Page 4

A odh exited his residence building full, in more ways than one.

His stomach was satisfied from a morning spread that left nothing desired.

However, having his mate in his life gave him the most joy.

They still had much to learn about one another and preparation for their offspring on the way, but what they had now. .. was good.

It was pre-dawn, and typically, he would head straight to his office. He needed to do many things today, particularly as it pertained to the Fae, whom he allowed to cross his territory. By now, they should have arrived at the Lupine border.

Aodh always tried to evaluate all angles of the situation before him, and when it came to the wolf-shifters, it was an issue that needed handling soon.

As Drahk, they could deal with a few missing goats, but the thievery was wrong, and it was nothing compared to the abduction.

The violations of stealing people, who were taken for reasons he did not want to think of, especially since Iskah told him the teens had been returned, terrorized, but relatively unharmed.

Chanin had a lot on his hands, and if he didn’t handle this situation at his doorstep well, it could cause a significant preternatural incident that could split the council and make each entity take sides against other members. It was something Aodh didn’t want to happen.

They had established the preternatural councils so it wouldn’t happen.

The time after the humans went underground brought about unparalleled violence, with every shifter and vamp acting on their own, fighting over lands, food, and everything in between.

Everyone was acting as mortal enemies, mimicking the villainous beings the humans had turned the preternatural races into in their storybooks.

They’d made shifters myths, ghosts, and evil things.

Regardless of the fact, the governments of the world knew about them, interacted with Preternaturals on their terms, and attempted to negotiate a way to use shifter abilities as weapons of war for profit, destruction, and claiming of another’s lands.

When each entity refused, humans put them all in a proverbial box and made secret laws about how to govern themselves among them. Once the walls of that box fell after the Great Catastrophes, the preternatural entities conducted themselves as uncouth savages.

No, Aodh did not want to return to that time. Not at all.

He inhaled and exhaled slowly to clear his mind of the hate and horrors filling it. He had two missions to take care of before handling Mckenna business. He crossed the territory in the opposite direction of his offices.

It was some distance away, and it would have been faster for him to fly there, but he enjoyed walking his lands when all was quiet. Besides the few patrols flying overhead and those on the ground handling border security, many of his people were in their homes and suites.

As his long, fast strides took him through the territory, his thoughts returned to the woman he’d tucked into bed following the morning meal, the mother of his Thunder’s future.

He knew the baby took most of her energy, and even now, she would be deep in sleep, but his chest swelled with pride and joy at knowing his offspring was flourishing and healthy.

The evidence of that was in the appearance of the second scale.

It was how the unborn dragon communicated their strength and vitality.

As the offspring grew within the womb, it marked the female’s belly for the father and all to witness.

Soon, Tana would fill his mate’s closet with the appropriate apparel for Kai to display her stomach.

Because of the link, a coming offspring was something all Drahk’s luxuriated in.

“Ah, Mckenna. What brings you about my way so early in the morning?” The big, blond male paused in his work as he spotted Aodh and glanced up from his work. He wore a leather apron and a grin when Aodh entered his workspace.

The stone structure was spacious, and without a ceiling, it was built onto the side of the blond man’s two-story home.

“Brantley, it's good to see you enjoying life in your element.” Aodh moved toward the male beside a kiln holding the object he was forging.

The item was flaming hot, most of it still liquid, and a molten-orange glow radiated from the narrow, steady fire Brantley blew on it. Brantley used slow precision with his other hand as he glided his fingers along the object's sides and edge, crafting it as he desired.

Aodh knew it would be a work of art once it was complete. No other smithy was as talented as Brantley, who’d come from a long line of dragon-shifter blacksmiths. Fire was a part of them, allowing the blacksmith to be hands-on with metals uniquely while they were hot.

“I like to be about while the territory sleeps and my staff has not come in yet; my mind is clear, and there’s peace.” Brantley lifted the object and moved over to a vat of water, where he plunged it in.

A sizzling sound and steam from the hot and cold contact bellowed toward the sky from the small pool.

