A tap from Tyr brought him around. “>”
Kayluth peered around, finally noticing how quiet the dock was the further away from the gate they traveled; how devoid of life. How bizarre. Any docks he’d ever used planetside were always bustling with people coming or going from ship to city and back. There’d be transports full of crates and barrels that one’s head had to be on a swivel to avoid crashing or bumping into anything or anyone. He’d always had to shout to be heard over the roar of engines or the buzzing and clanging of tools fixing panels, landing gear, or whatever else needed tending.
When his gaze finally settled on Hazer, he caught the stiff tension radiating from the Fenrir where before there had been an ease to his shoulders and a casual stride.
“If you lied to us, Fenrir,” Kayluth growled under his breath.
“I did not,” he shot back, “but… something’s not right. I’m not sure what, though.” Hazer’s furtive glances did not allay Kayluth’s growing anxiety, especially after he’d just given instructions for his sobroke to wait. They all kept their eyes open and heads straight as they tried to not look like they were looking around.
Up ahead, Tore stepped onto a ship’s ramp, got high enough to be taller than them, then turned and gestured. Humans dressed in either black or distressed military uniforms poured from the ship’s interior. As they hit the ramp, the zip of lasers from the far side of where they stood started cutting the soldiers down. Chaos erupted as several soldiers shouted orders, others jumped off the ramp, finding cover, raising shields, and returning fire. Tore’s howl of outrage cut off as a crate nearby him exploded.
“Get down!” Hazer shouted, pushing them to the ground and covering them with his own body.
Kayluth gathered a shaking Tyr close, throwing his arm over the drakeen’s unprotected head. “What happened?”
“Double-crossing bastard,” Hazer muttered by way of an answer, kneeling over them, aiming and firing with his own weapon at the soldiers. Several fell, not expecting the “friendly” fire.
“Papa! This way.”
Hazer pushed Kayluth. “To your right. Go. We’ll cover you.”
As he laid down a row of fire, Kayluth shoved Tyr to move. Tore’s men hid behind barrels, walls, whatever. They raced across the open space to join a female Drakken, pale purple and blue gemstones denoting her coloring, a single silverssoldangling from her right temple. Beside her was a male of about twenty cycles whose features aligned with a younger version of Hazer, but his eyes were the same brilliant blue of the female drakken, and his short ebony braids only contained a few stones.
Hazer’s cryptic comments collided in Kayluth’s mind as he pieced the truth together. Hazer’s mate was a Drakken, their son a hybrid, and as he watched Tyr and the male eye each other, inching closer and closer together… he almost laughed. It appeared that Bjorn would be in for another shock.
Dracco, you sly, sly god.
“Don’t let them escape,” Tore shouted, pointing in their direction. His men scrambled to obey, raising their protective shields as they raced forward.
“This way,” Hazer’s son said, grabbing Tyr’s wrist and hauling him along. Hazer’s mate followed, then Kayluth, with the Fenrir protecting their rear.
“My mate, Nymrah. My son, Nykos,” Hazer said as they zigged and zagged through the landing dock.
“Tyr and Nykoss are matess?” Kayluth called back over his shoulder. “How?”
“Tyr passed Nykos on the street almost two moons ago. My son knew immediately but couldn’t approach with all the guards.” Nykos slowed to a fast walk, allowing them all to catch their breath, and Hazer continued with his explanation. “As we tried to figure out how to get an audience without me getting arrested, Tore showed. I figured it was an easy in, but that male is crazy.”
They ducked inside a small storage building, and Kayluth faced Hazer. “Ssu, he kidnapped hiss brother, my ssobroke.”
“Drakken,” Hazer said, placing his hand over his heart, “I’m truly sorry. I should have sent my mate and son alone to the castle, but I was selfish. I wanted to see their first meeting with my own eyes.” He reached for the chains around Kayluth’s wrists and took them off.
Once freed, Kayluth clapped Hazer on the shoulder, then gripped it. “Apology ack-ssepted. We are family now.” He looked over to where Nykos and Tyr stood huddled. Heads almost touching as they whispered to each other.
Nymrah slid over to Hazer’s side, and he introduced them. “Vidar,” she said, bowing low, “a pleassure. Our ssinssere apologiess for thiss messs.”
“Undersstandable.”
Kay!
Sundrake’s voice rang clear in Kayluth’s head, surprising him. They’d tried many times to mind-speak over long distances, and hadn’t been able to do it. Now, when it mattered most, that they could connect made him smile, but it also hurt. He rubbed a small circle on his temple. “My ssobroke. He iz near.”
“Amazing,” Nymra whispered.
If you can hear me… head toward the gate where you entered. We’ll be waiting.
I hear you.
Joy sang through their bond.Hurry, please.
