Kayluth curled a hand around Tyr’s ear, noting the faint sheen of forming scales along his neck and shoulder, and leaned closer. “Behind you there iz an area that sshould be big enough for you to sshift. Remove your belt and anything consstricting. Your clothess will sshred eassily.”
Tyr scrambled to obey. Assisted by Nykos, he dropped his belt and haphazardly kicked off his boots. As soon as Kayluth felt Tyr had removed enough clothing and accessories, he shoved the younger Drakken in the right direction. Tyr stumbled into the open space, his shift already starting.
Kayluth peeked skyward in time to see Orm and Usan swoop low, blowing a blaze of fire at the traitors. There were shouts of anger and frustration but no screams of pain, meaning they’d scared the targets but missed hitting them. By the time he looked back at Tyr, the male had fully shifted into his gold-streaked, light blue drakken form. Tyr hopped from right foot to left, his wings outstretched and flapping. Kayluth grinned to see the drakeen settling into his form, something he remembered he used to do, too, if he didn’t shift often enough.
Heat sizzled by Kayluth’s elbow, the near blast catching him off-guard. He lunged for the safety of the building they huddled behind, pressing his body to the wall. Tyr roared, knocking aside crates and barrels as he half-strode, half-flew to reach them. He carefully took Nykos within his clawed grasp, then covered them all with his wings, effectively blocking Kayluth’s view.
Heart pounding, Kayluth pushed his way free, unwilling to let others save him without aiding himself. Plus, he wanted to watch for Sundrake’s arrival. Tyr hissed at him to stop being foolish, but he needed to see. He darted past Tyr’s reach.
Small fires burned, started either by Drakken flame or laser blast. Crates and barrels lay overturned, their contents spilled, creating more hazards to those running, both friend and foe. Everywhere Kayluth looked, scorch marks blackened the ground, ships, and buildings. Several males sprawled unconscious, maybe even dead, on the ground.
Kayluth stood in frozen shock, peering around the edge of the building, unable to look away from the horror created by Tore. How could one man—No.He growled.How could one incarcerated king and one exiled prince cause so much trouble?Of course, they had help. Kayluth knew it wasn’t just two humans alone. Their fear of the Drakken Triumvirate stealing their throne had led to present circumstances. Their rationale was absurd. Instead of forging an alliance and maintaining their peerage, now father and son would rot in a dark dungeon of their own making.
The low rumble of an engine broke through his dismal musings. A line of military transports pulled in beside them at an angle, giving them a measure of protection from Tore and his minions. The rear door shot open and Sundrake almost tumbled out in his haste. Kayluth met him halfway, hugging his sobroke tight enough Sundrake grunted.
“Tak-kou.” Kayluth buried his face in the junction of Sundrake’s neck and shoulder, feeling his sobroke’s love for him through their bond like a shining beacon, like a ray of the sunshine Kayluth had named him for. It was a little awkward with their height difference, but he didn’t care. It would be a long while before he let his mates out of his sight for any length of time, and he was certain they felt the same pull to unite.
“You don’t have to thank me. You know I’d do anything for you and Manning.” Sundrake’s voice was equally muffled as he pressed closer.
Kayluth couldn’t love his fierce protector any more than he did at that tarran. Just as he leaned back to kiss Sundrake again, a huge explosion rocked them. Kayluth’s heart raced as he shoved Sundrake to the ground and covered his mate, using his own body as protection. He pushed forth his scales to shield his skin, holding back a full shift by the barest of margins. Drakken, even in bipedal form, could handle more damage than human flesh and bones.
“Let me up, Kay. I’ve got to fight.” Though Sundrake fought to get clear of him, Kayluth kept him down easily.
“No,” he growled, staring into and holding Sundrake’s gaze. “Sssafe here.”
Roars filled the sky. Heat seared the air. Kayluth lifted Sundrake and carried him to shelter behind the transport vehicles.
“Surrender!” Ivar shouted.
“Never!” came Tore’s faint reply.
“I have to stop him,” Sundrake groaned, pushing at Kayluth’s chest.
Kayluth eased his grip on Sundrake but kept hold of his mate’s arm. “I,Ssundrake? No,youmusst not. Ssee the drakken above you. They will sstop Tore.”
Sundrake glanced skyward a tarran, then peered over the transport at the makeshift battlefield. He shook his head and pointed. “Look where he is. He’s hiding inside the ship. The drakken can’t reach him there. I can.”
Kayluth wanted to shake sense into his sobroke, but with his emotions riding high, he feared his own strength. “Pleasse. Let otherss do thiss. We musst remain ssafe for Moondrake, Reykoss, and Raissa.”
Brandt
Brandt growled as he lightly punched Kayluth. “Fine, but damn you for reminding me.” He hugged Kayluth quickly then leaned back and called for Ivar and Sekvyn. Brandt pointed out Tore’s location to them and how, even though Tore was more or less trapped inside the entrance to the ship he was hiding in, he was protected from the flying, fire-breathing drakken. Ivar and Sekvyn agreed with his assessment and the three quickly devised a plan.
“But how do we let them know?” Sekvyn asked, to which Brandt smirked.
“Kayluth will tell them.”
“What?” Kayluth turned to them. “I wass keeping an eye on Tore while you sspoke.”
“Good thinking. We have a plan,” Brandt said as he stepped up to Kayluth and laid his palms on his husband’s broad chest. He tipped his head back and studied the circling drakken. “But we need their help.”
Kayluth loosely grasped Brandt’s waist. “I can help. Tell me what you need, and I will communicate with Orm.”
“There’s at least six of Tore’s men, plus him, still out there that we can see. Look.” Brandt showed Kayluth the four areas where the traitors hid. “We want to flush them out and separate them, meanwhile, we need to distract Tore so he doesn’t see what’s happening. I’m hoping our Drakken can help with a little distraction and a lot of firepower.” Brandt hoped that his taking ownership of the Drakken wouldn’t backfire.
Kayluth’s expression softened, and Brandt instinctively knew he shouldn’t have worried. “OurDrakken will help.” He pecked Brandt on the lips before closing his eyes and bowing his head. Kay whispered under his breath in a series of clicks and hisses.
Brandt assumed Kayluth was relaying instructions, and it must have been easier for his mate to “speak aloud” while transmitting what they needed mind-to-mind. After a few tarrans, high in the sky, a resounding roar spilled forth from the circling drakken. All eyes lifted to watch the colorful yet loud display, which was exactly as Brandt hoped.
