Alistair guided Kiyana into the dining room and was instantly accosted by his eldest nephew, Hugh. Despite being nine years old and more than two feet shorter, he nearly knocked Alistair off his feet.
Somehow he managed to maintain his balance with his cane and lightly pat Hugh's back with his free hand. "You're getting stronger every day, aye? Before you know it, you'll be towering over your mum and soaring in the skies."
Hugh's brown eyes met his, disappointment plain. "You know I can't start flying until I'm ten." He lowered his voice. "Maybe you can talk with my mum to let me try earlier?"
Hugh's mother and Graham's mate, Lesley, clicked her tongue. "You'll be doing no such thing, lad. Dragons who fly before they're ready sometimes end up missing or at the bottom of a lake, and we don't want that to happen to you. Isn't that right, Graham?"
Alistair's older brother never said much and settled for a grunt.
Hugh went to his mother's side and tried persuading her. Not that Alistair could hear what happened because his mother spoke loudly, to ensure everyone heard her. "Sit yourselves down round the table. And no more tackling your Uncle Alistair, aye? His muscles are a wee bit out of practice, and anyone who sends him flying to the ground won't be getting any dessert for at least two dinners, maybe even three. Understood?"
Since Alistair's brothers all had sons—five in total—the three who were old enough to understand and respond muttered, "Yes, Grannie."
His mother nodded curtly. "Aye, then let's sit down and have a proper dinner. It's the first one with everyone for some time, not to mention the first full family dinner to include our human guest, Grannie Carol."
Alistair waited to see if Kiyana's mother would object to being called a grannie, but she merely smiled and said something to Hamish's mate, Alba.
As he and Kiyana sat down, Hamish said, "You just want to hold wee Roman some more, Mum."
His mother's gaze shot to Hamish. "Of course I do. I need to start spoiling him more to catch up to the other wee rascals sitting round my table."
Alistair watched as his mother took the newest Boyd, not even six months old, and wondered if he and Kiyana would have a son or daughter. Statistics said they'd have a son since dragon-shifter populations skewed male, but having a human mate meant anything was possible.
Not that he'd care one way or the other. He'd love his child, end of story.
His dragon muttered, You say that, but I know you want a wee girl.
Kiyana took his hand under the table and squeezed. He met her gaze, and she motioned for him to come closer. She whispered as low as she could into his ear, "Whilst they probably all know about the baby thanks to Hamish, we should tell them formally, too, I think."
He raised a brow, asking if she was sure, and Kiyana nodded.
He whispered back. "In a bit. At the news, the other mates will probably whisk you away and start offering nonstop advice. And I don't know about you, but I'm starving. My mum made shepherd's pie, which is one of my favorites."
His mother harrumphed. "Aye, your favorite. So start eating." Little Roman waved his arms, and she took one of his tiny hands. "You just ate, lad. And trust me, I'm long past the age of giving you what you want in that department."
Hamish choked on his food. After his mate thumped his back, Hamish said, "Och, Mum, don't bring that up at the table when I'm trying to eat."
His mother shrugged. "Why not? A little humor never hurt anyone."
"If it were only humor…" Hamish started and didn't finish.
Kiyana jumped in. "I've met all of the boys at one point, but let's see if I remember all of your names."
Leave it to his mate to try and smooth things over. She might help stabilize family dinners.
His dragon snorted. For now. I doubt it'll last.
I'll take it for as long as I can.
Cody, Hamish's eldest son, grinned and asked, "What about me?"
Kiyana tapped her chin. "Wasn't it Nigel?"
"No!"
"Hm, Neville?"
Cody made a face. "That's really not my name."