Xavier pointed a finger at him. “And that’s why you don’t stereotype. It can get you killed. Octavia wants to be the new leader, and since he’s still underage, the new Grove might consider him the Grove’s child. I don’t think she’ll believe it if we tell her he’s a Green Man. From what Melcori told me, she’s obsessed about being the new Grove priestess.”
“You’ll have to convince her before we let her anywhere near Rance.” Jared twirled his pen. “Does Melcori know about Green Men?”
Xavier reviewed the conversation he’d had with Melcori. “I don’t think so. If he did, he’d be more insistent that Rance return to the castle.”
“That’s true. Maybe if you talk to him, he can help break the news to the other dryads.”
“Melcori isn’t the break-the-news-gently kind of guy.” Xavier laughed at the thought. “He’s more the shatter-preconceptions-with-a-sledgehammer type. Dryads aren’t exactly male-friendly. It will hurt their pride when it’s revealed that they won’t have a new Grove without him, especially those who’ve been outspoken about banishing him. They may or may not lash out.”
“Even if it prevents them from a new Grove?”
“They might not believe me until it’s too late. Prejudice is hard to overcome, especially with the time we have to convince them.”
Jared tapped his fingers together. “We’ll think of something. Until then, stay close to the kid. Someone might think it’s easier just to take him out.”
“And you think I can protect him?”
“I’ve known some Blood Mages. You might cry innocent, but I’ve seen blood protections that can cut a person in half. Are you telling me the great Melcori didn’t teach you any of that?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Xavier sniffed. “I’m all kinds of innocent. I’ll talk to Melcori and tell him the history of the Green Man. He’ll want to help once I tell him Rance is the only way to form that Grove. That’s assuming a fifteen-year-old Green Man has enough magic to create a Grove. It seems like a lot to put on a kid.”
“It is a lot, but unless you know another male dryad?”
“I didn’t even know there were male dryads. I’ll ask Rance if he’s ever heard of another. We didn’t get the chance to talk much.” Xavier had other things on his mind, like his sexy mate.
“The Moon Pack has enough fighters. They should be able to protect him for now. One way or another, I will have those gems.” The gleam in Jared’s eyes did nothing to settle Xavier’s nerves.
He left his brother’s office more unsettled than when he faced the sphynx to get in.
CHAPTER8
Kat fluttered around Rance until the teen snapped at him. “Stop it. I’m fine.”
“Sorry.” Kat settled down in a seat at the kitchen table. He pulled his binder toward him, along with a notepad and pen. “I’ll focus on my stuff and leave you alone.”
“What are you doing, anyway?” Rance sat beside Kat, tilting his head to get a better look at his notes.
”I’m designing a skincare and bath line for Anthony’s hotel. I want it to feel luxurious and make people want to buy more.” If he could get this contract, his future in the pack would be set. He needed the stability, especially if he was going to help Rance. Raising a teen required money, even if they were ridiculously independent.
“Is it hard?”
Kat paused his notations. “The process isn’t difficult, but if I combine the wrong ingredients, I can make people sick or itchy. There needs to be a good balance of cleansing and soothing ingredients. Anthony also asked me to do some species-specific ones, and I’m trying to adapt my current recipes to accommodate.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“What is it that dryads do?” It occurred to Kat that he didn’t know enough about dryads to be a proper guardian.
“What do you mean?” Rance frowned at Kat’s list.
“I mean for a living.”
“We’re trees.” Rance stared at Kat as if he were an idiot. “We provide oxygen.”
“You don’t have jobs or anything?”
“Why would we need jobs?”
“For clothes and food?”