“Are you passing by, or did you need something?” Brantley continued to hold the item in the water.

Aodh reached into his pants pocket and removed the small pouch. “Actually, I’m here to put in two custom orders.”

The other man pulled out the twisted and curled bar, now hardened, and set it on a workstation with two others that were similar in style but varied in size. Evidently, Brantley was fashioning something with several pieces, but Aodh didn’t ask.

“Anything. What would you like to have done, Mckenna?” Brantley picked up a cloth and wiped his soot-covered hands as he moved closer to Aodh.

He handed the other man the bag.

Brantley peered inside the pouch. “Ah, you have a bag full of some of your hearth-stone. What would you like?”

“A sword made with most of it.”

“You already wear down your other two broad swords?” The man joked.

“No. Thank the Great Spirit for that.” Aodh and Brantley knew that the only way a sword may be chipped or broken to the point of needing repair or replacement was during long battles and times of war.

“What I need is something lighter but no less lethal.”

“I don’t know if I could make something only sharp enough to slice fruit if I tried,” Brantley chuckled.

“Your ability is the stuff of legends.” Aodh praised the man. “I’m looking for something between an arming sword and a longsword.”

“So, something able to be wielded with one hand.” The blacksmith nodded in agreement as he looked up from the small sack and met Aodh’s gaze. “I assume you want me to keep the handle the same as always, thick and wide with your stones encrusted.”

Aodh shook his head. “Not thick. I want the handle no thicker than two fingers.” Aodh pressed his pointer and middle together and lifted his hand.

Brantley arched a brow in shock. “Are you already fashioning a practice sword for the offspring, Mckenna?”

He chuckled. “Not yet. This is for my mate.”

“Ahh. Now I understand the size. Humans’ hands are small and not as strong.” Brantley shook the bag, making the shards of obsidian clink inside. “Does she know of the honor you bestow on her by sharing your hearth-stone?”

Now that the other man was close, Aodh noted the wink from the rubies shining in the sunlight embedded in the clasps of Brantley’s apron straps, the smith’s hearth-stone. “Yes. My dragon revealed his hoard to her last night.”

Flames flicked in Brantley’s gaze as he gasped, understanding the significance of what Aodh said. “Then a new delicate sword Aguya will have.”

“Thank you. Inside, you will find a gold band, a piece important to my mate. The smallest stones add into it.”

“It’ll be done, Mckenna.” Brantly retighten the laces of the small satchel. “When my staff comes in, I’ll have them complete the table frame I started and get right on your request.”

“Much appreciated.” With that, Aodh turned and exited the roofless building, knowing he was leaving the precious things in good hands.

Once he stepped outside in the clearing, Aodh inhaled the fresh air deeply and exhaled into his dragon form.

He immediately took flight. He could have walked to his next destination.

Still, it would have placed him further away from his offices, and he didn’t want to be inconsiderate of Yeongi, who would be there by now working and waiting on his orders of the day, especially since Aodh had not mentioned that he would be so late this morning.

His flight only took a few minutes to drift further south down the territory. As he began his descent, his dragon changed the angle of its wings higher and higher to increase his drag against the wind and aid in gliding him to the ground before the house.

By the time his parents built this stone house to relocate when his father had stepped down as Mckenna; Aodh’d had his place for several years.

This structure, before him, had never been his home.

Or Liekki’s, for that matter. Their sister was the only one who resided in the space with their parents.

“Well, well. This is a pleasant surprise.” Brenna Brandr glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Aodh’s dragon from her kneeled position in the dirt. His mother loved to work in her garden early in the morning.

The Mckenna moved in measured, lumbered steps toward the female until it was close enough to nudge her gently on the back.

His mother laughed and swatted at his snout. “If you make me mess up these begonias, I will be cross with you.” Her words had little threat because of the smile on her face.

When she leaned her head down and rested it at the center of its muzzle, Aodh felt his beast’s heart melt. No person besides a Drahk’s mate or offspring ever held such an honored place in their heart. A dragon never disregarded the drahkelle who carried and nurtured them in their nest.