Chapter Seventeen
Teige
Viraj hid from his father in their lackluster nest, curled among blankets and pillows that had the faintest scent of must and an underlying scent of themselves, their comfort. It hadn’t been that long since they’d last been there, after all.
As for Ashwin? He treated the estate as if he owned it, despite the fact the environs and house had been independently purchased and owned in tandem by Gatlin and Teige. The property was a safehold specifically from Ashwin butting his nose in.
Viraj rose that morning and shuffled off to get dressed and showered while Teige ascended to the rest of the estate to find Ashwin lounging in full dress attire in their solar, a cigarette in one hand, book in the other.
“Good morning, Lord Ashwin.” Teige settled in and found one of the many decorative wicker chairs to settle into. Ashwin had taken the main one, a love seat made for three, to lounge comfortably and spread out in such a way to claim the space as his own.
“Good morning, Stoor.” He took a deep drag off of the cigarette and flicked ashes onto the floor before turning a page. He exhaled deeply, the smoke dancing in the burning rays of morning sun cutting through the wall of windows like breathing fire.
Teige took the slight in stride and turned awkwardly to face the male, wicker creaking. “Has breakfast been offered to you?”
“It has been. I inspected the kitchen, too. No cow.” He nodded in approval before taking another drag, eyes trailing the page he’d landed on. “They served me a lovely take on poha. Not authentic but different, and a rather lackluster chai.”
There was no hate in those last words, but it evoked a sense of defensiveness that Teige ignored. “We are so far away from the spice lands that it’s difficult to get the best. Viraj laments it, too.”
Ashwin grunted in response. “If it mattered so much, he’d source better materials.”
“Or his mates should try harder. Do you have any recommendations for something finer? I’d like to surprise him.” Teige smiled.
“I own several farms that cultivate the spices for it. See, some think it’s in the cinnamon that creates the flavor—but a true connoisseur knows it’s in how the cardamom is roasted, and the finest turmeric.
Even though it’s not a staple of the recipe, it really livens the color and flavor.
” Ashwin brightened in the discussion. “I brought a tin with me for personal consumption. I should share, but I am rather protective of my herbs.”
“Especially when you put nestblossom in your personal blend—or you used to.” Teige stood and strode across the room, fingers trailing the top of a well-loved credenza.
They’d had the thing since the old country, Gatlin and Teige.
Still smelled faintly of the whiskey his Drake father kept stored in it. If only in his mind.
Gatlin opened a drawer and pulled free a tin, a personal stash of the dried nestblossom. “Do you recall how much needed to be added to your blend to make the flavor you recall?”
He turned and offered the rather plain tin to Ashwin, who dropped his cigarette and stomped it onto the tiled floor and reached for the box.
Teige fought the urge to flinch when one of the Hijada came from nowhere and cleaned the errant butt and ashes up.
Ashwin opened the tin and marveled at the contents. “I truly shouldn’t. I didn’t bring any of my harem with me for—” A momentary thought flashed in his eyes. “Mahava, Karam!”
The two servants appeared at his side in an instant, eyes downcast.
Ashwin clicked his tongue as he lifted a hand to pinch one of their chins. Rapid Hindi spilled melodically over his tongue. “Mahava… That’s my nose. No.”
Mahava stiffened but said nothing as Ashwin turned his attention to Karam. “How did you come under my house’s employ?”
Karam swallowed. “I am also born of the estate.”
The way he spoke, as if Ashwin wasn’t his own father, careful of the way he worded it.
Ashwin clicked his tongue and closed the tin before reluctantly handing it back. “I lack the proper companionship for its use. Unless you have any companions available?”
Teige took the tin and did his best to hide the revulsion. “Viraj and Gatlin are more than enough for my appetite.”
“I wouldn’t know what to do with only the one Dette. I’d probably exhaust them.” Ashwin smiled as if the admission were something to be proud of. Teige didn’t think advertising one’s inability to tame their own dick as a positive thing.
Teige, however, couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “I never have that worry. I believe Viraj is of such a high quality that he can outperform a dozen Dettes.”
“Certainly can outbreed them. His brother, too.” Ashwin sniffed and watched carefully as Teige put the tin away.
“You certainly made wonderful sons.” Teige patted the top of the credenza and halted as Gatlin paused in the doorway, arms crossed.
“Lord Ashwin,” Gatlin spoke in greeting. “Teige.”
Teige gave Gatlin a smile. “There’s breakfast in the kitchen.”
“I saw. And I happened to catch the new servants in the foyer and made sure they got something to eat.” Gatlin slid in smoothly and gave Teige a chaste kiss and one-armed hug.
“I’ll be taking Vivi some in a moment. He’s trying to get an extra bit of sleep before we head over to the Nielsen Councilman’s estate. ”
“Now that, I can agree with.” Ashwin rubbed his hands together.
“I had a question. While we’re in talks with Hallr Nielsen, would you mind if we borrowed your servants to speak with theirs? They have nine pups of their own and could offer some wise words.” Gatlin faced Ashwin, who shrugged.
“Not as if they’d be of any use to me there, at any rate.”
Teige smiled. With any luck, Frikka would be there and could give the two a quick look over, health-wise. “Wonderful.”
“That’s my cue. I’ll have Viraj readied, and the car pulled around.” Gatlin excused himself.
Teige needed to keep close watch on Ashwin.
And he needed to go back home sooner than later.