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“It’s so pretty.” It was the first word she could think of to describe the two-story stone structure with vibrant green ivy climbing up the sides with a paler-green leaf and small, purple flowers woven throughout.

A large flower bed seemed to wrap around the house with blooms in various colors, shapes, and sizes.

Kai had seen a smaller garden in front of some Drahk homes, but nothing as unique and all-consuming as this place.

“My mother loves her flowers. It was the hardest thing for her to deal with during the twenty-plus years after the wars when it seemed the Earth stopped producing a single plant.” Aodh stroked his thumb over her wrist. “She’s been making up for it since the first blooms appeared six years ago.”

“You think she’d help me to do something to the Mckenna Building?” Kai knew the building belonged to the people, but since she and Aodh would live there for some time and raise their child there, she wanted it to look like a home—something she had never really had before.

At the front door, Aodh tugged her to his chest and stared down at her. “It would probably make her happy if you asked her.”

Smiling, Kai said, “I’ll do it then.”

Aodh leaned down and kissed her.

Kai was sure he aimed to make the kiss brief, but the same thing happened when they touched or kissed, even for a moment: their desire ignited.

She released a low moan when he swiped his tongue over her lips. Unable to stop her response, she parted beneath him and allowed him to glide into her mouth. Her nipples and her sex throbbed as he pressed a hand to the small of her back right at the top of her ass, drawing her closer to him.

“New mates, they can’t be trusted to get anywhere on time because they can’t keep their hands off each other long enough.”

Leaping back from Aodh’s earth-shaking kiss, Kai stared up into Aodh's face, haloed by threads of silver in his ebony hair. It amazed her that Aodh strikingly resembled his father. Liekki, too, but the look of Aodh’s brother compared to this man framed in the door was more familial.

“Father.” Aodh chuckled instead of appearing as chagrined as Kai.

“And tamp down your flames before you singe the young lady with your adoration,” the gruff man chided with little, violet flames in his eyes as he stared at them.

“I’ll remind you of the same things the next time you glance toward Mother.”

A broad smile graced the older man’s features.

There went her hope of making a great first impression. Not when she got caught being pawed by the man’s son on his doorstep.

Aodh stepped forward and received an embrace from the senior Drahk. “I hope you saved some meal for us.”

“Latecomers should be grateful for scraps.” The man gave a thunderous, firm clap to the back of Aodh’s shoulder.

“I’ll see what Mom has to say about you eating all the food from her favorite son.” Aodh curled a hand around her waist and urged her forward. “Kai, this is my father, Rhys Brandr. Father, this is Kai, my mate.”

“Aguya Kai, I believe, is her appropriate address,” his father stepped before her with a smile. “It is nice meeting you. Mother of my grand offspring.”

“Hi. I-It’s nice to meet you, sir. Uh...Mr. Brandr.” Kai had never seen anyone bow to Aodh, but she wasn’t sure of the protocol when meeting a dragon ruler, even one that had retired from his official position. She stood there and wrung her hands, feeling anxious.

“No need for those titles. You can call me Rhys...or Father Rhys if you see fit.” The big man with a rough, textured voice filled with wisdom clasped her hands between his larger ones.

“Rhys.” She smiled. She liked the man. There was no doubt of his great power, but there seemed to be a genuine sincerity about him. Maybe in time, she’d be able to add the parental moniker.

“Mate, don’t keep the children on the porch all evening. The meal will get cold.” A strong, yet lovely, lilt came from inside the home.

“We’re on our way, love.” Rhys stepped back and allowed her and Aodh to enter.

The inside was well-lit, with two blazing fireplaces at both ends of the front room.

Two broadswords hung crossed over one hearth—one adorned with platinum and the other pink diamonds.

The warm tones gracing the marble and steel furnishing made the place appear as welcoming on the inside as on the outside.

Moments later, a striking, svelte woman with mature curves and fewer gray strands than the older man stepped through an archway from the back of the spacious front room.

The woman had canary markings and low flames in her eyes.

Her soft, angular features reminded Kai of Eilidh and also offered a resemblance to Liekki.

“Hello.” Kai swallowed her nervousness and lifted her chin just enough to show the woman, this mother who had carried Kai’s mate, Aodh, that she was strong enough to carry the older woman’s next generation.

“Well, well. You are as pretty as the Thunder is talking about.” Standing before Kai, the older woman gave her a kind smile.

