathing. Finally his colorreturned.
