Chapter Fourteen
Teige
The next morning, sometime after breakfast and a morning snuggle, Frikka let himself into the house without announcement.
Teige saw him first, glancing about with feigned interest. After all, it was not too long ago he’d rented the place from them.
Teige had been in the breakfast nook reading on his phone, so Frikka hadn’t gotten far into the house.
“I still have a key.” He dangled a silvery key on his finger with a little twirl before dropping down into a seat across from him. “Keeping it for now so you can call me if anything goes wrong.”
Teige nodded. Frikka having a key wouldn’t have changed much, anyway. The Dette could get into Fort Knox with a paperclip and a condom if he wanted.
Teige took a final sip of his coffee and waved for Frikka to follow him.
They traversed the house to the garage, where the entrance to the cellar lay. They descended the stone steps and made it into their less-than-impressive nest where Viraj lay curled among blankets, Gatlin on his phone nearby.
When they approached the nest, Gatlin shook Viraj awake, smiling as their mate sat up with a soft smile and a stretch. “Morning, Frikka.”
“Good morning, Dette! How do you feel?” Frikka sidled down next to him, his posture graceful and intentional. In peaceful moments like those, it was easy to remember he was a jarl’s son, a thoroughbred Dette from a powerful family. Easy to forget he was a menace to society and a killer of Drakes.
“I should say I feel terrible, tired, achy, miserable.” Viraj broke off with a yawn and stretched. “But a part of me is so happy. I can’t imagine what life will be like with pups.”
Frikka scooted closer, totally unfazed by being in another Dette’s nest.
Something unspoken passed between them as Frikka reached out and Viraj lifted his long shirt. Careful hands, slender and elegant, cupped the sides of Viraj’s belly, spanned the surface, fingertips prodding ever so gently.
“Kinda tingles.” Viraj laughed. “And all Dettes can do this?”
Frikka shook his head. “Not you. Your magic isn’t like a Dette’s. Not a Drake’s either. But maybe half of all Dettes. It depends on their upbringing.”
“I never knew Dettes had special magic.” Viraj watched Frikka carefully.
“When a Dette experiences enough pain… Their magic changes.” He offered a wan smile.
They quieted, and as much as Teige wanted to say something, the words turned to ash in his mouth, as it was not his place. This was something for Dettes. Something a Drake needed to keep his nose out of.
“So when Dettes don’t suffer, they get weaker?” Gaspard spoke the words Teige didn’t think to ask.
“When Dettes don’t suffer, their magic becomes something glorious.
They spread life and love. Bastien has a perfect balance of suffering and joy, and because of it, he can heal and sense.
I can heal a little, but ultimately, Bastien will far outpace me.
” Frikka moved his hands from one spot to the other. “Onto your side, please.”
Viraj obeyed, laying out and moving to his side. His belly seemed softer at that angle, and Frikka explored the shape, fingertips tracing the shape and over his hip and up his side. “One, two, three…” He counted under his breath.
Gaspard and Teige seemed to stop breathing as one, their bond humming with anxiety. However many pups Frikka declared would be the number of little hoards they had to save for.
If all went well.
If.
“Eight…” Frikka moved his hands and pressed in gently before leaning closer, turning an ear toward Viraj’s stomach. “Nine. Definitely nine.”
Frikka moved his hands down, fingers exploring. “Two blanks to start in your tract, and another somewhere after the sixth egg.”
Frikka continued to explore. “Noticing some swelling in your tract. You’re growing too fast for a Dette your age whose never had a cycle before.”
Viraj flinched, and Frikka had him roll onto his back, then other side. “Fish only for the rest of your gestation. Salmon is best. Lots of ginger and turmeric. Carrots. Lentils. I suppose Indian food would be fantastic for you if you like it.”
“Absolutely loves anything that would burn my mouth like fire.” Teige already had plans to call Ryan to ask for one of the Hijada to come assist them. They would cook more authentically to what Viraj missed.
“Nine…” Viraj breathed the word in disbelief.
“Nine eggs, six blanks. I think you’re in for it. Keep the sex gentle.” Frikka hummed as he studied Viraj’s skin.
“I have no clue what to do.” Viraj spoke those hollow words as Frikka laughed.
“Neither did I my first clutch. My dragon knew what to do. Sten figured it out.” Frikka smiled as if recalling something great. “Ashes and Smoke are growing up nicely. I’ve perfected it, by now.”
The two, beyond all logic, were the most well-behaved pups anyone had ever witnessed, from what he’d heard.
“Now, Leo and Hallr were clueless.” Frikka smiled to himself as he pulled his hands back and neatly tucked Viraj’s shirt down.
“They seem like they’re doing well enough?” Viraj sat up and rubbed at his head.
“Cinder.” Frikka smirked as Viraj’s eyes widened.
“I believe good things will come to that child.” Gatlin laughed. “He’s sweet, but spirited. There will be a timid little Drake somewhere that will get the balls to go toe to toe with him one day and earn his mark. If a happy Dette makes different magic, that child will be powerful in a new way.”
Frikka nodded. “I’ll report my findings to Gaspard and go enjoy my new pet goat.”
“That was for a snack…” Gatlin pursed his lips.
“Yes, I was going to eat him, and then he headbutted Sile and challenged him. Either he’s brave enough to respect or so stupid that it might be contagious if I eat him.” Frikka dusted his hands up and stood. “Bed rest. And be so very gentle with him until time.”
They nodded one by one, and Frikka escorted himself out.
“We’ll touch base with everyone, stay a few days, and head on home.” Gatlin nudged Viraj with his leg, and the grin stuck on his face was too beautiful to look away from. And even more beautiful when it spread to Viraj.
A long moment passed.
“Wait, nine pups?” As if it just hit him, Gatlin paled. “Cac!”
Teige nodded. “Déithe ár sábháil.”
“Gods help us, indeed.” Viraj flopped over and stared blank-faced at a wall.