Page 7 of Drakken Star
He spun the tunic and couldn’t stifle his own gasp of surprise. Across the back, stitched in the same gold thread was Kayluth in drakken form, sitting on his haunches, his tail looped twice, mostly hiding two eggs within their coils.
“Papa, it’ss sso pretty,” Raisa said excitedly, leaning hard against his thigh. “It’ss Father and me and Rey.”
“Ssu, it is.” Manning spread the tunic on his lap and, with a careful touch, traced the stitching.
“Papa?” Reykos tapped Manning’s arm.
“Hm?”
“Why are you crying? Are you ssad?”
Manning chuckled thickly, brushing away the tear with the cuff of his sleeve. “No.” He hugged Reykos. “I’m really happy.” Truth be told, he was a little sad, but he wouldn’t tell his son that. He’d missed the birth of the eggs and most of the first fortnight with them when Tore had kidnapped him. Since his return, not a day went by without him hugging or kissing his sobroke and his children.
“I am glad you like it, Margarreg.” Kel beamed at Manning.
“I love it,” —Manning brushed at his cheeks— “though I fear, I may shed a few tears every time I wear it.”
Kel smiled. “That would be the greatesst compliment of all.”
Mak cleared his throat. “I do not believe that mine will produsse ssuch an emotional ressponsse,” he said, holding out a small wrapped box, “but I hope you like it. Your mother wass inssisstent.” He winked at Svandis.
She rolled her eyes at Mak. The casual gesture had Manning laughing, delighted to see his mother’s stiff posture relax among family. He reached for her, and she grabbed his offered hand.
After a brief squeeze, Manning let go and accepted the box from Mak. “Rey, you want to help me open this one?”
“Ssu, Papa.” Reykos plucked the end of the ribbon and pulled, unraveling the ties. “Will you put thiss on me, like Raissa?”
Manning wound the ribbon around Reykos’ wrist, tying it off with a single bow. “Just pull the string if you want it off.” Reykos nodded, staring at the ribbon bracelet, admiring it as he turned his hand. Manning nudged him. “We have more unwrapping to do.”
Reykos grinned, flashing his canines before he reached between Manning’s hands to rip the paper off. “Papa-moon, look!”
Manning switched his focus from his son to his present. Reykos traced the same drakken and eggs image etched on the top of a deeply stained wooden box. A simple metal latch sealed the cover, but with a flick of his fingernail, the top popped open to reveal a set of ear clasps. Manning held one up, discovering that from the clasp hung several thin gold chains, each adorned with gold and crimson stones and gems.
On the clasp itself was another tiny drakken in flight. The detail was exquisite, and Manning looked up at Mak with awe. “I’m stunned. They’re beautiful.”
“I am very happy you like them, and because we misssed your ssobroke’ss sselebration, I have a sset for Bran.” Manning readily accepted a proffered second box, smiling not just at having matching jewelry with his mate, but also at Brandt’s shortened name. The D and hard T of Brandt’s name caused the Drakken issues, so when Kayluth suggested the shortened version, they accepted it quickly.
Manning handed the gift to Brandt, who greedily opened the box, pulled out an earring, and clipped it on.
Raisa scooted around Manning to get to Brandt,oooing andahhing at the new jewelry. She patted her head near the new hair stick. “Now we are both pretty, Papa-ssun.”
“Yes, we are.” Brandt lifted her onto his lap.
“Tak-kou, Vidareem,” Kayluth said, sliding over to be closer to Manning. He lightly ran his forefinger along the edge of the box as he peered inside. “Are thesse extra sstoness?”
“Ssu,” Mak replied, “I overheard you mention a time or two about braiding Margarreg’ss hair.”
Kayluth ducked his head, and Manning chuckled at the bright bloom of color on his sobroke’s cheeks. Kay tipped into Manning, leaning on him a tarran before pressing a kiss to his temple. “Ssay ssu, Moondrake. Pleasse.”
Manning froze, realization dawning that he’d unwittingly been denying Kayluth’s request. When Kay had first captured Manning’s airship,Moondrake, and had taken him as adorogo, one of the first civilized conversations they’d had included Kayluth’s desire to decorate him.
At the time, Manning wanted nothing to do with Kayluth, hating how he had been captured, treated, and denied his freedom. Over the course of a moon cycle that had all changed, not just for him, but also for Brandt, his crew, and eventually all of Volé.
Manning wrapped his fingers around Kayluth’s wrist. He drew Kay’s hand to his mouth and kissed his palm, then turned and kissed Kayluth for real. He held his mate there, ending the kiss but keeping them close together. “Ssu, my drakken of the stars, you may. Would you like to put one in now?”
Kayluth pulled back, wide-eyed. “Very much.”
Manning winked at him. “Go get the brush.” Kayluth was up and gone before Manning had even finished speaking. Manning loved that he could give his Drakken mate this simple thing to make him happy.
