"If you tell me everything you know about your water distributor we might be able to help the entire race of dragonkin."
Lian listened as they explained how the water delivered belonged to a new company. "They claim to add minerals and that it's healthier. I thought with the baby…" Carti trailed off.
"How long have they been in business?" Lian cut her off not wanting her to wallow in self-recrimination.
Davin and Carti exchanged looks before Davin spoke. "I think about a year now."
Carti nodded her agreement. "About that."
"Thank you." Lian helped Carti down from the table. "Go home drink some juice and I'll let you know how everything turns out." The water ads he'd noticed before were starting to take a sinister twist. Milot's water had contained poison but the man confessed to Lian that more than one person might have reason to want him dead. To find the same poison in an innocent woman's drink told him it was a wider spread problem than a vendetta against one man.
"Thank you." They spoke in that freaky unison some couples get when they spend a lot of time together. Lian hoped he never reached that point with Nevair; it was weird.
The fact his lover hadn't called him started to bother Lian.
Grabbing his communicator, he dialed. Once again, no answer.
"Is there a problem, doc?" Milot asked, entering the lab.
"I think I know where the poison came from." With a quick summary he shared what little he'd learned so far. "Did you find out who owns the company?"
Milot shook his head. "Not yet but I'm expecting a phone call soon."
"Good." The more Lian learned the better off they'd be.
"Come eat. I'm sure we'll have an answer by dinner time," Milot assured him.
Lian nodded. "Okay."
Milot put his hand on Lian's back as he led him from the lab. "Will his holiness be joining us for dinner?"
"I don't know." Worry crinkled Lian's brow. "I haven't been able to get a hold of him since he returned to the cathedral."
"That is odd. Do you want me to send some of my men over there? I doubt they'd make the connection between us."
Lian nibbled his bottom lip as he thought it over. "If you don't mind. I might just be paranoid, but it isn't like Nevair not to check in with me." Even with only being mates a short time, Nevair had proven to be the type of man who called when he said he would.
"No, it's not. A new mating is a fragile thing. Most dragonkin won't leave their mates the first twenty-four hours after their mark appears. I'll send over a few people and ask discreetly. As long as they stay away from Tres they shouldn't be detected."
"Thank you. You've been great, really. I mean, you didn't have to take in a complete stranger."
Milot's eyes glowed with the power of his emotions. "You didn't have to stop and help a couple of injured kids. I heard from their parents. They sobbed over the phone, so thankful someone stopped to help. So many people don't care anymore. You did." Milot gripped Lian's shoulder. "Your act of kindness saved two of my nephew's best friends. That's worth a lot more than a small lab, a guest room and asking a few questions."
Lian nodded. He didn't want to argue. He'd always lived with his gift so he didn't always understand how his actions affected others. Milot appreciated his efforts and Lian received a lot of benefits for one moment of compassion. "Thanks."
"No problem. My cook made some of her amazing pasta and I'm dying to eat. We can dine while we wait for our report," Milot smiled as if everything would be fine now.
Lian gave a weak smile. "Sounds good." His stomach hadn't stopped churning at the thought of Nevair in trouble.
Chapter Seven
The news, when it came, shook Lian to the core. "What do you mean he's disappeared?"
Milot's detective shifted nervously on his feet, his gaze skittering across the room, desperate to look anywhere but into Lian's eyes.
"No one's seen him since he entered the cathedral and the cathedral staff say he never showed up for his sermon," the detective announced.
"Who saw him last?" Lian asked, leaning forward and barely resisting the urge to choke the messenger.
