He nodded. “Big Catholic wedding. Should be…interesting.”
Anton smiled a little at that.
“Andrey will object to his twin looking for a human wife. You prepared to go against your twin, just for the possibility of having kids?”
Anton met his gaze squarely when he said, “Yes.”
“Fair enough.” He stood to leave.
Anton rose and raised a hand to stop him. “Before you go…” He looked around. There were cameras all over the holding area. This conversation was being recorded and watched, and they both knew it. Anton came close and pressed a hand to the plastic between the bars, then lowered his voice. “Vlad, be very careful around Kamal.”
Vlad frowned. Kamal Ghosh was the one elder besides Elizaveta who was openly pro-hybrid and currently supported all Elizaveta’s efforts to integrate them. He’d smiled when Rose was voted into the community. Kamal was the one elder besides Elizaveta Vlad didn’t think he had to worry about. “Why?”
“Can’t say.” He glanced up toward an obvious camera. “Just, be careful.”
Vlad nodded. “Thanks for the warning.”
As he stared at Anton, he realized he was saying goodbye to his old family. He had a new one, a healthy one to replace it, with two people he loved more than life itself. And he intended to do everything in his not inconsiderable power to ensure his new family remained safe. Part of that meant giving up any hope of a relationship with his brothers.
But he’d always known it would come to this.
He put his hand against the thick plastic opposite Anton’s. “Take care of yourself.”
“You, too. Good luck.”
Vlad left, knowing he wasn’t likely to see any of his brothers again. A very small part of him mourned the loss. The rest of him rejoiced in the freedom.
As he left the confinement cells, he turned his full attention to the woman and little girl waiting for him upstairs, and the plans for his upcoming wedding.