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“He wasn’t mad when he left. He was sad. I think that was worse.”

“He’ll come around.” Cosmo opened the pudding. “Mmm. Pistachio.”

That made him laugh.

Okay, so maybe he was a little ramped up from the day too.

He could ungrump.

As soon as Orion got home.

ChapterSeventeen

“Son. This is a surprise.” Father Rigel looked about. “Where is your mate?”

“He’s back at home with the baby.”

His father blinked. “What? I mean, obviously it’s kind of difficult at this point for him not to be with the baby, one would assume.”

He shook his head. “No, I found a baby. We had to go out into the human realm. There were vampires who had stolen a fae, and there was a baby as well. Hawk—he’s a dragon, one of Cullen’s brother’s mates—he killed them all.”

“Good.” That was his da, who wandered through like it was no surprise whatsoever that he was here. “I hope it hurt. What kind of baby?”

“Da!”

“What?” His sweet omega parent just arched an eyebrow at him. “What kind of baby?”

What was happening here? “A pegasus.”

Da’s eyes lit up. “Oh my. Are you going to bring him here?”

“I don’t know.” Orion didn’t know a whole lot of anything right now. He was so shocked that Cullen, who seemed like such a caring soul, would hurt someone and not feel angst about it. Now he didn’t know what to think.

“Well, it seems rather important,” Father grumbled. “I mean, to know.”

“Yes. Well, obviously I don’t. Cullen’s got him. Not sure Cullen’s going to let him go.”

Da blinked at him. “Does that bother you?”

Orion could only shake his head.

His fathers shared a look, then Da said, “I’ll make tea.”

Father nodded and motioned to a chair. “I think that’s a good idea, mate. Why don’t you have a seat, Orion? Obviously, you need to talk.”

“Oh, I don’t?—”

“Son, it’s been almost a century since I saw you last, and now you’ve been here twice in one week. It’s obvious that you want to talk. I’m here. Sit down.”

That was direct. So he sat.

“Here I am.” He stared at his dads. They stared back.

Finally, Da smiled gently. “Love. Vampires are a disease. They’re not people anymore. Or whatever creature they might have been. They’re not salvageable once the disease truly takes hold.”

He tilted his head, the distinction catching his attention. “But if they’re caught before then… How long do they have?”

“That depends on many factors. But maybe a day or two. Longer if the victim is not human. But don’t be angry at your mate. It seems ugly, but sometimes, the only thing you can do is seal them in their sleeping place and let them starve. Fighting them is too dangerous.”