Page 6 of Drakken Star
“Well, he was being thick-headed. Even I can see Tyr is trying. I forgave him ages ago. Bjorn needs to do the same.”
Kayluth hummed, running his palm down Sundrake’s back to calm his sobroke. His mate blew out a sharp breath and relaxed into Kayluth’s touch, sidling closer to lean against him. Kayluth held Sundrake tight to his body, letting his mate settle.
So Sundrake has finally confronted Bjorn regarding Tyr. Good.The issue had been nagging at his mate for some time. Tyr was almost ready to assume the mantle of King’s Consort, or at the very least, King’s Advisor. He still had time while his parents remained on Volé for them to advise him should he need it. Kayluth doubted the young Drakken would, however. Ssu, he needed to learn more history and diplomacy, but whenever Tyr had joined Svandis for her meetings, he possessed a keen eye for seeing beneath the surface of what was and wasn’t said. Kayluth suspected Tyr might have some empathic abilities which could be honed. They’d make Bjorn even more formidable in negotiations.
“It sseemss, my love, that your wordss have finally hit the mark.” Kayluth kissed Sundrake’s temple.
“It’s about time,” Sundrake grumbled.
“Agreed.” Moondrake caressed Kayluth’s bicep. “Give me my girl, so we can get cake.” He plucked Raisa from Kayluth’s hold. “Hold onto my belt, Reykos. We’re going in!” Moondrake imitated battle fire as he headed straight for the table overflowing with food and desserts, including a huge double-layer cake. The children added their own sound effects for good measure.
They gathered around the table, clapping, cheering, and calling out well-wishes. Moondrake cut the cake and handed out pieces, giving Raisa and Reykos the first ones. After he plated a huge slice for himself, he gave the cake knife to Lian to finish.
Manning
“Gods, this is good,” Manning mumbly moaned, letting the cake melt on his tongue.
Svandis approached the little circle of Manning’s immediate family. She leaned in and brushed her cheek against his. “Happy birthday.” She frowned. “Did I get that right?”
Manning grinned at her. “You did. Tak-kou, and tak-kou for the hairpins. They’re beautiful.”
She smiled back at him. “I hope you like our pressentss for you, too.”
“Presents?” Manning blinked at her. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
Svandis flicked her hand, brushing aside his comment. Quietly, she said, “I have misssed too many of your hatching sselabrationss. You musst allow me to sspoil you thiss time.”
“If you insist… I’m not going to turn down presents.”
“Exsselent.” She motioned to her sobroke who joined them with several gold foil-wrapped packages. “Let uss ssit.”
As soon as Raisa saw the gifts, she was off Brandt’s lap and by Manning’s side. “May I help, Papa?
Manning tucked her closer to his hip as he glanced up at Svandis.
His mother nodded, her eyes bright as she watched Raisa. “Reykoss, too. It would be fair, ssu, Raissa?”
Reykos grinned at Svandis from his spot on Kay’s lap. He hopped down and stood opposite his sister. “I bet Tassina got you ssomething awessome, Papa.”
Kayluth giggle-snorted. He slapped his hand over his mouth, his high cheekbones tinting a beautiful pale pink Manning adored. “Ssorry, ssorry,” he mumbled. “I wass not expecting to hear him ssay that.”
Manning winked at his sobroke. “Papa-sun is a bad influence.”
Brandt, of course, faked his outrage, pressing a hand to his chest. “Well, I never!”
Raisa skipped over to him and patted his cheek. “It’ss okay, Papa. We sstill love you.”
Brandt snatched her in a lightly crushing hug, sticking his nose into her neck. Raisa giggled madly and attempted to escape. Manning loved seeing his mates play with their children. His chest tightened at the fleeting thought that they might not have had this if Tore and his father had managed to kill him. Brandt finally let Raisa go, and she hopped back to Manning’s side. He kissed her hair as he tugged her closer.
“Sstart with thiss one, Margarreg.” Svandis said as her sobroke, Kel, passed him a long, floppy gift he suspected was clothing or of cloth-nature.
“Raisa, you want to help me with this one?” Manning asked. His daughter peered between the three gifts, the one in Manning’s lap being the largest. She nodded and reached for the seam in the wrapping. He allowed her to tear the paper into pieces believing she’d be unable to harm the contents. Plus, the joyful expression on her face made him smile. He saved the ribbon and before he even looked at his present, he wound the string like a bracelet on her wrist. Manning complimented her on her outfit and pretty accouterments before finally focusing on the red fabric resting on his legs.
He pinched two corners and lifted, shaking out the cloth to see what it was. A tunic in Kayluth’s colors with delicate gold embroidery around the hem and cuffs. A chorus of gasps sounded beyond his sight, and he quickly dropped the tunic.
“No,” Lian shouted, then lowered her voice, “hold it up, pleasse.” He complied, holding it to the side so he could see his sister-by-marriage’s stunned expression. “It iz…Oh.It iz beautiful, Manning. Ssvandiss, did you…?
Svandis shook her head. “I dessigned it, but I do not have ssuch sskill. I leave that to Father Kel.” She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed the back of it. Kel’s endearing blush and the new knowledge of his needlework skills presented a side of him Manning hadn’t yet known. He really needed to spend more time with his mother and her sobroke.
