Johan peered curiously at Manning. “Kayluth’s uncle, Dizuno. I was only informed right before the meeting that he would be arriving today. Did no one tell you?”
Manning shook his head. “No, but I’m not surprised between the party and all this” He waved a hand around absently as he frowned. “I wonder whose brother he is?”
“Let him through,” Svandis said.
The guards widened their protective circle, allowing Manning a clear view of the approaching Drakken. He eyed the red gemstones clinking loudly in the long braids of Dizuno’s jet-black hair. “Probably Lyurn’s since his stones match Father Ly’s.”
Ly, still shifted into his red-scaled drakken form, bent his regal neck to nose at Dizuno, who patted Ly’s snout before greeting Tailyn, in his blue-scaled drakken form.
“It sseemss I have misssed all the fun.”
“Fun!” Svandis screeched, her brow in a deep furrow. “My ssonss were taken.” She stalked toward Dizuno, hissing and clicking in the Drakken language. Fathers Mak and Kel hastened after her, hands raised as if to grab her should she choose to attack. Father Kelcooed and made warbly noises similar to those Manning had heard Kayluth make to their babes when they were upset.
“What?” Dizuno rounded on Lyurn. “Iz thiss true?”
Lyurn nodded before prodding Dizuno in Manning’s direction. Manning took that as his cue to approach.
“Fathers, thank you for protecting your sons. Please shift and meet us in the conference room.” Manning sought out Ivar. “General, see your sobroke settled and then join us.”
Ivar patted his heart as he bowed slightly and then headed out. Lian followed, her lavender-shaded drakken tail swaying with each step. Once all the drakken had departed, Manning greeted Kayluth’s uncle.
“Drakken Dizuno, I am Vidar Manning Drakkenmoon, Kayluth’s sobroke.” Manning slid his fingertips along the braided torque he always wore around his neck. “I bid you welcome to Volé, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“I, too, welcome you,” Bjorn added, moving to Manning’s side. “I am King Bjorn Dagrson, Manning’s brother. My father and eldest brother are behind this mess.”
“Messs?” Dizuno shuffled closer.
“Vidar Kayluth, along with Drakken Tyr, have been taken hostage by our deposed brother, Tore. Almost a sun-cycle ago, they had Vidar Manning kidnapped, fearing that he would form a coup and usurp the throne.” Bjorn chuckled. “I doubt they ever expected it to be me.”
“You make a fine king,” Manning said, bolstering Bjorn’s claim. “The populace loves you.”
Bjorn clapped Manning’s shoulder, bearing a fond smile. “Tak-kou, little brother.”
Manning batted Bjorn’s hand off with a smirk.
“Excusse me,” Dizuno interjected, “but why are you not worried for your ssobroke? The vidarina ssaid Tore contracted with a Fenrir. Thiss iz consserning.”
Manning froze at the accusation. “I… wait.” He closed his eyes and breathed deep, feeling across the bond for his mates. “Kayluth is nervous, but there is surprise and hesitant hope, too. He knows we will rescue him and Tyr.” Manning peered at Dizuno. “As we speak, Vidar Brandt, the third of our Drakken Triumvirate, is readying to go after them, along with a contingent of our finest soldiers: human and Drakken.”
Bjorn leaned against Manning. “Thank you. I needed to hear they were well.”
“Kay will protect Tyr, you know that.” Manning lightly knocked their foreheads together as he grabbed Bjorn’s nape. “He’s family, weird though our bloodlines be. My half-brothers mated.” Manning rolled his eyes with quiet laughter. “I’m glad to see you finally pulling your head out of your ass.”
“I know,” Bjorn groaned. “Sorry.”
Manning pushed Bjorn away, only to pull him in for a tight hug.
“Vidar Manning, King Bjorn,” Johan said, “they are ready for you.”
Manning glanced around, finally noticing how the only ones left were him, Bjorn, and Dizuno along with their guards. “Tak-kou. Let’s go.”
Brandt
Brandt bounced on his toes, trying to burn off some of his nervous energy. He wanted to leave already, but Orm and Sekvyn insisted on taking some precautions. Frustrated, Brandt rubbed his hands together. If Tore and Dagr had waited just one more day, they never would have captured Kayluth or taken any of them unawares.
Sekvyn handed Brandt a protective vest and a stun phaser. As he slipped the vest over his head, he surveyed the small rescue party. There were eight of them in total, including himself. The team would be led by Orm and Sekvyn, of course. Joining them were four more Drakken and Seraphina. Onnar and Akron, whom he met for the first time the day before outside the castle treasury, and Usan and Ardes, Kayluth’s personal guard. Usually, Usan and his sobroke, Ardes, gave Brandt a wide-berth. He was more than happy with that arrangement as they had been the Drakken who’d claimed Brandt as theirdorogo—essentially a pleasure slave, though they called it claiming their “desired one”—when the drakkenship,Reykos, first overtookMoondrake. Brandt, however, was already deep in love with Manning, so their potent tolsu knocked him unconscious instead of heightening his arousal. When he tried unsuccessfully to escape them, he ended up locked in a prison cell, where one of their scientists ran tests to see how he reacted to different levels of tolsu. He shuddered just thinking about how he’d survived the contactless torture.
Though their presence made Brandt uneasy, he wouldn’t deny them joining the team as they were still Kayluth’s most loyal Drakken. They were smart, fast, and damn good fighters. They’d proven their worth when Dagr ordered his generals to attack Manning, Brandt, and Kayulth while they transported their eggs from the castle to the drakkenship.
