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Zeke shook his head. “That is not going to fly with Penny’s parents, I guarantee you.”

“No.” Brayden agreed with that.

Sloan rolled his shoulders. “And I think that Fredda would just end up going to the deep sea with her entire family. That’s not what we want.”

“Have I told you about my idea with the three-headed dogs?”

Cade stared at him. “The ciucui?”

At times, these dragons could be pretty hidebound. They didn’t like to believe that there was a completely different way to do things.

Brayden understood that, but he was also going to change it. “So you know how the ciucui always watch the bwostfol? I was asking Harden if he thought he could train them to watch the children.”

Tyson’s eyes lit up. “You mean like guard dogs?”

“Yes. Guard dogs that never sleep, that are bred to watch and care for the children like they are the flocks. However many we needed, as long as they were cared for and loved, they would watch for us forever.”

Use what they had, that was Brayden’s philosophy. The dragons in the human world had brought familiars with them and they were great. The ciucui were of this world and they were fierce.

“I like that idea but how long would it take to get that into place,” Zeke asked?

“They mature fairly quickly. Harden says they could have a couple of litters a year.”

“Oh? Cade blinked at him. “But if that were true, there would be ciucui everywhere.”

Brayden blew his hair out of his face. “Have you never heard of animal husbandry, man? He just makes sure that nobody has too many litters too fast. He makes sure everyone is healthy, and that there’s a need for puppies.”

Zeke frowned but nodded. “I think that we should have Samuel come down and learn, so that we can make sure we do this correctly as well. I’m certain that Sebby, when he comes home, will be wanting to help too, but right now, he’s determined to outlast Arielle.”

Zeke and Tyson looked at each other and rolled their eyes in unison. “It’s never going to happen. Arielle is wild, and Sebby is a gentle soul. He’s going to be the head of his own clutch one day.”

And didn’t Zeke sound proud of that?

“He will.” Cade seemed to totally agree. “Yes, but for now we will have Harden and Samuel handle this so that there is no strange cross-breeding of the dogs or weakening of bloodlines.”

“Yeah.” Sloan nodded slowly. “I think that’ll work. Tyr is actually pretty good about breeding programs too with his bees oddly enough, so I’m sure Harden can talk to him if he has any questions. Also Harden’s parents breed all sorts of bwostfol on their farm not too far away from here.”

He hadn’t been there yet, of course, but he was going to go. He was curious. “It’s a good plan.”

Cade shook his head. “It is a good part of a plan. There are many parts of this plan. I think we should talk to the elders and keep them informed. Also, I would like to know what it is they think they are going to do.” Cade caught Tyson’s eye. “Do you think that you could have Arielle look where she is?”

Tyson twisted his lips and tilted his head. “Look where she is?”

“She is in a school, yes? One which has many libraries. I have interest in whether or not there is anything that has happened like this before. I know she is busy, but if she could do this, it would be a good thing for all of us.”

Both Tyson and Zeke looked relieved by that. “Of course, you would probably welcome the chance to do some discreet investigation, but somehow I didn’t think you meant libraries.”

Cade’s eyebrow flew up. “Oh, I would never mean that I wanted her to investigate personally. No, she should not go anywhere near anything in the cities that looks like it could be dangerous.”

Tyson let out a thunderous boom of laughter. “You do realize this is Arielle we’re talking about. She would run into danger headfirst, blowing out flames as she went.”

Zeke’s smile was just as wry. “That’s our girl. If she thought for a minute someone was trying to hurt the other children, she would personally try to bend them in half.”

“She gets that from Devon for sure,” Tyson teased. “Brand is somewhat lazy. But, yes I can tell her to start looking for references to anything to have to do with this black dragon or with dragons who kidnap special children, anything like that. She was raised with book people. She would love to do that kind of research.”

“Excellent.” Cade grinned them all. “I believe in using all of our resources. Carefully, of course.”

“But maybe you could talk to your grandmother, Cade. Not about taking in the children, but about what’s going on. If she’s aware that special children like Penny need safe places to go, maybe she knows something.” Brayden didn’t want to insult anyone, and like Cade said they needed to use all of the resources at hand.”