“Baltic will be back for her.”

“Possibly. But I do not think he will find it so easy to free her,” Gabriel said dryly as we arrived at the room that had been given over to racks of sterile surgical wear. We quickly changed our clothing, and presented ourselves and our appointment cards to István, who stood guard outside Drake’s bedroom.

“We haven’t seen the last of him, you know,” I said in a whisper when István went in to check if Drake would clear us for the visit.

“No. The weyr will meet to discuss the issue he presents. We cannot let him continue destroying dragons. He will have to be stopped.”

“Do you think he’ll seek revenge for us keeping the dragon heart out of his reach?”

“It is possible, but you know I will always keep you safe. Do not fear, Mayling—you are my mate, and my heart. Nothing and no one can change that,” Gabriel said, kissing me as the door opened up and István bowed us into the room.

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. Kostich’s expression did not change. “Crimes against dragonkin are beyond the authority of the L’au-delà.”

I acknowledged that it was so. “I merely wish to point out that although we have all suffered at the hands of Baltic, there are those who have suffered far more.”

“You did not tell me that the dragon in question could access the beyond,” Dr. Kostich accused, his gaze once again pinning me down.

“No, I didn’t. I didn’t think it was pertinent, and to be honest, I’m not sure why you think it is.”

He almost sighed, but caught himself in time. “Dragonkin cannot enter the beyond. It is a well-known fact that only by extraordinary means can one do so, and yet this one appeared to enter it with ease, and without any assistance from one who has routine access. This dragon is clearly something . . . unusual.”

“But you knew that. You knew he had the ability to cast arcane spells, and to use the light sword.”

“Yes, but I did not know he could also enter the beyond. A dragon who understands and harnesses arcane power is extraordinary, but it might possibly be explained. But one who can enter the beyond—that is truly miraculous, and I do not like miracles.” He bit off the last few words as if they left a nasty taste in his mouth.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. He’s sought refuge in the beyond so many times, I didn’t think about just how unusual it was. What difference it could have made to today’s events is, pun aside, beyond me.”