Page 8 of Drakken Star
Brandt
Brandt snickered, hiding his smile in Raisa’s hair. Kayluth was always easily pleased by a pretty piece of clothing or jewelry. He wasn’t anything like Svandis, who seemed a more strident Drakken, nor did he hold Father Tailyn’s stoic demeanor. He was instead most similar to hisseeta, his bearer, Father Lyurn. Those two were like peas in a pod, liking bright colors and loving fiercely. Brandt enjoyed that fierce love every night, and it wasn’t always aerobic in nature. There were plenty of nights when their Stardrake would lie in the middle of the bed, his arms around Manning and Brandt, who snuggled on either side of him in the warmth their Drakken exuded.
Hopefully, this night would prove energetic. They needed to celebrate Manning’s birthday in style. Brandt had a few ideas on how to proceed, but he’d defer to Kayluth, who often came up with some interesting ideas of his own for them. The most recent one of tying Brandt to the headboard had garnered a few surprises for all of them, including how dominant his mates could be when given the right circumstances.
Kayluth returned, and Brandt watched him carefully part a section of Manning’s shoulder length hair and plait it. The braided piece hung from his temple, along his cheek, and ended around his jaw. The stone Kayluth had chosen was a brilliant red that perfectly matched the tunic still on Manning’s lap.
“Papa?” Raisa patted Brandt’s arm to get his attention. “Will Papa-moon changenow?”
“Change? What do you mean?” Brandt nuzzled her braids, inhaling her faint vanilla scent. He had to be careful to not breathe it in for too long. Even at only six months, her Drakken tolsu was potent. He’d accidentally succumbed to it a few times, completely unaware when he’d snuggled with her for a nap. The same had happened to Manning with Reykos. Brandt suspected Kayluth had a hand in it, too, when either of them would return from their meetings looking harried. He couldn’t fault his mate; there’d been a time or two after meeting with Ivan and Sekvyn when he’d returned to their quarters fuming. It only took a few minutes of hugging Raisa or Reykos before he calmed and fell asleep. At least he didn’t get aroused from their tolsu like he did with Kayluth’s. That would be embarrassing for everyone.
“Will Papa-moon change into a drakken now? Father ssaid you couldn’t sshift like uss, but now Papa-moon has sstoness. I bet he’ll be beautiful, jusst like Father.”
Brandt lifted Raisa and turned her so she sat facing him. “He would, but even if all our hair was braided and decorated, we still couldn’t become drakken. Papa and I don’t have the ability to shift like you and your brother do.”
Raisa patted Brandt’s short hair. “You don’t have any hair to braid, anyway.”
“This is true.” Brandt pursed his lips and kissed her nose before sliding his cheek against hers. “No dragon-shifting for me.”
“That’ss dissappointing.”
Brandt chuckled at the sentiment, tone, and big words. It stunned him how fast the Drakken grew up. He sought out his sister, Jules, who stood across the room with Nik’s arm around her waist. She leaned against him as they spoke with Sekvyn and Tyr. At seven moons pregnant she was starting to feel the toll on her body and made sure everyone knew it. After his niece or nephew’s birth, they’d still have to wait several sun-cycles before their vocabulary and agility measured up to what Raisa’s and Reykos’ was at a mere six moon-cycles.
Again, Brandt’s gaze slid to his brother-by-marriage. The stones in Tyr’s braids, light blue and gold, told all of his drakken scale coloring, and marked him as the offspring of Svandis’ gold and Makbjorn’s blue. Their sobroke’s, Kel’s, were green, and though his love for Tyr shown through in his interactions, Brandt wondered if it upset him to never have an offspring of his genetics. A green and gold drakken would be stunning.
Brandt noticed Kel’s gaze on him and smiled. “I think I’d like to be a green drakken if I could. It’s my favorite color.”
Raisa studied him, running her little hands across his cheeks and hair. “I agree. It would match your eyess, Papa.”
Chapter Three
Kayluth
Ssu. It most certainly would.Kayluth glanced over at Sundrake and Raisa. She was her papa’s daughter through and through. The bright sparkle in Sundrake’s eyes and the wide grin he bore whenever he saw their children wrapped around Kayluth like a warm blanket. That he gave his sobroke the gift of Reykos and Raisa from his own body… Words couldn’t adequately express how he felt.
Kayluth pressed his lips to Moondrake’s cheek before rising and walking towards Father Ly. Lyurn stood with his back to Kayluth, speaking to both Father Tai and Bjorn. Tai lifted his brow quizzically, a hint of worry in his narrowed gaze, but Kayluth shook his head. He hugged Father Ly from behind.
“>” Father Ly covered Kayluth’s arms with his own and turned his head to rub their cheeks together.
“>”
Lyurn laughed. “>” He turned around and cradled Kayluth’s face in his hands. His soft gaze studied Kayluth for a tarran. “>”
They hugged until Father Tai insisted on a turn. Bjorn bluffed his way into one, too, then pestered Tai and Lyurn into giving him hugs as well.
“Ssu, ssu.” Father Tai patted Bjorn’s shoulder jovially, then gave it a squeeze. “We are impresssed with your ruling sso far. You have done well integrating our Drakken family and brotherss into your human world.”
“I wouldn’t have been successful if it wasn’t for you all, Svandis, Mak, and Kel, and, of course, Manning and Brandt.”
“And Tyr?” Kayluth fished.
Bjorn hummed. He looked towards where Tyr stood speaking with Ivar and Sekvyn. Kayluth glanced between Tyr and Bjorn and caught the subtle softening in Bjorn’s eyes when Lian swept into their group and Ivar pulled her against him. Tyr seemed to force a smile onto his face as he watched the lovebirds. It didn’t escape Kayluth’s notice when Tyr quickly glanced towards Bjorn before schooling his expression.
Kayluth hoped they’d figure out their issues soon. Bjorn could use a solid presence at his side and having a Drakken consort would help the integration of their species.
As Lyurn excused himself to take a closer look at Moondrake’s gifts, Sekvyn broke off from his group and approached Kayluth. “I don’t know if you’ve heard but we had a request for another Drakkenship to land.”
“No, I have not. Who and when?”
