He gave his mate an amused stare, before snickering at her for her first comment. "Nevermind I am older than you. Weren't you raised to respect and obey your elders?"<br/><br/>He gathered her in his arms, holding her against him, glad he was out of his armor already. "And you think it is any easier for me? I am just being more realistic about it. Helped, no doubt, by the fact that when I last saw everyone, we were in the domain, a massive, content if not happy, family. Now, suddenly, everyone is spread out, and I can't protect them all like I used to. And trying to do that would be a disservice and insult to all of you. Mates and children, even if the words might not be entirely accurate any more.<br/><br/>They have to go out and find their own path, write their own songs, make their own choices, no matter how hard it is for us."