So, when his phone rang, he answered it, not recognizing the number. “Hello?”
“This is Frikka Nielsen,” a whisper of a voice on the other end spoke, none of the Nord’s usual Viking boldness in his tones. “I spoke to your mate. You’re good, Drakes. I heard his phone battery beeping when he called me earlier. Go get him. Sounded like he was in a cave.”
The mines. As usual.Teige gave a prim thanks, ready to say goodbye when Frikka spoke once more.
“Go put some pups on that one. Do us all a favor. Now, if you’ll kindly piss off, I have a few days of heat left.” And he hung up.
Gatlin rushed to the doorway, eyes wide. “Viraj called and it cut off and now it’s going to voicemail.”
Teige held his phone up. “He’s in the mines and his battery went dead. He’d been talking to Frikka Nielsen.”
Gatlin gave a stilted nod. “That Dette is a fecking puca, I swear on my pa.”
Teige frowned. “I’ll leave the puca an offering before we head out to get Viraj. One doesn’t take their tricks lightly.”
Gatlin’s brow furrowed. “You gonna go bake a loaf tae leave out? A raw arse potato?”
Teige thumbed through his index and called one of the local dragons he knew, one who didn’t have a Dette to appease. The phone rang twice before a gruff voice answered.
“Ro!” Teige sighed. “You still have goats?”
The dragon on the other end grumbled an affirmative.
“Do you have any on ice from slaughter or a billy you could part with?” Teige’s voice piqued hopefully.
“Why?”
“I have to leave an offering for a puca.” Teige couldn’t help the smile that stretched his lips.
“Dare I ask?” The grumbling voice on the other end sighed.
“Frikka Nielsen.”
“Yep. When you want it?” Few words. It was why Teige liked Ronan.
“Wednesday morning, it sounded like. He’s out for spring.” Teige gave Gatlin a filthy wink.
“I’ll take care of it. That all you needed? And why you owe Frikka?” Ronan waited for an answer.
“He had kind words for Vivi.”
“Viraj still torn up about you two poking about for a Dette?” Ronan normally didn’t pry, but he liked Viraj. The two had a silent kinship in that Viraj never spoke first and appreciated calm and quiet.
“Apparently Virajisa Dette. We’ve just been idiots, and Vivi has some wires crossed in the biology department. Gaspard and Bastien treated him, and we should find out if he’s in any shape to have seasons or whatnot.”
“Well, I’ll send my thoughts out to you and yours and ask the wind for a favor and hope it brings a bounty. And make sure the puca gets your bribe.” He gave a soft chuckle, and Teige wished him farewell.
Gatlin gave Teige a half smile and shucked his shirt. “Let’s fly.”
***
It’d been ages since they’d last flown. And perhaps a drive or a jog might have gotten them to the mines in a respectable amount of time, but flying let their dragons stretch their wings, and as an added bonus, let the two slither into the mines to rub their scales against the walls. The rock felt good against their hides.
Flying high, Teige’s heart fluttered, a scent in the breeze that he’d known before, from moments when Viraj was inconsolable with lust. At the distance they were from the mines, though? The scent would only go stronger.
Our mate is unprotected. Another dragon could come along and harm them!Teige’s dragon snarled.
The thought wasn’t jealousy or protectiveness over their property. The thought was for the well-being of him, his heart and soul, his bodily safety and spirit.
