Page 54 of Dragon in Denial
“Does it matter?” Ketu snapped.
Rahu shrugged. “Not really. I was just wondering. You’ve never talked about leaving anybody behind when you left New Orleans. But maybe you and your mate got into a fight and that’s why you left. And she was pregnant, and now you’re back to claim your son. Just wondering if that’s what happened.”
Ketu shook his head. Rahu was a fun friend and a fantastic flyer, but, damn, he was an idiot. “No, that’s not what happened. And my mating with Antoinette is not at all relevant to our current situation, so can we stay on task?”
“Actually, it’s somewhat relevant,” Talia said. “What happens when this is all over? Are you rejoining the Rojo colony?”
There it was. The million-dollar question had finally been spoken out loud.
“Oh shit, I didn’t even think about that,” Gabe said. “Who’s going to turn the bedroom next to ours into a nursery?”
“You asked him to build a nursery?” Talia asked, staring at her mate, her mouth hanging open.
He shrugged.
She shook her head and smiled. “You are the biggest closet romantic I’ve ever met.”
“Hey, don’t say that out loud,” Gabe protested. “I have a reputation to protect.”
Talia snickered.
“Well,” Antoinette demanded, staring hard at Ketu. “Are you going to build their nursery or not?”
Without looking her in the eye, Ketu answered, “I don’t know.” Honestly, he didn’t. If Delilah was in charge, he didn’t want to be part of this colony. But if Antoinette insisted on staying, well, what the hell else was he supposed to do?
Gabe lifted both arms and said, “We are here for a reason. Now, Ketu, explain to me what the hell you worked out with Delilah.”
“I can probably explain better,” Antoinette said. “It’s my colony, and Ketu’s been gone for ten years.”
“Fine,” Gabe said. “Explain.”
“Our reeve has always been something of a pushover. And our Elders have always been pretty passive. But the colony functioned—carried on anyway—because there wasn’t really a pressing need for a strong leader. The reeve’s son, Darius—”
“I’m familiar with him,” Gabe said.
“Right. So you know he’s not at all passive.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty much an asshole. And he treats everybody like shit, especially women.”
“Yes, that sums him up quite succinctly.” She glanced at Ketu. “I think it would help if I tell them our history.”
Was she asking his permission before divulging his most private secret to his friends? He actually wanted to say no, but he appreciated her asking instead of just barreling ahead. And she was right—if they understood the history with Darius, they’d understand Antoinette’s reasoning for making the decision she did.
He nodded.
Antoinette waved at him. “Ketu’s sister dated Darius.”
“Wait,” Rahu said. “You have a sister? How did I not know this? Is she hot?”
“She’s dead,” Ketu said shortly.
“Oh.” Rahu’s face fell. “Sorry, man.”
“She was also my best friend,” Antoinette said. “Ketu’s family basically adopted me after Eulalie and I became friends in kindergarten.”
“Wait, if you’ve known your mate for that long, why’d you move to Detroit ten years ago?” Rahu asked.
“I didn’t know she was my mate until—”
