“Ssu. Nuggets?”
Kayluth groaned; Bjorn laughed. “Sorry, not sorry. They are a staple for every single one of Volé’s children. Just because you’re Drakken doesn’t make you immune.”
Kayluth growled good-naturedly at his brother-by-marriage as he picked up a small bowl and added the desired nuggets and a handful of cut fruit. “Pleasse sshare with Raissa.”
“Ssu, Father. Tak-kou.” Reykos scampered across the room, plopping onto the floor beside his sister. She dropped beside him and snagged a piece of apple.
“Do you think there’s a chance Tyr isseeta?” Bjorn whispered, standing at Kayluh’s elbow.
Kayluth stared at Bjorn. Was this why Bjorn was keeping Tyr at arm’s length? “I never paid attention to procreation lecturess growing up, which iz why becoming a sseeta wass a ssurprisse for me. Father Ly believess a Drakken will become sseeta when they have met their mate and there iz no female in the mating. However, who should become the sseeta iz not known, though he ssusspectss family geneticss play a role. Father Ly believess he became sseeta because of his more direct lineage to the Four Brotherss.”
Bjorn twisted his bottom lip, an uncharacteristic gesture for the King of Volé. Kayluth studied his brother-by-marriage, seeing a side of him he hadn’t before. Bjorn obviously wanted a family, children of his own blood, and he feared his mating to Tyr would require him to take a female for breeding. Unfortunately, there was little Kayluth could do to ensure Bjorn’s future children, but he whispered a prayer to Dracco all the same.
Brandt
With Manning distracted by Svandis, Mak, and Kel, Brandt gazed around their osphena. Orm’s arrival hadn’t escaped his notice, nor the surprised expressions on the faces of his fathers-by-marriage by whatever Orm had said to them in Drakken, the hiss-click of their language carrying softly across the room. Svandis had stiffened, Lian had frozen, both informing Brandt that Orm’s statement wouldn’t bode well for any of them.
Brandt kept one eye on Manning and another on watching Kayluth and Bjorn. When Kay’s gaze fell on him, Brandt smiled and mimed eating. Periodically, if their thoughts were strong enough they could still speak telepathically, but the ability they had gained when Reykos and Raisa were drakeen babes had faded significantly unless they were all touching. Then, in bed, they spoke without words from their hearts, their worries, dreams, plans, and love for each other and their children.
Their bedroom was their haven from the real world, from their duties as Vidar, as fathers, and for him, a reprieve from the protectiveness instilled in his nature. They reconnected through caresses, cuddling, and sexual contact. Only during those times could Brandt drop his guard, leaving his worries behind as he gifted his husbands with his submission. Kayluth’s azure gaze darkened as he stared at Brandt, a small smile forming as if he’d plucked the intimate thoughts right out of Brandt’s mind. What he wouldn’t give to have all their guests disappear, the children tucked into bed, and for the birthday celebrant ordering Brandt to strip.
Kayluth advanced with a plate of tasty morsels. He stood behind the couch, leaning over its back to hand the dish to Brandt, brushing Brandt’s cheek with his own. “Hold thosse thoughtss until later, my love. We will sselabrate thiss night, mm?”
“Yeh. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Az am I.” Kay pressed a noisy kiss to Brandt’s neck just above the collar of his tunic. Kayluth shifted over and kissed Manning, making their mate laugh when Kay gently bit him.
“Later,” Manning said, low and growly. He spied the plate Brandt held and snatched a piece, popping it into his mouth and chewing with a feral grin. Brandt cocked an eyebrow at the brazenness but said nothing as a warm tendril of lust unwound in his gut.
Manning grabbed a fistful of Kayluth’s tunic. “What’s going on?” The swift change from aroused to serious threw a bucket of ice on Brandt’s libido.
“Orm wisshess to meet tomorrow. There iz information regarding Tore.”
The fierce growl that ripped from Manning shocked Brandt. He gripped Manning’s arm, reacting just as strongly to the news. He would have been more than happy to write Manning’s eldest brother and the ex-heir to Volé’s throne off as dead. If only they’d been so lucky.
“You weren’t going to tell me, were you?”
Brandt winced in sympathy for Kay. He felt Manning’s piercing gaze, and it wasn’t even directed at him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Svandis gathering her sobroke and grandchildren and steering them away from the three of them.
“I admit the thought crosssed my mind, but I could not withhold ssuch important newss from you. Bjorn will need you, and your ssobroke will ssupport you.”
Manning nodded sharply. “Good.” He took another piece of food from the plate and held it up to Kayluth, who opened his mouth to accept it. In turn, Manning fed Brandt a bite before saying, “Go tell Orm I want a word, and send a message to Seraphina; I expect to see her before the party ends. All my family should be here.”
Brandt handed the plate to Manning then rose. He glanced at his mates, at Kayluth standing behind Manning with a possessive hand on Manning’s shoulder. It was moments like this when he saw how much his sobroke deserved the title of Vidar. He felt undeserving, like he was playacting instead of living it. Even when Manning had been kidnapped, he often deferred to Bjorn’s rule.
Manning’s hand jerked his, pulling him from his downward spiral. “Stop that. You are worthy, my Drakkensun. Without you, we wouldn’t be the family we are, first and foremost. Without you, there would be no Raisa, no Reykos, maybe no me.”
Brandt dropped to his knees. “Gods, please don’t say that.” He leaned forward and rested his forehead on Manning’s thighs.
Manning carded his fingers through Brandt’s hair. “I’m sorry, you’re right, that was cruel of me to say, but I can see you doubting yourself.”
“Moondrake iz right. You belong besside uss. Your pressence iz needed for uss to remain sstrong.” Kayluth sat beside Manning, in the space Brandt had just vacated, filling the void but also joining the three of them closer. Kay tipped Brandt’s chin up, allowing them to look each other in the eye. “We love you, Ssundrake. We cannot be what we are without you, ssu?”
“Ssu. Yeh. I’m sorry.”
“There iz no need for apologiess. Be with uss in mind and ssoul, az in body.” Kayluth slid his fingertips along the torque circling Brandt’s neck.
Brandt nodded, giving them both a more confident grin than he felt. “Sometimes that’s so easy, other times…”
