Brandt returned the kiss, cupping the side of Manning’s head as he deepened it. He licked at Manning’s lips and tangled their tongues for a long tarran.
“Okay, okay,” Bjorn groaned. “Quit it with the mouth-to-mouth. I’ll give him a chance.”
Manning grinned at Bjorn. “That’s all we ask, brother mine. Now, I’m with Brandt, I want cake.” He placed one final kiss to the back of Brandt’s hand, then without letting go, led him from the treasury.
Chapter Two
Kayluth
Moondrake’s arrival was met with cheers, hugs, kisses, and nose-rubs. Kayluth let everyone greet Moondrake, Sundrake, and Bjorn before he pulled both his sobroke into his arms and kissed them hello.
“You have been gone for arnss. Did you have a good time?” Kayluth asked, glancing between his mates.
Moondrake nodded. “It was fun for the most part. The merchants will be delivering our orders later today. We got some surprises for Reykos and Raisa.”
Kayluth blinked coyly at him. “Nothing for me?” He wouldn’t say it aloud, but he loved presents. Maybe more than their children.
“I think someone already got a present.” Sundrake lightly touched the gifted hairpiece. “It’s pretty. I like your hair pulled back like this.”
Kayluth preened with the compliment. “Ssvvandiss gave uss each one. Raissa’ss hass gemsstoness.”
“Someone sounds jealous,” Moondrake teased, caressing Kayluth’s jaw. “Don’t be. You’re the prettiest one of us three.”
Kayluth wrinkled his nose and quickly bit his lower lip before smoothing his appearance. He’d deal with the compliments later. Much later. In the privacy of their bedroom. Kayluth cleared his throat as he straightened his tunic, willing his cock to soften. Moondrake’s chuckles at his discomfort weren’t helping. “Sstop,” he whispered, without an ounce of heat in his demand.
“For now,” Moondrake countered. “We’ll take this up later, hm?”
Moondrake’s stare promised an evening to remember, and Kayluth shivered. “I hope sso.”
“Papa-moon, Papa-moon.” Raisa tugged on Moondrake’s arm.
Moondrake swept her up and planted her on his hip. He rubbed his nose against hers then kissed her cheek. “Ssu, ssu, what’s the to-do?”
“Happy birthday!” Raisa shouted and hugged his neck. She then leaned towards Kayluth, tipping precariously from Moondrake’s arms, and Kayluth grabbed her to keep her from toppling.
“Ssilly drakeen,” he murmured against her braids, carefully avoiding the hairpin’s placement.
“Yeh,” she said. Kayluth laughed at her choice of words. His children were a delightful mix of human and Drakken. It certainly kept him on his toes.
Raisa patted his cheeks. “Iz it time for cake? I’m hungry for ssweetss.”
“Of course you are,” Sundrake said, holding Reykos’ hand. Their son hugged Moondrake’s leg, leaning his head against his papa’s hip.
Moondrake squatted to speak with Reykos. “I like it.” He pushed several of Reykos’ braids away from his son’s face. “No, it doesn’t.” The one-sided conversation Kayluth could hear had him curious. Reykos’ ability to still speak into Moondrake’s mind even when human indicated not just how strong their father-and-son bond was, but how strong a telepath Reykos was in general. Most Drakken could only speak to each other when in drakken form, that Reykos could do it anytime made him exceedingly rare.
“I’ll take it out if you want, but look.” Moondrake pointed at Kayluth. “Father Kay has one, and he looks amazing.” Moondrake giggled. “Well, yeh, but that’s beside the point.”
“Fine,” Reykos grumbled, but Kayluth detected a hint of satisfaction in his son in continuing to wear the beautiful hairpin. Reykos hadn’t wanted to take it out, but he’d somehow decided that maybe males shouldn’t want to wear pretty things. Had someone said something to him? Kayluth would have to have a discussion with him about that, especially since he, himself, enjoyed wearing beautiful clothing, though he usually kept such pretty things hidden under his more mundane tunics, pants, and boots.
Kayluth glanced around the room but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Father Ly had dressed with his typical flair and had even added several red and gold ear cuffs to his ensemble. Mak, Kel, and Father Tai were more conservatively dressed, though Kel’s vibrant green tunic with gold trim was stunning. The soldiers wore their drab uniforms, and Moondrake and Sundrake’s tunics were fairly plain, too. Tyr’s outfit stood out the most. An eye-catching shade of shimmering blue, offset with a muted gold pair of pants, and thigh-high shiny black boots. His braids were pulled back and tied with blue and gold ribbon, the curled extra length hanging halfway down his back.
Kayluth stopped in surprise. Bjorn stood beside Tyr, speaking quietly to him. Bjorn, who typically ignored Tyr, treating the younger drakken no better than an annoying little brother, which in some respects Tyr was. Kayluth knew better though. They were mates, but their age difference worked against them, as did their initial meeting when Tyr had disrespected Moondrake in front of Bjorn, and Kayluth had put thedrakeenin his place.
“Did ssomething happen while you were out with your brother?” Kayluth asked, wiggling a finger in Tyr and Bjorn’s direction.
Sundrake grimaced and wobbled his head. “Not necessarily something, but we did have a discussion.”
Moondrake snorted. “Discussion, my butt. You all but jumped down his throat.”
