Josef stared at Petre then glanced toward Andre and Cal. “I would very much enjoy knowing my firstborn grandpups. I only regret it is under these circumstances. Please—if you need anything.”
Jasper held out his hand as Josef offered him a card. “Send me an email with their account numbers and I will transfer Adrian’s hoard. I’ll leave him enough to rebuild so he can continue to support them. And I am proud of how well you’ve seen to them. I heard it was touch and go.”
Jasper shrugged. “It was for everyone else, but they knew I was their new papa, and they have grown strong, grow stronger by the day.”
“I need to see to my son, but I’ll be by over the next few days to visit, if that’s okay?” Josef swallowed hard, fighting back true remorse in his eyes.
Jasper nodded and Josef left.
Gaspard and Hallr came walking by, staring at paperwork. “So, we were looking at some of the Vritra Hijada, and it’s the damndest thing. They are intersex but agendered. The ratio of their birth has gotten out of hand in the pure Vritra line. One Drake to every three Dettes if they’re lucky and five Hijada to that.”
Hallr stared at the paperwork, brow furrowed. “I wonder.”
“Hmm?” Gaspard glanced over as Hallr pulled up an article on sea turtle eggs.
“Happy Dettes make more Dettes… Do happy Dettes run warmer or something?” Hallr glanced toward Gaspard.
“That is a very interesting theory.” Gaspard frowned, thinking back as Hallr did the same. Pups were always particular about the position of their eggs, who liked warmth and cold.
“What does it mean?” Hallr glanced toward Gaspard and then back at his phone.
“It means we’re about to find a hell of a lot more Dettes, I tell you.” Gaspard snorted and walked off, yammering science stuff with Hallr.
Ryan snorted. “I knew a few Hijada in my day that had themselves castrated to keep from being labeled a Dette or Drake.”
It made sense as to why they had harems, and why other dragons had dens. Climates… “Jasper always did want to be closest to my belly. Kletter was hot and cold a lot, sometimes wanted me, others wanted to be with Hallr and Torsten.”
Ryan hummed and frowned. “By the way. Cinder is doing that weird seer shit, isn’t he?”
Frikka froze. “Why?”
“He just told me to call Viraj earlier. But specifically said to wait until this evening.” Ryan shrugged. “Hope it’s nothing bad. Maybe they found a Dette for their den?”
“Maybe.” Frikka shrugged. “Who knows?”
