Me and My Shadow - Katie MacAlister [125]
Drake hurried over to us as we entered. He gave Gabriel a suspicious look before eyeing us quickly to make sure we met with his standards. “Do not mention the appointment cards or the security measures,” he said quickly in a low voice. “I will not have Aisling upset by trivialities.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing, noting that Gabriel’s dimples were fighting to come out.
“May! Gabriel! I thought you’d never come to see my babies. What on earth are you wearing? Drake! I told you to stop making people dress in those silly outfits.” Aisling was propped up on a huge bed, her color high, her face a bit drawn, but radiating pride and happiness. Two beautifully carved wooden cradles stood next to her, draped in pristine lace.
“Until we know the children’s immunities are strong, I will not allow germs near them,” Drake said sternly.
Aisling rolled her eyes. “No one is going to endanger them. May, would you like to hold Ilona? Gabriel, what do you think of them? Aren’t they the most beautiful babies you’ve ever seen? I know all mothers say that, but you have to admit, these two really are outstandingly gorgeous.”
I looked down at the blotchy-skinned, red-faced, pointy-headed babies, and said with absolute conviction, “They are completely and utterly adorable, Aisling. I’m sure they’re going to grow up to be just as beautiful as you and Drake.”
Gabriel duly admired the babies, then gave Drake a long look before grinning and punching him in the shoulder. “You have fine children, my friend. They will grow up strong and wise.”
Drake returned the compliment by socking Gabriel in the arm; then the two men embraced.
“They are beyond fine. They are extraordinary,” Drake said, looking with obvious pride at his babies. “But I expected nothing less from Aisling.”
“That’s not what you said when I threatened to pull your scrotum over your head so you could share the experience of natural childbirth with me,” she said with a grin.
He cleared his throat, adjusted a blanket infinitesimally, then waved us to chairs. “You were in pain. Much can be forgiven when a woman is in the throes of childbirth.”
We sat with them for a half hour before Aisling began looking tired, and left her with a promise to return the next day.
Drake tucked her in, checked the babies, then accompanied us out of the room. “The mortals have a custom to celebrate with whisky and cigars. You will join me?” he asked.
“Of course. May?”
“I’ll pass on the cigars, but a little shot of whisky would go a long way right now,” I said.
Dr. Kostich was waiting for us when we reached Drake’s study. He glowered at us for a moment before saying to Gabriel, “One of my apprentices, Tully, is unwell.”
“I will see to her, naturally. And you? Tipene has tended to your arm?”
“He has. The silver dragons well deserve their reputation for healing abilities,” Kostich said stiffly.
Gabriel smiled at the grudging compliment, and went off to the sitting room to check on the apprentice.
“I wish to speak with you,” Dr. Kostich told me.
Drake murmured something about being in his study when I was free, and retreated to that room.
Dr. Kostich considered me for a moment before saying, “I begin to regret my leniency with regards to you.”
“I have done everything you asked of me,” I pointed out.
“You misled me.”
“Misled you how?”
“You withheld information from me about the dragon lord Baltic, information that was vital for our success. And because you saw fit to withhold it, I have neither the light blade of Antonia von Endres nor the dragon himself, who I assure you will answer to the acts of violence he has perpetrated upon my person, and those of my apprentices.”
“There’s also a little matter of more than sixty blue dragons who were brutally slaughtered, but I guess you don’t care about that,” I said, annoyed that he could make so light of that atrocity.
Dr.