“I don’t think so,” I whispered, even though Ma and Nina, who was also in the kitchen helping, could probably hear me. “We… we need to talk.”
Greylen’s brows pinched together, his head tilting as he regarded me. Nodding, he guided me to the corner of the kitchen, while Ma and Nina watched on with interest but didn’t interrupt us. I would have preferred a different room, but the truth was going to come out eventually.
Grey nodded. “What is it?”
Sighing, I laid it all out. “I’ve been researching the medication that Jenkins has been giving the women. One of the pills he’s been prescribing,claimingit's a multivitamin, actually contains Daucus Carota, more commonly called Queen Anne’s Lace, which is, in fact, a contraceptive.”
Greylen’s brows knitted together again, his expression souring. “You thinkthat’swhy the birth rate is low?”
I bobbed my head, my stomach churning. “From what a young dragon told me, he's been giving these medications outlike candy to all the women in the horde to ‘help them stay healthy and conceive’, evenbeforethey’re mated.”
Reeling, Grey didn’t hide his irritation. “Why would he do that?”
“I don't know, nor do I particularly careat the moment. My concern is ensuring the women stop taking them immediately. If that's toxic enough to mess with their fertility, can you imagine what elseit's doing to their health?”
Grey’s eyes widened as the implication of my words hit him. He didn’t ask whether I was certain; he just took my words with a nod, his eyes scanning the space, cogs visibly turning in his head.
“Are you willing to see everyone who’s taking medication?”
“Of course, there’s no way in hell I’m leaving whilethisis happening.”
“Follow me,” he instructed, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the dining hall.
“Where are we going?” At first, I assumed he was leading me to his office, or maybe to the other Alphas, but that was quickly refuted as he spoke.
“We need to tell the horde,now. Luckily, a lot of them are gathered for dinner.”
“Wait, are you—” I started to say, but Greylen raised his voice as we entered, cutting me off.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” he asked, voice firm but polite.
Immediately, conversation ceased. Everyone turned to look at the Alpha, some of them putting down their cutlery, while others continued to chew their food. All eyes were on us, and Grey was still holding my hand.
“I’m sorry to disturb your meal. I won't keep you guys very long. Some things have recently come to my attention, and I want to strongly encourage anybody who has been prescribed medication from Doctor Jenkins to see Rowan this week and get a full medical review.”
“Why?” one dragon asked, worry obvious in her voice.
Greylen looked at me, dipping his head in a silent invitation to take the floor. I took a deep breath, knowing I didn't want to lie but that the truth would likely cause chaos. Still, there was no way to correct the problem without the information getting out. It was now or never.
“Some of the synthesized medicines that you are taking have ingredients harmful to dragons,” I explained. “For instance, the vitamins that a lot of you take, especially those who want to conceive, contain a compound that actually renders a female dragon infertile. It’s a contraceptive.”
Voices rose as everyone started talking at a quick-fire pace, panic and outrage swirling up to the rafters. The silence that had absorbed the room while Greylen spoke was well and truly shattered. All I could do was stand there, terrified by the chaos I’d caused but knowing it had to be done. I wasn’t a leader, though. I was a healer, and standing brave in front of a crowd on the verge of explosion wasn’t my strong suit.
“How can we know that she’s right?” another male dragon called out. “Jenkins says she doesn’t know anything, and he’s been here for years!”
God, I knew something like this was going to happen. Jenkins had loyal followers here, and I was the newbie, ahumanhealer they didn’t know.
“But we haven’t gotten pregnant!” a familiar voice called out, and Celia stood up. “We’ve been trying for years with no luck. That can’t be a coincidence, and so many of us have feltworsesince taking those vitamins.”
My heart squeezed, wanting to rush over and give her a hug for standing up for me. Still, too many voices were calling out, some even going so far as to blame the “damn human” for their problems.
Grey stepped forward, raising a hand as he growled low. “Iam your Alpha, and you will settle down. I trust this healer implicitly. Jenkins is?—”
“I’mwhat?”
The room fell into silence as thedoctor in question stormed through the massive doors at the far end of the dining hall. I glared, squeezing my hands into fists just looking at the quack who was harmingthis horde.
“Jenkins, just the dragon I was looking for.” Grey’s brows rose as I looked at him, and then I noticed who was behind the older dragon in question. “And my fellow Alphas. How about we take this conversation somewhere a bit more private?”
