Page 48 of Delinquent Dette
Ryan laid a hand on Frikka’s shoulder, his deeply reddish-brown skin sun warmed and gleaming. “How are you, Frikka?”
“Good. Always good these days.” Frikka laughed.
“Good to hear. You know what I want to talk to you about?” Ryan elbowed him and Frikka gave him his full attention.
“The Dette council?”
“Absolutely.” Ryan grinned.
“I’ll pass. Maybe someday. I’m happy to run some errands, help save some Dettes, and be there, but I’m no better than the broken Drakes. I am prejudiced.” Frikka stared at his Drake father, the happiness he held muting a little.
“Worth a try.” Ryan shrugged and leaned back. “Hallr was on his way last I heard. He’s got the Slang dignitaries with him.”
“Political.” Frikka snorted.
As stated, Hallr rolled in a few minutes later, folder in one hand, phone in the other as two Slang Drakes followed him.
Jasper rose from his seat and strode across the garden, arms crossed. Hallr handed Jasper one of two folders in his hand. “These are the results. The pups are all from one father.”
Hallr gestured toward the two Drakes. “This is Josef and Adrian. Josef is the clan head for Saxony. And this is his son, Adrian—the father of those three pups.”
Adrian, for his part, stared out at the pups indifferently, arms crossed as his father took a deep breath. “I’ve only just come to find out a week ago that my son gallivanted off with a Dette he had no business being around and ran a heat with them.”
“The Dette was from a copper rank family, first heat, hadn’t finished his schooling. Adrian was the same age as him and kids do stupid shit.” Hallr stared at the young Drake with utter disappointment.
“He wasn’t from a high family. I do not understand why this is a big deal.” Adrian gestured out. “They’ve adopted the pups. All is well.”
“There’s a dead Dette on your hands, boy. Why did he feel the need to run away after you knocked him up?” Frikka picked at his teeth as he cut his gaze toward the brazen Drakeling.
“He said he did not have his blanks, and the pups were my responsibility. I told him it was his duty totake care of them. Obviously, he did not.” Adrian winced when his father smacked him across the back of his head, sending chestnut curls astray.
“That is a Dette that I had to pay his family for. Hedied. Whether hetook careof the eggs or not wouldn’t have changed that. Those pups are your responsibility,son. Those are my grandchildren.” Josef seethed, and the boy rolled his eyes.
“You’ve only been so caring aboutthe Dettessince Uncle Florentin—” He made a rude gesture, pantomiming strangulation.
Oh right. The toaster…Frikka bit back a laugh but kept his face neutral. “He only did that after he got caught molesting his own son in the same way you got caught with a clutch. Is that a family habit of yours, sending innocent Dettes to the wastes for getting inconveniently gravid?”
Both Adrian and Josef had the good sense to look ashamed.
“What do you want me to do? Raise them? I’ll hire a nanny and—” Adrian waved his hand in defeat.
“No. Those pups have been adopted by Jasper Nielsen. They will be raised in the new world under new law. But you will provide for them,” Josef said. His breath came out in a low hiss as he reached forward to grab his son by the shoulder, squeezing far too tightly. “You’re twenty-three, are you not?”
Adrian nodded jerkily.
“Good. That means I still have control of your finances. We’re going to build three nice little hoards. High copper—” Josef started, but Adrian nearly shrieked in protest.
“Silver, then. Three silver fortunes. And for the next twenty-five years, you will give 30 percent of every penny you earn to their hoards.” Josef gripped the boy’s shoulder harder. “You have shamed me. Had you only told me what you’d done, we could have seen to the Dette, had them cared for, the pups done well by, and you would have remained respected.”
“Father!” Adrian’s voice cracked.
“Back to my car. Now. Not even the good sense to look at your own pups. See that little Drake there? On Frikka’s shoulder?” Josef gestured and Petre lifted his head, tilted it, and chirped. “That is your firstborn Drake son. That should be an heir to our family.”
“Then make him an heir! I didn’t ask for a clutch.” Adrian stormed off, doing as he was told.
Josef gave a swift bow of apology. “He doesn’t realize it yet, but he will be standing trial for the accidental slaughter of a Dette by negligence and will forfeit his status as my firstborn Drake son—heir to my status.”
Jasper and Frikka nodded sharply, but it was Jasper that spoke. “Have you any desire to see your grandchildren? Do you wish to know them?”
