Five minutes later, Roan returned with a fresh bottle on a tray piled high. "I opened a new can of formula and mixed it with a new can of protein powder." He set the tray on my dresser, then handed me a bottle. "This one's hot, so test it first."
I nodded and shook some of it out onto my wrist. "Perfect." I handed the bottle back to him and he fed Alex.
"I'll take the first shift," Doryu said. "You guys get some sleep. I'll wake you in four hours."
Roan grinned at me. "Wanna snuggle?"
It was awkward at first, with Doryu still in the room, but Doryu winked at me.
Nodding at Roan, I pulled the covers up and patted the bed. "Come on. Let's get some sleep."
Doryu locked my bedroom door, then I heard the lock click on the nursery. If anyone got through the bedroom door, they'd still have to get through me and Roan, and another locked door, to get to the nursery.
I burrowed under the covers with Roan, who wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my back to his chest and sighed. "I don't want to sleep."
"I know, but you need to. I'll be right here when you wake up."
"I love you," I whispered.
He kissed my temple. "I love you, too."
Eventually, I succumbed to exhaustion and slept.
I was woken by a soft giggle and Roan's lips on my neck. "Hey, sleepyhead."
"What time is it?" I mumbled.
"Three in the morning."
I yawned and sat up, rubbing my eyes. "Do you want me to take over?"
"Nah, Doryu's been out of the nursery a few times to check on us. He said he'll let me take over at six."
I flopped back down. "Okay, why'd you wake me then?"
He kissed my cheek and snuggled up behind me. "Zander's on his way up. He's got some information for us."
The door handle rattled before he could tell me more. "Come in," I called, forgetting the door was locked.
"Coming," Roan called.
Doryu must've heard us because he came out of the nursery holding Alex, who gurgled happily. I reached my arms out and was rewarded with the little baby nestled in my arms while I stayed comfy and cozy in bed.
Roan pulled the door open, and Zander stepped into the room, holding a file folder. "I found out about Matt," he said. "It seems likely it was him. The guards have already seized him."
"Why do you think that?" I asked.
"His grandfather is Mr. Buckner," Zander said.
"The one who was yelling at the last council meeting?" Roan asked, aghast. "The one who wants to kill all the babies?"
"The one and only." Zander handed him the file. "Matt Buckner was raised by his grandfather, Matthew Bucker the elder, a Fae and member of the Fae Purity Council, which isnotcondoned as an official group by the Junta." He took little Alex's hand and sighed. "We found the rat poison, and Dr. Karon analyzed the formula." Looking up at Doryu, he said, "We owe you everything. This little guy would surely be dead now. The formula was mostly poison, mixed with a little milk."
Doryu collapsed down into a chair in the corner of the room. "If I hadn't been the one to put it out for the rats..."
"You guys," I whispered as Alex blinked up at me. "We can't let anything happen to him."
"Agreed," Roan said. "From now on we make his bottles."
