Page 39

She didn’t doubt he was right, but Kai only knew about fighting from her father’s military history. She’d lived after fighting and wars had caused such destruction, and she couldn’t see herself having any part of it. She held her tongue. Aodh lived a different existence than she did.

“We will go now.” Aodh pressed a hand to the small of her back again and guided her away.

“Mckenna.” Like when they started early in the day, each person they passed acknowledged Aodh.

Most met her gaze and offered her a short nod as well.

Feeling odd at the recognition and not knowing what to do, she gave a small smile, more of a greeting than accepting any position.

The tension left her body now that they were leaving the training arena. “Do you train also?”

“Yes. Multiple times a week with Liekki or Khuzaimah when he is not available.” Aodh guided her toward another two-story building.

All the ones he’d escorted her to had similar designs.

The only difference was the coloring of the stones in which the Drakh built them.

It didn’t matter if they were living suites or work edifices.

Each had one or two thick, expansive platforms that jutted out the second floor.

Even though she’d seen many dragons high up in the sky, she hadn’t witnessed anyone shift or take off from the landing. She wondered if Aodh had forbidden them to be around her.

“Because you are that good?” she teased.

“Yes. I am that good.” He set his features, confidence brightened his gaze, and his chest puffed out.

“I am not Mckenna because of my lineage. I had to battle for it. Liekki refused to battle me for the position even though he had a right to it as our father’s son.

But those others who desired to lead our thunder after my father announced he was stepping down stepped into the arena with me. I bested them all.”

“Ooh.” Kai never considered how Aodh got his position, only that he was the alpha of his people. “Can you lose the position?”

He gave a firm nod. “Drahks hold a foundation built on strength and fertility. Anytime someone feels they can uphold that position better, they will offer a challenge.”

That shocked her. She only understood things based on information published in the archives; governments changed politically by votes. Aodh described he could be ousted because someone was bigger and better or had produced more children.

“Has anyone tried?” Kai stared at the building that loomed large before them.

“Not yet.” There was something in Aodh’s tone.

The impression was clear in her mind what he meant by ‘yet.’ If it went by might and offspring, Aodh had none, therefore the Thunder had none.

Another mated couple could be closer to it than they were.

Kai folded both her hands over her lower abdomen and wondered.

Even though Aodh had told her it couldn’t happen until she had met his dragon, she found it hard to believe.

She admitted to herself she wanted his child. She desired to help this man who had taken in her and her sister and assisted Morlie’s healing to remain the dragon-king.

Why was Aodh, or rather his dragon, holding back?

She heard his words but didn’t understand what the hold-up was about. A part of her wondered if Aodh only used his beast as an excuse, and he was unsure she could be the mother of his children. How did he keep it from happening? What was he waiting for her to prove?

He had options. Aodh said it was not serious between him and Ninki, but the longer it took the more doubt filled her.

“This is where the Mckenna works.” He entered the building before her, leading the way.

Kai didn’t take offense at having to follow him.

Throughout the day, she had seen where others stepped back and out of the way.

They let him lead whenever he was going in the same direction.

Aodh never acted as if he thought he was above his people.

Often, in the different work centers, he addressed people by name and asked about family members or jobs they were involved in.

She saw the flicker of amethyst flames in many a gaze or the color lighting up markings, his people showing joy at their Mckenna’s interest.

“Good day, Mckenna.” Holding a notepad, Yeongi greeted them at the top of the stairs.

“Yeongi,” Aodh stood before him. “Once Liekki arrives, we’ll meet about tomorrow’s council meeting.”

“I’ll get everything ready for it. Edjer radioed. He will be here within the hour, also.”

“Good.” Aodh stepped aside.

“Kai.” Yeongi smiled at her as she came up the last step before him. Similar to others, he gave a short nod. “Good to see you again. I hope your tour has been going well.”

“Yes, Yeongi, it has. Your territory is very different from what I am used to, but I like it.” It didn’t take long for her to notice there seemed to be more space here, and the Drahks appeared truly happy with their lives and each other.

