Twenty minutes later,we were escorted as a group through the castle to the dungeons. It was a place I had never been, and I tried not to think about the people who had been held here over the years. The council, from everything I'd heard, had been incredibly unfair to people for breaking archaic rules.
I shuddered, and Doryu squeezed my hand. "Don't worry," he murmured. "You're safe."
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. It wasn't that I felt at risk. It was like the emotions of the people who had been falsely imprisoned in here were somehow pressing against me. Which was totally my imagination because I had no empathic powers. This was all just me feeling bad for those who suffered here.
I was glad when we finally arrived at the cell where Dumadi was being held. He was sitting on a stool in the corner, his head in his hands. He looked up as we entered, and his eyes fell on Riley.
"You," he snarled, standing. "What are you doing here?"
Riley took a step forward, her expression neutral. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Why? So, you can gloat?" Dumadi spat. "You've won. I'm in here, and you're out there."
"Actually, I wanted to make you a deal," Riley said. "I'm willing to give you something you want in exchange for information."
"What could you possibly have that I want?" Dumadi asked, his lip curling in a sneer. "The only things I want you can't or won't give."
Riley took another step forward and Dumadi's eyes widened as he realized what she was offering. "My granddaughter," he breathed.
"I'm willing to let you see her, but only if you give me information that will help us stop the attacks on the babies," Riley said. "And I want your word that you will never try to hurt her."
Elias stepped forward. "No. You're not getting access to Linna."
Riley held up a hand. "It's ultimately my decision, Elias. And I trust Dumadi." She cocked her head when Elias looked stung at Riley taking the choice from him. "No. I don'ttrusthim. I believe he doesn't wish his granddaughter any harm. And it’s not just my decision. But as a mom, I do hold the trump card."
"You can't be serious," Zander said, his voice low and dangerous. "He's a monster."
"I am not a monster," Dumadi said, his voice eerily calm. "I am a man who wants what is rightfully mine."
"And you think Linna is rightfully yours?" Riley asked. "She's my daughter, Dumadi. Not yours."
He took a step forward, and I could see the anger in his eyes. "She is as much mine as she is yours. I created her father. I deserve the chance to be a part of her life."
"You had that chance," Riley said. "And you blew it. If you'd just asked to be a part of her life, we could've worked something out. Instead, you kidnapped me and her. So yes, I'm willing to bargain withvisitsfrom Linna but you won't have any sort of access to her."
Dumadi's jaw clenched. "I will not beg for your forgiveness, because I do not believe I did anything wrong. Linna needs to be raised by shapeshifters. Do you even know the nutritional needs of a Leyak infant?" He shook his head. "No, you don't. I've been asking my guards to tell you since the moment I came here. That information I will give you for no other reason than to help my granddaughter. As to the rest..." He stood and walked to the bars separating our half of the room from his. "I will take what you're offering."
Dumadi looked at Riley with a mix of anger and frustration. "You're making a mistake," he said. "My granddaughter requires an all-protein diet."
Good thing I was here to hear that.
Riley stepped closer. "How can I give an infant an all-protein diet?"
Dumadi shrugged. "If you were a shapeshifter, you'd be able to nurse her. As it is, we have had some mothers unable to nurse. They have made mixes of protein powder, pureed meats, and high-protein vegetables. Human infant formula or cow's milk will leave the infant hungry and eating constantly."
Yep. It sounded legit. I raised my eyes at Zander, but bless him, he already had his phone out, typing away on it. No doubt he was having someone go get protein powder and puree some steaks for little Alex right this second.
"What else do I need to know about taking care of a Leyak infant?" Riley asked.
Dumadi looked at her for a long moment and then sighed. "I will help you with this one thing because it is my granddaughter. But after this, we are done. You will not come to me again for help. Not unless you're serious about offering me visitation." He hesitated and looked straight at Zander. "Or my freedom."
Riley nodded. "I understand. I am serious. The visitation would be incredibly supervised."
Anthony growled and both Elias and Axoular looked like they wanted to rip Dumadi's head off with their teeth. Riley wasnotgoing to have a pleasant evening once they got back home. They might have wanted to rip her head off at the moment, too.
Dumadi turned away from us and went back to his seat. "But we can work something out. Consider what I want. You have asked me for weeks about the babies, about the Leyak. I can help you with all of it, but my terms are my freedom and my granddaughter."
"What can you do for us?" Zander cocked his head and squinted his eyes. "Why should we give you freedom after the things you did?"
