She cut me off before I could even begin. “Give me one good reason they can’t be happy here, on Lyoness.”

I didn’t truly have one, but every instinct of mine screamed against it. I opened my mouth, then slammed it shut when she kept talking. “We have no records of drakens mating with witches, and I doubt you do either. Wren cannot mate with every draken here, it is impossible.”

I quivered with indignation at the thought. No one touched her except her mates!

Astrid rolled her eyes, leaning forward as she laid a hand on my forearm. “What if it’s possible for witches to give birth to draklings? Doesn’t it change everything?”

My mouth went dry at the insinuation. It was impossible, wasn’t it? If witches could birth draken young . . . holy shit.

Astrid watched me cautiously. “It does not mean it is likely, or even that it’s an answer. Just let them be happy, and whatever naturally progresses from there—”

“You cannot have any draken females!” I bit out instead, not wanting to admit she was right.

Astrid glanced up at the sky, as if searching for patience. “I understand that. I also understand these are uncharted waters. Any child regardless of gender that is a draken will be given to you, and any child that is not will be given to us.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Even the males?”

Astrid stroked her chin, deep in thought. “It is not as clear as all that, is it? Perhaps we will need to be flexible and simply do what is best for everyone involved. We don’t yet need any official understanding.”

I rubbed my temples, and she sighed.

“Benedict, this isn’t hard. Word will get out about Trego and Cassie either way. Be honest with your drakens, and simply ask for volunteers, or if there are any more relationships. We can take a few trial couples and see what happens. We need witchlings, and you need draklings. What is the harm?”

“If I may?” Ronan said.

I jerked, forgetting that Ronan was even there.

“You may not,” I growled, but he ignored me. I blamed Wren’s influence.

“Benedict, you said yourself that having sentries closer to Cantrada would be ideal. Send ten or so drakens to the witches in the forest just north of the city, and whatever happens, happens.”

I twitched, seeing the sense in it even as I searched for a reason to deny it. I was getting too old for this shit.

“We will have more answers eventually, just not soon. A witch pregnancy is long and arduous. It will be a full year before the child is born,” Astrid informed us.

Relief flooded through me. Thank the gods.

Ronan leaned forward, interested. “Really? Draken pregnancies are much shorter. Only five months.”

I dropped out of the window and glided back to the practice arena, intent on escaping as they happily nattered onto each other like nosy Elders.