“He’s feisty, that’s for sure. Even when it gets him into trouble.” I shot Gabe a glance over my shoulder. He stuck his tongue outatme.
Ryu laughed softly. “Isn’t getting into trouble how the two ofyoumet?”
“Damn true. Maybe I should’ve picked up a less problematicomega.”
Gabe rolled his eyes playfully and kicked his legs up intheair.
“I am really impressed by his progress, though, Dante,” Ryu said. “I’ve never seen anything like that before. He’spowerful.”
I smiled to myself, enjoying hearing his praise for my mate. I couldn’t appreciate it in the heat of the moment, but it dawned on me just how special he was to be able to use magic like thatalready. “Yeah.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Gabe languidly roll out of bed and stride to the bookshelf. Lazily, he skimmed through the titles as I was busy talking on thephone.
“I think with time he would be an excellent mage,” Ryu continued. “Maybe he could even become a teacher for non-dragons in thetribe.”
“You think?” I asked. A teacher - like Ryu - would be a safe and well-respected job. It would give Gabe a purpose, something he didn’t have in his old pack except for the sole purpose ofbreeding.
“I’ll talk to him about it once the whole pregnancy thing is over,” Ipromised.
“How is he, by the way?” Ryu asked. The sympathy in his voice was clear. He obviously still felt bad aboutGabe’sfall.
“He’s okay,” I said. “We went to the doctor and both he and the baby got the all-clear. We even got to see the baby on the littlemachine.”
Ryu gasped. “That’s wonderful! I’m so relieved.” He paused, then asked warily, “So, will Gabe be attending more magiclessons?”
I looked at Gabe. His nose was buried in a book. I nodded my head for hisattention.
“Ryu wants to know if you’re going back for more,”Isaid.
Gabe’s eyes lit up, but he seemed a bit distracted by the book in his hands. “Yes,definitely!”
“He says definitely,” ItoldRyu.
“Excellent.” Ryu sounded happy and relieved. “Tell him to take a few days off to rest, and I’ll see himagainsoon.”
“Got it. Goodnight, Ryu.” I paused, lowering my voice. “Sorry,again.”
I heard the sincerity in his voice as he replied, “It’s not a problem. Goodnight,Dante.”
After hanging up, I returned to my spot on the bed. Gabe was sitting upright with the book in his lap, and his brows were furrowed in concentration asheread.
“Is that the one about the vampires?” I asked,grinning.
Gabe shot me a half-smile as he held up the book’s cover.The Encyclopedia of Cinderhollow’s Surrounding Packs: ThirdEdition.
I sat up, joining him. “Are you looking forStoneheart?”
“Yeah. I found it.” He pointed at the page. It was filled with detailed pencil sketches that were true to life. An artist must have personally flown to Stoneheart to create theimage.
“It’s weird,” Gabriel murmured. “You all here in Cinderhollow know so much about Stoneheart pack - and every other nearby pack - but we don’t know anything about you.” He fondled the edge of the page gently. “I would’ve loved to have something like this in Stoneheart. Any kind ofknowledge.”
I frowned. “You didn’t have books like these?Atall?”
“Nothing up to date and not this in-depth.” He sighed. “I think the elders wanted to keep interest about the outside world to a minimum. Less chance of us wanting to get out of the wallsthatway.”
I growled. “That’s just not right. Knowledge should be free for everybody. Especially in a cooped up place likeStoneheart.”
He didn’t reply at first. Then he mumbled asoft, “Yeah.”
He seemed tired. I put my hand on his shoulder. “Come on, Gabe. We should get some rest.Especiallyyou.”
After a pause, he folded up the book and placed it beside the bed. He curled up inmyarms.
“Goodnight, my love,” Imumbled.
His forehead pressed against my chest. “Goodnight,honey.”
But Gabriel didn’t fall asleep right away. I didn’t feel the tell-tale sign of his twitching, the way he usually did as he dozed off. He must have still been thinking about that book. On the other hand, I was mentally and physically exhausted. I had no more energy to think about what had Gabriel so riled up. I drifted off, and didn’t hear him sneak outofbed.
