Page 19 of Drakken Star
Bjorn tapped his thumb on the table. “Hm. There are too many holes he can slip through. They may have already done so.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Ivar grimaced. “I don’t want any of you to walk alone, and I’ll be assigning additional security to accompany you at all times immediately following this meeting.”
Manning glanced around the table. Grim expressions all round, except… He studied Tyr at the far end of the table, sitting beside their mother. She had leaned away from him, whispering in a tiny huddle with her sobroke. Svandis, Father Mak, and Father Kel loosely touched, their hands forming a pile on the table between them. Tyr’s gaze remained riveted on Bjorn, his normally pale features gone whiter, and…Is he shaking?
Pushing from his chair, Manning circled the table to kneel beside his brother. He gripped Tyr’s thigh, knowing the scary thoughts circling Tyr’s mind because he had the same. “He’ll be fine.”
Tyr glanced at him a tarran before looking at the vid which had returned to the image of Tore and Hazer. “I do not believe you.” Slowly, Tyr gazed around the table, and though Manning didn’t look, he could sense the quiet introspection they all had and knew his mates watched him. “I, who grew up in a loving home, having never known the horrorss of the Fenrir, fear for you.” His intense gaze shifted again to Manning. “I fear for you and Bjorn. I fear for your ssobroke, and I fear for mysself.”
Tyr crumpled, his voice breaking, barely a whisper. “Will I losse him before I even had him?”
A heavy hand landed on Manning’s shoulder. “Let me through.”
Manning scrambled away, allowing Bjorn to take his place. Bjorn gathered Tyr into his arms, dragged him out of the chair, and onto his lap. Kayluth helped Manning stand, hugged him, then guided him to where Brandt waited silently.
“I will not let that happen,” Orm said vehemently.
Kayluth sighed. “I know you will try, but Tore hass already proven how ssneaky he iz.”
Orm harrumphed, which made Manning’s lips quirk at the corners. A grumpy Orm was sort of cute. Kay was right. Orm and Seraphina would try. Sekvyn and Nik would try. They all would, but their best safeguards might be taken down by an insider. And not just Tore. Manning’s father still remained under house arrest in his corner of the castle. He and Tore might have other sycophants they were unaware of.
“I am fine.”
Tyr’s outburst caught everyone’s attention, and Manning and his mates turned to watch his half-brothers.
“You’re not.” Bjorn held Tyr’s sleeve, preventing him from leaving. “Look,” he hissed, “you can’t run off, thinking you can take on Tore and Hazer by yourself. Remember what he did to our brother? Do you want the same or worse to happen to you? I know I don’t. I care about you too much to see you get hurt or worse.”
Tyr stopped struggling. His expression softened, and he shuffled closer to Bjorn. “You do?”
Bjorn tugged on Tyr’s braids, then cupped his cheek. “I do. I’m sorry I’ve been distant. I wasn’t sure… that you… I mean we’re…”
Manning grinned at Bjorn’s awkwardness. He leaned against Kayluth, and his mate slung an arm around his waist, holding him in place. Brandt snickered under his breath as he, too, slid closer to Kay, bracketing Manning between their hard bodies.
Bjorn glanced around in the near-silent room and froze. He released Tyr’s sleeve, stepped away, and then turned and fled from the conference room. Tyr’s lips pinched and a wave of anger passed over his features before he drew in a long, slow breath. His cheeks flushed with what Manning assumed was embarrassment, but Tyr pushed his shoulders back, affecting defiance and confidence.
“I will talk to him,” Kayluth said, patting Manning’s hip.
“You’re sure it shouldn’t be me?” Manning asked, holding Kay back when he took a step toward Tyr.
“Ssu. He needss one of hiss own. One who undersstandss him.” Kayluth quirked an eyebrow as he stared at Manning
Manning frowned but nodded. “Come find us when you are done speaking with him. We need to discuss our safety measures.”
“Of coursse, my ssobroke.” Kayluth gave swift kisses to Manning and Brandt, then moved to Tyr’s side.
They spoke in rapid Drakken until Tyr acquiesced with a stiff nod to whatever Kay asked and, together, they exited the room.
“I hope Tyr isn’t too upset with Bjorn,” Brandt said, slipping his hand into Manning’s. “Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed him yesterday.”
Manning shook his head as they leaned against each other. “I did, too. They’re sobroke. I think Tyr scared Bjorn when he…”
“Yeh,” Brandt sighed. “I think you’re right.” They stood in silence another tarran before Brandt shuddered and straightened. “Not to worry, my Vidar, we’ll see them mated soon enough.”
“To Odin’s ears,” Manning murmured. “Let it be so.”
Brandt
Brandt silently added his own prayer to that of his husband’s. Tyr’s outburst and crying jag had startled Bjorn, maybe even frightened him a little, and Brandt knew exactly how that felt. He’d lived through it. Twice. Yeh, both times Manning returned to him, but Brandt wasn’t sure how his heart would hold up if a third time should come to pass.
