A long moment passed.
“Wait, nine pups?” As if it just hit him, Gatlin paled. “Cac!”
Teige nodded. “Déithe ár sábháil.”
“Gods help us, indeed.” Viraj flopped over and stared blank-faced at a wall.
Chapter Fifteen
Gatlin
A delightful jingle rang out, echoing off the walls of their hoard, sending Viraj into a fitful roll under piles of blankets. Gatlin, asleep nearby, rummaged around for his phone and squinted at the time—four-something in the morning.
“This better be good,” Gatlin muttered as he held the phone to his ear and stepped away from his sleeping mates.
“Ashwin just landed on a plane this morning.” Sile Long’s croak of a voice made Gatlin stand straight.
“Why?” Gatlin ground his teeth so hard, they creaked.
“Visiting all his progeny, he claims. Particular interest placed on Viraj and Ryan.” Sile sighed into the receiver, voice strained. “He came with two attendants, no guards, no reinforcements. He claims he’ll pay off any fines he’s due.”
“I don’t trust it.” Gatlin sneered as Sile’s silence spoke volumes.
“At any rate, no crimes have been committed on American soil, so we cannot go after him for the Hijada. His servants coming with him are Hijada, though. We might be able to save them.” Sile cleared his throat.
“I don’t think Viraj wants to see him, to be frank.” Gatlin rubbed his temples. Viraj was days from laying, and the added stress wouldn’t be good for his eggs.
“It’s unfortunately not an option. I think it would be best if you came up to Camden with him. We don’t want him out of our sight. Ryan has young Dettes who could technically fall under the Vritra consulate’s jurisdiction.”
“He’s going to lay soon! Marc is coming down day after tomorrow!” Gatlin lowered his voice and stepped farther away. “And his nest is here!”
Sile sighed heavily. “I don’t want to do this.”
“Don’t you dare.” Gatlin’s throat clenched, his dragon snarling and pacing.
“I really don’t.” Sile huffed.
“Then don’t! Send him back! Jail him!” Gatlin snarled.
“Not an option! We don’t want him out of our sight. You’re the only coupling that caught a clutch this year in the US. We need Viraj and Ryan to drop authority over him and demand information on theothers.”Others.Hijada.Sile never minced words.
“And how is he to do this?” Gatlin did his best not to break his phone.
“Ryan has sired twelve children over the years. You are potentially bringing nine in. Demand a gift to your household to bring good will. Ask for slaves.” Sile’s tone went dark.
“And arrest him once he agrees?” Gatlin hesitated.
“No. It’d be a recipe for an international incident. The wildlands are populated with wild Vritra and Slang. We want an alliance. We want the Hijada to be labeled as dragons. We want him to evolve.” Sile grumbled. “I’m afraid I have to use my authority. I command it as head of the council.”
“What about the Dette council! Viraj falls under their purview! They have to be in concordance!” Gatlin’s heart flopped in his chest.
“Shui is in accordance. Ryan grudgingly agreed. It’s also for his safety. There are more doctors here, and under our watchful eye, Viraj won’t be as tempting of a target.” Sile cleared his throat. “It’s not beyond belief that the Vritra would want something like Viraj eliminated. Look at what they do to Hijada.”
Gatlin fought the urge to break down into tears. “He doesn’t deserve to be away from the nest we made.”
“He doesn’t. But there’s time to bring something to liven up your nest in Camden. Better now than two weeks from now when you’d have to lug eggs around.” Sile’s tone softened, and Gatlin sniffed.
“Okay. I’ll… We’ll go. We’ll pack now.”
