He bursts into laughter. “Yeah. Sometimes they can feel like a chore. I mean, fifteen a day is a little exhausting, but he has herbs that can help.”
I bite my lip, then ask, “Is that how many Cielo should be having?”
Everest blows out a small puff of air. “I don’t know. I think Rath might be a little greedy. Or spoiled. Or both. Most of the monsters who go to the clinic only get theirs once a day. Maybe twice if they’re super elite. I think Cielo’s probably fine.”
I’m not entirely convinced. Fifteen a day sounds like way more than I can give, but more than two? I can handle that. It would just be a lot easier if Cielo agreed to take it directly from me instead of the bottle.
“It’s hard because he won’t accept it if he thinks it’s from me,” I confess.
Everest’s brows fly up. “Wait. Really?”
I shrug. “He says he’s not allowed to have it at all. I think accepting something from the factory is his compromise, so I’ve been pretending what I’m giving him comes from a delivery service.”
Everest doesn’t look thrilled. “You should tell him the truth. I know it’ll suck if he turns you down, but he deserves to know where it’s coming from.”
Everest is right, and I do kind of feel shitty for the deception, but I didn’t have much choice. Cielo needed to heal, and he was stubborn.
Adorable as fuck, but when he wants to be, he’s unmovable.
“I’ll talk to him soon. Once I’m convinced he’s fully healed,” I say.
Everest nods, resigned. “Yeah. I’d rather have him alive and healthy and a little pissed at the deception than permanently wounded. What they did to him…”
I still don’t know the details, but I don’t think I want to know now. I’m not the violent type, but the creatures who hurt Cielo made me realize I could be.
Easily.
I take a breath and shove that thought out of my mind. I asked Everest here for a reason, and I need to focus on that instead of what I can’t change. “So. If it’s not too weird, can you tell me what you think Rathyn would be interested in when it comes to sex toys?”
Everest’s eyes glint. “Yeah. I can definitely do that. Since it’s for the greater good and all.”
Everest most definitely has ideas about what Rathyn would like, and based on my short experience with Cielo, I have a feeling he’s on to something. I jot everything down, though I’m not quite sure how I can make it all work yet, but I’m going to try.
“Okay, that was amazing, thank you.”
Everest is blushing a little, and he ducks his head. “Sorry if that was too much.”
“Not even a little bit. I think this is going to be good.” I tap my stylus on the tablet, then look back at him. “Would you mind if I sent you some sketches after I get them all drawn out?”
Everest’s shoulders relax a bit, and his face goes soft again. “Hell yes. And I volunteer Rath and me to be your first test subjects when you get a prototype.”
I snort a laugh. Cielo will probably be my first, but Everest and Rathyn will be second on the list. “Absolutely. Now, I need to get to work. I have a mountain of inventory to order before the shop opens, and I have no one to watch the front when I take my lunch to check on Cielo, so?—”
“Hey, if you need some part-time help, I’m available.”
I freeze, and my stomach twists. I’ve been wanting help forever, but the cost… “Really?”
He shrugs. “I mean, my resume is literally a freaking hot dog stand, so if you’re looking for someone with experience, I’m not your guy. But it does get a little boring at the Foundry when Rathyn has to go to Erethar. And I don’t think he’ll pitch a fit if I’m working here with you.AndI can do it for free. I’m getting paid a gross amount of money for this companion contract. I just need something to do so my brain doesn’t atrophy.”
Oh my god. He can’t be serious. “Shit. I mean, I’d love that since I can’t actually afford to pay anyone. But I also don’t want you to work for nothing.”
He waves his hand at me. “Give me free sex toys, and we’ll call it even.”
I laugh. This all sounds very unethical, but Everest looks thrilled at the possibility, and sex toys are an easy write-off. “Okay. That seems fair. And Rathyn really won’t mind?”
“Nah. He doesn’t feel too weird about you. So long as you don’t, you know, hug me too long or touch me too much while he’s watching.”
“They really like to keep their claws in their humans, don’t they?” I think about how it felt when Cielo’s claws were in me. Fuck, I liked that so much.
