Page 3 of Saving the Last Heir
“Well, compared to me, youarea young man,” she said. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for. We all thought trying to findAyumundi was a last-ditch effort. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t really holding out much hope.”
“It was our best chance,” I said, irritated and upset all at once. Most of my frustration had been held at bay, but now, here with my mother, it all came rushing forward. “I wanted to help us.”
“Jackson? What happened?” a girlish voice called out from behind Mom.
Glancing over my mother’s shoulder, I spotted Savannah and Silvia Rosen rushing out of the house toward us. Behind the fifteen-year-old twins was their mother, Tiana. I waved at the girls and put on my best smile.
“Just a little adventure,” I said. “No big deal.”
They were twins, but not identical. Savannah had dark blonde hair that was nearly brown, and her sister, Silvia was the opposite, with hair so light it was almost white. Savannah chewed at her lower lip, unsure whether I was being serious.
“You didn’t find a cure?” she asked.
I hadn’t realizedeveryoneknew what I’d been searching for the last couple of months, though it shouldn’t have been a surprise. There were only twelve of us left, and we all lived in this house. Of course these kids would overhear conversations.
“I don’t think he did,” Silvia said, bumping her sister with her elbow. “Don’t be a dick.”
“Silvia,” Tiana hissed. “Language.”
Silvia dropped her eyes, and winced in apology. “Sorry, Mom,” she said, then looked at her sister again. “I meant don’t be anass.”
Tiana rolled her eyes and looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry about that, Jackson.”
The interaction was so lighthearted, I couldn’t help but laugh. It was good to laugh. I needed it.
“No big deal,” I said, winking at the two girls. “I’ve been known to be both an assanda dick at the same time, you know.”
My mother patted my shoulder. “That’s an understatement.”
Tiana gave me a pained smile, then herded her children away. I watched her go, wondering if, perhaps, she might be my best option for a mate. Of all the surviving winged dragons, she was the closest to my age, the others being the twins, who werefartoo young, and three other women who were too old.
Seeing my gaze, Mom leaned in close to whisper. “Having second thoughts about Tiana?” she asked hopefully.
“Mom, please. Let’s not get into this now.”
Her smile faded, and she reached down to squeeze my hand. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t being serious. Not really. I…” She shrugged, a sad expression on her face. “I don’t want to see you alone forever.”
“Thanks,” I said.
Tiana had been floated as a possible option for me, but I’d declined—so had Tiana. We were friendly and enjoyed each other’s company, but there was no spark, no emotional connection beyond friendship. But as the years and months went by, with our numbers dwindling, I was beginning to think we might end up together out of duty more than anything. That wasn’t fair to either of us. Her own mate had vanished when thetwins were toddlers, and she still missed him terribly. The last thing I wanted was to be a replacement for him.
“I’m starving,” I said. “Can we get something to eat?”
“Of course,” Mom said, perking up. “I’ll make you whatever you like.”
She led me inside, and I heaved out a breath. “Mom, you don’t have to cook. I’m a grown man. I can throw something together.”
“Nonsense,” she said. “I’m your mother. There aren’t any servants anymore, so why shouldn’t I cook for you? It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done the last few months.”
Rather than arguing, I allowed her to lead me into the huge and mostly silent house, and take me to the kitchens. Refusing to sit at a dining room table, I instead chose to sit on a stool near the counter and watch her work.
“How about some pasta carbonara?” she asked as she rifled through the pantry. “Oh, or puttanesca?”
“Mom, I’m starving. At this point, I’d take plain buttered noodles. You don’t need to go to any trouble.”
“No, I won’t hear of it. I’ll make a simplecacio è pepe. How’s that? You love spice. Extra pepper?”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Sure. Sounds great.”
