Page 31 of Delinquent Dette
“To punish you?” Frikka snorted.
“Because you were the last battle. With our pups, the raids ended. The clans have found peace. Listen, Dette. So many others have chosen their mates—all because we chose one another.” Sten earned himself another kiss and hum of pleasure.
“And what of your dreams of eating at Nidhogg’s table?” Frikka stuck his tongue out.
Sten reached over Frikka’s hips, large palms spreading thick, strong fingers as they gripped onto his ass. “Is that what we’re calling your rump, my Dette? If so, I already feast at Nidhogg’s table often.”
Sweaty from fucking and running, Frikka wouldn’t let Sten feast atNidhogg’s tableat that moment, but many nights would yield plentiful ale, charred meat, and a feast amid gold and treasure in a perfect nest.
Chapter Seventeen
Sten
Spring
Pups played amid the backyard, dipping into the fountains, more colors of clans than Sten could rightly plot—copper, white, gold, black, green, red, and blue. A deeply red Drake with black edges to his scales watched nearby, his chest puffed as they played. One of Zane’s mates.
“Ruben, how fares the pups?” The Zmei dragon snorted a lick of fire.
Frikka had been confined to his nest for the morning, his heat not quite settling in. He would be ready in hours for Sten, but rest was key for a Dette, especially when given the amount of nestblossom oil that the doctor had permitted. Frikka was ready to try for another clutch. He wanted to move on.
And so did Sten.
A certain kind of guilt lay heavy in his belly as he thought back to the trees lining our old backyard. They stood tall, a feature of the new garden they put in as they built the omega facility there. The rehabilitation of the wild ones would take time, but they had so many resources.
They are well. Are you heading into your nest?Ruben nudged a pup with his tail to stop him from digging and offered Sten a nod.
“Not until another dragon shows up to help. I don’t want to leave you alone with this many rascals.” Sten offered a broad smile as he counted heads. They had seven pups in their care, ones that played well together while their parents were enjoying their heat.
They’d never had so many young at once that it necessitated schedules and rotation.
You did say Sile was on his way and Shui is resting. Is Gabriel still incapacitated?
“No, but Sacha needs a night off. Gabriel is a hard nester.” Sten shuddered. Frikka could be demanding, but he paced himself well. Some Dettes, though… Sten couldn’t imagine it.
It is what they say. The madder the Dette, the easier the heat.
Sten never thought of it that way, but did so, lips pursed. Gabriel was a fairly subdued and calm Dette on a whole. But then there was… “Ryan…”
Ruben shook his head and snorted smoke.The most calm and peaceful Dette I’ve ever seen.
Zane, his mate, was a mix of both. With three mates of his own, the Dette kept them busy. “Speaking of Dettes gone mad. How is Zane?”
Ruben chuckled, the noise thick and chugging in his draconic throat.Zane is a mix of both. He is like the sea. Calm until there is a storm.
“And that means?” Sten raised a brow.
Had there been four of us, it still might not have been enough this year. Thank the stars for nestblossoms.Ruben stretched a little and leaned down to nudge two pups wrestling a little too hard.
“Trying for more pups this year?” Sten asked as if it’d ever not been an option. Birth control had never been considered for Dettes, as clutches were so infrequent. It was abstinence or try.
We aren’t trying just yet, but he wants to. Zane is the pride of his family line since he’s had the only clutch in a hundred years.Ruben snorted happily.
A little crimson dragon, his Drake son, perked up at the mention of Zane.Papa?
Ruben gave him a lick.Papa later. We’re playing, now. He needs rest.
Their child went back to frolicking, and Sten turned at the chime of his doorbell.
