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A/N: Sorry about the unexpected skip on Haventon.Christmas interfered. I will be posting on New Year’s Day.

Lydia and Karen were sitting with their mother in the conservatory when Sonia suddenly put her teacup down with a clatter and rose to her feet. “Ah! He’s finally awake. Let’s go and chew him out for that piece of idiocy.” She stomped towards the stairs. “Come on. I’ll need to formally introduce you as well – once I’m done yelling.”

Karen got to her feet immediately but Lydia hesitated.

“Maybe we should wait until you call us, mum,” Lydia said. “Getting chewed out in front of other people is embarrassing.”

“Oh he deserves a lot more than embarrassment for what happened,” Sonia said. “I want you there.”

Lydia looked at her for a long moment then followed.

When they reached the room, Anthony was sitting on the edge of his bed with head in his hands. He didn’t look up as they entered, not even when Sonia cleared her throat. She tapped her foot impatiently.

“What the hell were you thinking, attacking that girl like that?” she asked harshly when he still didn’t look up. “She wasn’t doing anything.”

His head finally snapped up and he glared at her. “She’s a dragon!” But the anger drained away even faster than it had come and his shoulders slumped as he covered his face again. “I didn’t mean to. I don’t know why I lost control like that.” He hesitated. “D-did she kill anyone?”

“You know full well that she did not,” Sonia said. “She would have killed you first. She nearly did before Andrew dragged her away. Though apparently you did more damage to her than she did to you.” She paused for a long moment. “Look at me, Anthony.” There was another long pause before he looked up. “That dragon saved my son’s sanity when that bastard kidnapped her. She’s not a bad person.”

“She’s a dragon,” he said stubbornly.

“Come on, I know Sal told you where dragons come from,” she said. “You have to work through this. Even if you don’t believe us, you can’t let your powers run away like that and you know it. Who knows what will happen next?”

“I know,” he said. “I really don’t know what happened, Sonia. I mean my family found us again just before whatever happened so I was really on edge and ready to defend myself but to flare out like that…” He trailed off. “I am sorry about that. I’m having a hard time accepting this but I didn’t mean to attack anyone until I’d figured out what their angle was and why that dragon was pretending to be Lydia.”

“Lyr is not pretending to be anyone,” Sonia said flatly. “But I suppose we’ll have to have Kenna prove her identity and witness to that before you believe it.” She tapped her foot some more. “Sal is looking after Selene now. She says that she’ll be fine.”

“That’s a relief.” He looked over at Lydia and Karen. “So these are your daughters?”

“Indeed. This Lydia and I think you’ve met Karen already?”

“I have, once,” he said. “Though I didn’t know that she was your daughter at the time.” He bit his lip. “Your sons?”

“Daniel is with his father and Andrew went with Naria,” she said. “Do you want something to eat?”

“I don’t really feel hungry,” he said. “But I certainly need to.”

“I’ll fetch you something then,” she said. “And then if you’re well enough to stand we’ll go and check on Selene; Sal should be done soon. If you can promise not to attack anyone on the walk up the corridor.”

“I think I can,” he said. “I was just scared.”

“Scared is no reason to smash someone’s rib cage,” she flared.

“I know,” he said. “Even if they are a dragon. I’ll control myself, I promise.”

“Good.” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

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