We will.
Kayluth spoke aloud to draw the attention of the soon-to-be-lovers. “Tyr, Nykoss, help hass arrived. The gate we entered. We musst go now.”
Nykos gave an affirmative signal, rubbed his cheek against Tyr’s, then took his mate’s hand and led him toward the back of the building. Kayluth had a tarran to wonder how Nykos knew his way around so well. Perhaps Hazer had had the foresight to ask Nykos to learn the layout… just in case. If so, it had been an excellent idea. They followed the youngest members of their tiny pod to a slim doorway, easily wide enough for the Volé humans but would be a tight fit width-wise for Hazer, and Kayluth would need to duck his head to avoid the short lintel.
“The gate is to the right,” Nykos pointed as he spoke, “but it’s also behind us.” He angled his hands in such a way that Kayluth understood that they would need to circle the building and cut on a diagonal. “There are at least two ships currently being repaired that we’ll need to go around. Father, get these chains off my mate and then check the window.”
Hazer moved silently, first to Tyr, then to the tiny square pane of glass and peered out. “I don’t see anyone moving.”
Kayluth smiled to see Nykos cupped Tyr’s cheek a tarran before nudging him away from the door and sliding it open a few inches.
“Still nothing,” Hazer said.
Slowly and quietly, Nykos eased the door fully open and slipped outside. Kayluth took Nykos’ spot by the door, keeping Tyr from going next with a shake of his head. “>”
Tyr straightened, stared directly at Kayluth, and without breaking eye contact said, “>”
Kayluth studied Tyr, seeing the drakeen bloom into adulthood before his eyes. He gave a curt nod before he leaned out to see where Nykos stood. Nykos waved him on, then sped across an open walkway to take cover on the far side. Kayluth ducked to avoid both being possibly seen and hitting his head on the doorway, quickly shuffled outside, and followed. One by one, they zipped from the shed to a stack of barrels, then into the shadow of a ramp. The farther away from Hazer’s ship, the more activity they encountered, giving them greater protection. Kayluth hoped Tore wasn’t stupid enough to have his men open fire with all these people around.
Zzzat.Kayluth pressed himself against the closet wall, as a chorus of shouting and screams filled the air.Stupid, it is.
“How much farther?” he spat at Nykos.
“Too far. They are between us and the gate.”
“Drek!” he cursed. They all did in their own way… a hiss of Drakken, the bark of the Fenrir. His skin itched, his inner drakken wanting out, but there wasn’t enough room.Sundrake!Kayluth shouted through their bond, hoping and praying his sobroke heard him.We need you.
Brandt
“Manning,” Brandt shouted into the mic held by Sekvyn, “it worked. He heard me.”
He tucked his ear next to Sekvyn’s to hear his husband’s reply. “Good. Wait for him, but be ready. You can feel how anxious he is, too, right? Hold on.” Manning paused, and Brandt could hear the muffled sound of someone else speaking. “Ivar confirmed phaser fire on the northwest side of the dock. He’s trying to get a visual, but all the cameras in that area are off-line. Svandis wants to send the Drakken guards… in flight.”
Brandt sucked in a sharp breath. “Let me ask Orm.” Brandt looked around for Orm, finding him pacing and muttering, his green stone-studded braids bouncing wildly. Instead of calling out for the Drakken, he hustled over and stood in his path. Orm stopped short and stared at him, brow furrowed quizzically.
“How do you feel about flying?”
Orm’s eyes widened then narrowed. “I could do that.”
Brandt chuckled. “I know you can, but do you think it’s a good idea? Svandis wants to send a unit over.”
The scowl Orm wore morphed to a slightly feral grin. “Vidarina Ssvandiss iz a ssmart Drakken. I sshould have thought of it.”
“You’re worried about your best friend. I’m worried about my husband. Neither of us are thinking clearly. If you agree, I’ll let her know.”
“I do.”
Brandt motioned an affirmative to Sekvyn who quickly spoke into the mic. “Will you join them?”
Orm rubbed his hands together and glanced around. Brandt followed his gaze, taking in their small rescue team. It was only the eight of them and Einar, the gate guard. Einar’s slumped shoulders and obvious anxiety drew a frown to Brandt’s lips. He’d barely paid attention to Einar’s description of Kayluth’s passing once he’d mentioned the discrete hand signal. Something about it being the Drakken’s first day manning the gates. It wasn’t really as much of a guard position as it was someone keeping an eye out and reporting them to the local authorities, if need be. He’d been assigned to work the gate when their regular Volé employee had called out sick…
Oh, Hel… It must have been either Pavel or Laz.
“Einar,” Brandt called out, swiftly striding toward the Drakken.
Einar’s head popped up first, then he leapt off the stool to stand at attention. “Vidar.” He bowed low, then lower, kneeling and kowtowing.
“Gods,” he muttered before raising his voice. “Okay, thanks but please get up.” Brandt hated when the Drakken affected subservience. Knowing how majestic they were in their drakken form, it didn’t feel right for them to grovel before anyone. Plus, he wasn’t anybody. Okay, he was the son of a councilman and the bodyguard of the prince, but if he hadn’t fallen in love—or he should amend that to if Kayluth and Manning hadn’t fallen in love with him—he’d still wouldn’t have any significant rank. He waited for Einar to stand and assume a military stance of attention.
