“Yup. Give me a second to burp him.”
Kieran walked in. “Slate called. He wants to know if you plan on showing up today. His words, not mine.”
“Yeah that sounds like him. Jake and Jessica have been changed and fed. We’ll be back as soon as the buyers are locked up. Then we’ll be heading home so let Theodore and Norman know, okay?” asked Dylon.
“Err, okay,” Kieran said, his eyes darting around the room.
“Kieran, is something bothering you?” asked Cody.
Embarrassed to ask, and he wasn’t sure how, especially since Cody had done so much for him already, only his friendship with Theodore and Norman finally made him blurt it out. “I was, well, actually we were wondering if we can borrow some money to go shopping for some things. We only have a couple of outfits and nothing else; once we get to your pack how will we shop for what we need? I know this wasn’t part of the deal, but Theodore almost backed out last night because he was ashamed he had nothing except two pairs of jeans…and not the best style for him, if you want my opinion…and a couple of t-shirts in the totally wrong color for his complexion, if you catch my drift. I told him we could go shopping today and I would make him look fabulous. So please, can I borrow some money?”
Cody stared at Kieran for a long minute before he finally grinned, “Sure, only it’s not a loan. Every pack member has a monthly allowance to pay for that kind of stuff. Since you and your friends are now pack members, you’re able to draw on your stipend as of yesterday. Let me ask Slate to give you a credit card. Is that all right?”
Beaming, Kieran answered, “Wow, wait till I tell Theodore and Norman. Is it all right if I take Jake and Jessica with me today? I promise I’ll take care of them.”
“They can go with you,” Dylon answered, “but understand that you’ll have enforcers with you and your friends…not only to protect the pups, but to protect you guys, too.”
Waving his hand, Kieran said, “No problemo. Give me a minute to call my friends. Be right back.” And he was gone in a heartbeat.
Dylon looked at Cody quizzically. “What monthly allowances are you talking about?” he whispered.
“Tell you later,” said Cody a moment before Kieran burst into the room again.
“Okay, okay. Go. I’ve got this. Chop, chop. Slate is waiting for you.”
Cody laughed as he put Jake in his crib and Dylon did the same with Jessica. Giving his pups one last kiss, Cody took Dylon’s hand and left the room—but not before telling the sassy young man the credit card would be with the lead enforcer and he shouldn’t worry about any limits.
Once in the elevator, Dylon yanked Cody to his chest and devoured him with a kiss. By the time he was finished, Cody was dazed, looking like a well kissed man should, with swollen lips. “So, my pet, where’s my monthly allowance?” he asked.
Licking the taste of his mate on his lips first, Cody smiled, “There isn’t one really, but Jackson has set it up so we can each draw funds from his inheritance when we need them. I felt Kieran and his friends had been through so much, it was important to give them a little self-esteem instead of making them feel like beggars. No man wants to be looked at that way…you saw how reluctant he was to ask me what he wanted. Now, he can keep some pride and start rebuilding his self-respect…Theodore and Norman, too.”
Gently smiling, Dylon said, “Did I ever tell you how much I admire you?” Pulling his mate close to him once more, Dylon enveloped him in his arms and gave him a tender, love-filled kiss.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate glanced around the clearing, noting where all his enforcers—now dressed in local outfits to blend in with Ulfric and Ordovic’s pack members—were located. Hehad to admit Dylon was a genius when it came to this kind of operation. Looking skyward, he located the first buyers flying in for the auction. Kieran had told him where to find Arald’s paperwork describing who the buyers were and when they’d be arriving. It would be tight, but if Dylon’s plan worked, he’d have a shitload of prisoners to give to the High Council at the end of the day. Many of them would be very well-known, wealthy shifters. What surprised him though, were the two humans on the list of approved buyers. That was going to present a challenge for the Council—to figure out how the humans knew about shifters.
As the first helicopter landed, Slate waited until two buyers came down the steps and were standing surrounded by a handful of their enforcers. Stepping forward, Slate greeted them in Arald’s native language before switching. “If you come this way, there’s some paperwork to complete before the auction.”
“What kind of paperwork?”
“Verification of your ability to pay for your purchases. It won’t take long and then you’ll have a private tour of the merchandise up for sale.” Slate led them to the peace conference building and into the meeting room where Dylon was waiting.
“Gentlemen, have a seat,” Dylon said, and continued, “if you’d please give me your proof of funds, I’ll call to verify and then you can see what’s for sale.” Once he had the paperwork from each of them, Dylon stood and said, “Make yourselves comfortable. There’s coffee along with some pastries. I’ll be right back.” Leaving the room with the paperwork, he headed to a small office and phoned Steel who was standing by.
“I don’t like this,” said the first buyer.
“Why not? I see nothing wrong here. I think Arald is a sharp businessman. Why would he want to show us the shifters he has for sale if we don’t have the money to pay for them? All I care about is how healthy they are. I’m looking for some young men who can work all day and suck me off all night and I’m willing to pay a lot for them. In the last auction, I was bidding on a very healthy young man who was a natural healer. Fuck! I was willing to buy him no matter what the price, but I lost out at the very last second. The only reason I’m here is Arald said he had two healthy 18 year old virgins. How fucking lucky is that! It almost makes up for losing the healer. What are you looking for?”
“I need an heir but my wife also wanted a girl so Arald found me twins…a boy for me and a girl for her…and as soon as he verifies my funds, I’m taking them and leaving. I have business to attend to and this is an unwelcome interruption. I wanted the pups shipped to me but Arald insisted I take possession in person. Where the fuck is he?”
Relaying all the information, Dylon waited until he received confirmation from Steel before heading back to the buyers. After opening the door to the meeting room, Dylon announced, “Gentlemen, your paperwork is in order. Would you please come this way to see the merchandise?” Leading them out of the building and down the path to the fortress, Dylon opened the door and led them to the south dungeon where Slate’s enforcers were waiting. Opening the steel door, Dylon flipped on the switch and descended the stairs, waiting for the two buyers and their enforcers to reach the bottom.
With only one bulb glowing overhead, most of the dungeon was cloaked in darkness. Looking around, one of the buyers asked, “Well, where are my young studs?”Dylon whistled and his enforcers jumped into action, encircling the visitors.
“What’s this?” one of them called out in alarm.
“This, gentlemen, will be your new home for a while. Turk, please shackle everyone,” ordered Dylon.
