Page 23

“Mckenna.” Yeongi’s voice pulled him away from the livestock reports an hour later.

“Perfect timing, Yeongi. I’m about to sign the last report, and you can have them back.” Aodh picked up his pen and glanced at his assistant across from his desk. That’s when he spotted the man in the doorway behind him.

“Brantley is here to see you. He says it can’t wait.”

“Thanks, Yeongi.” Aodh finished his signature and then gathered his reports as he rose. He rounded his desk and handed it to his assistant. “I made some notes, but take care of it tomorrow. Go be with your mate.”

“I don’t mind—”

When Aodh arched a brow, it silenced the words of his assistant.

“As you state, Mckenna.” Yeongi nodded and exited the office, sweeping past the man standing outside the doorway.

“Brantley, come in.” Aodh leaned on the front edge of his desk. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

The blacksmith lumbered into the office. “Sorry to bother you so late in the day, Mckenna.”

Aodh waved his apology away. He needed to get Kai and head over to his family home, but if there were an urgent situation with a Drahk in his territory, he’d need to handle it first. “Is there a problem with the sword?”

Raising his palms and shaking his head, Brantley began, “No. Not at all. The sword design is coming along fine.”

“Then?” Aodh eyed the bulky man who still wore his thick leather apron and had his arms and neck covered in soot from the kiln fire.

Brantley rubbed along the nape of his neck and glanced to the side of Aodh’s shoulder before meeting his gaze.

The blacksmith was a strong, tough Drahk and could wield any sword as deftly as he created them. So, to see him appearing hesitant made Aodh ill at ease.

“It’s the ring, Mckenna.”

“What about it?” Aodh didn’t understand the issue of remelting a ring and adding in his hearth-stone. Matter of fact, the man being here sooner would have made sense regarding the simple request. “Do you have it? Is it finished?”

Kai would be ecstatic if it were. The ring meant a lot to his mate; it was all she had left of her family, especially since Morlie went to her mate.

“No.” Brantley cleared his throat. “I can’t complete your request.”

Aodh’s brow furrowed. He had promised Kai this could be done, and if it couldn’t, there better be a damn good reason for him to let his mate down.

“Explain,” he growled, unable to keep the heavy rumble from his voice.

“I am sorry to disappoint you, Mckenna. But the gold can’t be melted. My staff and I tried multiple times and ways with the same results.” Brantley shoved a hand through his hair that was already leaning in various directions as if he’d been worrying the strands all day.

“What?” Aodh rose to his feet and set his hands on his hips as he locked gazes with the blacksmith. “That doesn’t make sense. What kind of gold can’t be melted? Fuck. For that matter, what metal?”

Brantley swallowed under his harsh stare. “Dragon’s Gold.”

Dragon’s Gold . His beast awoke from its slumber and raised its head.

Stunned, Aodh lowered his arms. “Dragon’s Gold? I thought it was a myth the older dragons used in stories to mystify younglings.”

“So did I. My grandfather would talk about it, but as far as I know, he’d never seen any.” Brantley shrugged. “Truthfully, I never asked him. But he’s gone on to the Great Spirit now, and it’s too late for me to inquire.”

Aodh nodded absently. Too many thoughts were rolling through his mind, most centered around the gorgeous woman carrying his child and most likely still curled up in their bed sleep.

How in the hell did she get her hands on Dragon’s Gold?

“Here, Mckenna.”

Pulled from his thoughts, Aodh looked at the blacksmith and saw the man’s open palm held out to him. Aodh reached out and took the jewelry from his hand.

“I want to return it. Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll get back to work on the sword. I can add the smaller chips you gave for the ring into the design if you’d like.”

“Yes. That’s fine,” Aodh mumbled absently. He didn’t take his eyes off the band between his two fingers.

“Then I’ll wish you a good evening.” Brantley’s heavy footfalls alerted Aodh to the man’s departure.

Turning the ring left and right, then holding it up to stare along the inside, Aodh tried to see if it revealed any secrets of its nature.

As he lowered it, he determined there was nothing unique about it.

It looked like a plain, solid-gold ring to his keen gaze.

There were no markings, carvings, or any initials engraved inside.

His curiosity abounded. He turned the ring vertically and brought it to his mouth. Opening his jaw, he placed the piece of jewelry between his back teeth and pressed down hard, trying to bend or damage it. But nothing happened. The ring held its shape.

Removing it from his mouth, he examined it again with a frown.

Not only did his teeth not cause an impression, but he realized that for the ring to have been handed down through Kai’s family, it should be bent from being worn over the years with typical scrapes along the outside.

But none existed. The gold was smooth and shiny, as if it had just been made.

He realized he wouldn’t get any answers to the questions slamming around in his mind until he spoke to the one person who would have the answers.

Aodh placed the ring in his pocket, then followed his brother's steps to the landing. Aodh opened the sliding glass door enough to get through and closed it behind him. He wasted no time jumping into the evening air, letting his dragon appear, and carrying him across the territory to his suites.

Kai had some explaining to do.