“I have no idea whose souls you carry, dear, nor do any of us. It is auspicious timing, nothing more. They will be children in time, dragons, and you need concern yourself with nothing more. It’s for naming and honor alone.” Graylan rolled his palm gently, the motion making Varis’s belly flop with a wave of nausea. “Shhh, you’re fine. My magic can be a little overwhelming.”
“What is it you’re doing?” Varis flinched and sighed in relief when Graylan pulled his hand back and smiled.
“Well, I always worry with ashen a little about anatomy finalizing, especially when they conceive so soon after their first transformation. I rearranged your blood flow just a bit to better support things. Healthier incubation and all that.” Graylan pulled back and gave a beaming grin to Ghreid, full of fang and joy. “Two healthy ovum, fertilized and ready to come into the world. I’d say you’ll lay in another ten weeks if the moon has any say in it.”
Varis blinked as a cold flush went through him. “Uh, about that. Will we still… Will the full moon—”
“If you’re gravid—no. Your mate will be amorous, but he will respond to your scent. If you do not flare, he will not, either.” Graylan gestured and cleared his throat. “Slathar, stop hovering. Come in.”
Graylan whipped around and stared at the doorway as the pale vision of Rath’s brother stood there, face impassive. “I’d rather miss that conversation you’re about to have.”
“Well, dear, it’s simple nature. Perhaps if you were tocoupleone day—” Graylan flinched when Slath scoffed. “Asunlikelyas that is.”
“Sorry…” Varis gave Slath his most practiced sheepish expression. “Because your loss—”
Slath waved his hand. “We made our peace a long time ago—what of it there was to have. I was speaking of your questions about bedding my brother.”
“Perhaps you should regale me with your bedroom antics to make us even?” Varis pursed his lips apologetically.
“What bedroom antics? Slathar doesn’t entertain bedservants or court.” Draenvir snorted, and Varis caught a wide-eyed and very guilty look splashed across Graylan’s face, turned from him.
“Shows what you know,” Slath muttered, but Varis had a feeling he knew.
“Who?” Ghreid sat up, suddenly interested. “Surely n—”
“Graylan and I will be sharing quarters while here, andyes, we are fucking.” Slath stared Ghreid down. “And congratulations.”
Ghreid and Draenvir flinched, and both sets of judgmental eyes flicked toward Graylan.
“Your Highnesses…” He held up his hands before clearing his throat.
“Father expressly forbade you from—” Ghreid stood, shoulders pinched.
“Father isdead. I can stop pretending. We fuck. Get over it.” Slath brushed his hair back with clawed fingers and turned on his heel.
Draenvir and Ghreid stared, mouth open as Graylan took a step back, hands raised. Attention snapped to him as Slath traipsed out of view.
“I—don’t have a good excuse.” Graylan cleared his throat. “Who am I to decline the advances of a prince?”
“You’re a hundred years older thanFatherwas.” Ghreid shook his head, upper lip curling.
“When?” Draenvir gestured to Graylan.
“When I had to be at the castle all the time to see to Asha.” Graylan ran a hand through his hair. “It’s… Very complicated.”
“He’s no child. Let him make his own mistakes.” Ghreid sighed heavily. “Hurt our brother and we will hurt you.”
“I have a duty to the health of my patients. Varis is my patient. I also realize that dragons are not immortal and if anyone could spill my blood and go unpunished, it would be his brothers, so I assure you, anything that happens is at his lead.” Graylan cleared his throat.
Varis cleared his throat. “As much as I love to hear juicy gossip, Slath is my brother now, and I’ll be off to harass him a little. If I am in good health, as the good doctor has confirmed, I will keep another of my persuasion company until such time as we should retire to bed. Don’t murder my only source of care, please?”
Varis rested a hand on Graylan’s shoulder. “I’ll be in the guest quarters if you need to relay anything else to me. I’ll be sure to get to know my new family better, in the meantime. I adored Asha.”
Ghreid laughed and waved Varis on.
Varis turned to leave, and his fathers moved closer in to greet the dragons, probably with questions of their own, but for the time being, he felt his place was with Slath. He needed someone on his side. Besides, Slath was probably the more reliable source for the juicy details.
Chapter Twenty-Four