“Mate, this is Brenna Brandr, my mother.” Aodh stood behind her, not touching Kai but sharing his strength at a critical moment.

“Brenna, I’m Kai.” Kai held her hand out to Aodh’s mother.

The woman ignored her hand, closed the gap, and embraced Kai. “Welcome to our family home.” She leaned back, her flames now a powdered-lilac hue. “This is yours as well.”

Kai may have been able to press down her nerves before this woman, but she could not stop the tears that swelled in her eyes at the warmth and generosity of the older woman.

Kai believed she had learned to deal with the loss of her mother, but feeling the strong arms of the gentle spirit before she made Kai feel the void in her heart that Viola Conley, her mother, had filled.

She wanted to blame it on pregnancy hormones, but standing with Brenna, Kai felt the absence of a mother figure in her life and how she would not be able to tell her mother about her love for Aodh or ask questions about her pregnancy.

“Oh, precious one.” When Aodh’s mother pulled her in this time, she held her tight and stroked her shoulders and upper back.

For so many years, it had been a sense of pride for Kai not having cried when she lost her parents before because she had to be brave and strong to care for her younger sister. Now, she squeezed her eyes shut as hot tears rolled down her face, soaking the woman’s dress.

“Let it out. So much has happened. Drahks can be a lot, and we’re beastly winged people who whistle in flames.”

A loud laugh unexpectedly erupted from Kai at the image Brenna created. She sniffed and stepped back, feeling a little reserved after her breakdown.

With a hand still on her shoulder, Brenna asked, “What are your parent’s names?”

“Preston and Viola Conley.” Warmth filled Kai’s chest at the mention of their names aloud after so many years. It made it seem as if their presence resided with her.

“I’m sorry you lost them at such a young age.” Brenna rubbed Kai’s arm before releasing her.

Aodh didn’t allow her to go far but quickly pulled her into his side and wrapped a strong arm around her.

Kai was grateful for his strength.

“Mother.” Even as he still held her, Aodh leaned over and kissed Brenna on her cheek.

“Son, it is so good to see you. The meal is ready, so I hope you both brought your appetites.”

“We did. We worked up quite an appetite today.” Aodh glanced at Kai and winked.

Kai felt heat flood her cheeks and hoped his parents didn’t pick up on his naughty comment.

Aodh’s parents led the way into the same archway his mother came from. The room had an eight-person table. It was set up beautifully, not with the same large bowls or platters in the hall. Or repurposed dishware as they had in the Dispatch, but something more elegant.

“May I help you bring the food to the table?”

“No, please rest yourself.” Brenna waved her toward the seats.

Aodh’s father stood on one side of the table, and Aodh was across from Rhys and holding out a chair for her. Kai moved to her mate and sat.

Brenna brought in one serving bowl after another piled high with food. If she had not been around the dragon-shifters for a while, Kai would have been shocked to see how much food was presented for only four of them. But the Drahk had hearty appetites, and now she did, too.

Rhys and Aodh stood until Brenna laid out all the food on the table and claimed her seat. However, Rhys refused to sit until after his son, the Mckenna, had done so first.

Once Kai had her plate filled and taken a few bites, she met the gaze of Aodh’s mother. “The food is delicious.”

“Thank you. Do you enjoy cooking?” Brenna inquired.

“Yes. I need to get lessons from Tana. I’ve never had much to prepare in my life before.”

Aodh’s mother tilted her head and assessed her. Were things that difficult behind the humans’ great impenetrable wall?”

Brenna’s tone made it clear what the shifters thought about the wall surrounding the human area.

Kai swallowed down the spoonful of broth from her stew. “Only for those who lived outside of the governmental section. They work too long and struggle more days for proper lodging and food. But there’s never enough.”

“And the sickness?” Rhys sliced through a meaty chop. “Are people getting better with the administration of the shifter serum?”

Shaking her head, Kai glanced at Aodh and then his father. “If they are, no one is given it in the Dispatch. I don’t know about those in the Consumer Providence.”

“The Consumers?”

“What are the Consumers?”

Rhys and Brenna asked as they glanced at each other.

“People who live around the government. The ones who went into the underground with their wealth and lavish possessions. Those individuals granted the privilege to buy and pay for expensive dwellings years before the catastrophes. Who dine at the tables of governors of the people.” Kai reached for her glass of water and drank it.