There was so much despair in the district, and each person was out for their own gain.

“Great. If I can help, let me know.” With that said, Yeongi turned down the hall toward an open door.

“Yeongi, one last thing.” Aodh’s booming voice caused his aide to pause and face them again.

“Yes, Mckenna?”

“I need Tana here.”

“Do I need to request she bring a meal?” Yeongi’s pen sat at the ready over his pad.

“No. Kai would like to meet with her.”

Yeongi’s gaze shifted briefly to hers as if the aide were waiting for her to add anything to it.

Kai remained silent. She was grateful that Aodh had not forgotten that she needed to question Tana about her parents’ rings.

“I’ll radio for her to come right away.” Yeongi went to his office.

“Come, little flame.” Aodh took her hand and pulled her in the other direction.

When they entered the office, about the size of their front room and dining area, she couldn’t help but be impressed.

Not because things were lavish. No. Like most places she’d seen, there wasn’t any unnecessary furniture or decorations in the space.

Nothing like where she was from, people had a habit of filling their tiny apartments with gadgets or items dug up by collectors.

Even though it was against the rules to keep anything, it all had to be taken to the reuse center to be crushed, melted, or welded to other items to make something different, usually for a pretty price or service.

Here, Aodh’s desk filled a lot of space.

The base of the desk was marble, and the top was glass, over three inches thick.

No human would be able to lift or move the desk around.

Two short chairs, upholstered with fabric, were on one side of his desk.

However, animal skin covered his big chair.

She figured it was goat skin. The only meat they ate in the territory was goat.

She’d seen many things that day, but not where they raised the livestock.

Aodh had even toured her through the empty learning center.

He’d been stoic during their brief period there.

She caught a glimpse of a small dove-white flame in the depths of his gaze before he blinked it away, even though his markings remained muted.

This reminded her how deeply Aodh was affected by the lack of children in his thunder.

This place was different. It had life and activity. It was evident to her by the various charts and designs on the wall and included the stacks of reports and folders on his desk. None of it made sense to her, mainly because someone wrote it in their language.

Aodh allowed her to move around the room freely as he sat at his desk and sifted through the different items. Here and there, he made notes either directly on the report or on a tablet.

She liked seeing him work. He was in his element here.

The furrowing of his brow revealed his deep concentration.

Turning around, she moved from the charts and stood before the most extensive drawing.

Something about it seemed familiar, but she didn’t know why.

She tried to think about things in the archive cellar.

The large room had all the books, history, and maps of various parts of the world. However, nothing came to mind.

“Things have changed a lot.” Aodh’s voice drew her attention.

Kai glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze.

He was leaning back in his chair. Instead of studying his reports, he studied her.

His stare raised goosebumps on her arms and spread warmth along her spine.

She exhaled to keep her mind and body from slipping into arousal.

Aodh’s aide was only in the other office. She didn’t need things to start up.

Refocusing on his statement, she lifted a brow. “What do you mean?”

He frowned. “The world.” He tipped his head. “The North American Continent.”

It was her turn to frown. She understood Aodh’s words but had no clue what it had to do with the design on his wall.

Turning, she glanced back at the large drawing.

She tilted her head to the side to see if she could better decipher it.

Maybe it was the area they were in. That would make sense. “Is it a blow-up of your territory?”

“No. It’s North America.” Aodh was standing next to her now. As usual, the man moved with mind-boggling speed.

“I got you were saying that.” She glanced at him. “But what part?”

“All of it.”

Flabbergasted, Kai turned and stared at it. “That’s not possible. I’ve seen our country. We even colored a large version of it in school. All fifty states and territories.” She gestured toward the image on the wall, “This isn’t it. By the lines drawn there could only be thirty states...if that.”

Aodh grabbed her shoulders and made her face him. He met her gaze. “Everything else is gone.”

“Gone?” She shook her head and licked her dry lips. “We heard bomb blasts destroyed many places. But that couldn’t get rid of whole states.” She let out a humorless laugh.