Page 26

Apophis stood beside Aodh; however, he did not face the crowd but the dead dragon on the heap, holding his hands wide.

Morlie realized the man’s gesture must have been a signal because all those gathered in the clearing moved and seemed to take up positions around the massive dragon, creating a large circle behind the hand-sized rocks. Kai stepped up beside Aodh, and he linked their hands together.

Once everyone stood in place, the shoeless Drahk began still in a language Morlie could understand, “From dust, we are created. Through flame, we are born. By fire, we are forged. And by ash, we return to the Great Spirit.”

When the man, who seemed to be a spiritual leader, lowered his hands, an audible sound like a powerful force of wind being pulled through a long, rough cave tunnel followed.

A whooshing caused the very air around them to vibrate, leaves and branches to tremble, and all in attendance released a torrent of flames at the ice-white form.

The large blaze illuminated the area and flooded it with warmth as it roared and licked high into the sky.

She stood astounded by the appearance of every displayed lined scale on the Drahks’ skin, shining brilliant white, matching the luminous flames flickering in their eyes.

Morlie gasped, and a shiver ran through her as Chanin tensed beside her.

She could hear the low murmur of the detail behind them in the woods.

It was an astonishing sight to behold, even as a bystander.

She’d seen Tana and Eilidh throw a small flame here and there in the suite for her fireplace or bath water, but observing the Drahk as a collective create a blaze was shocking and more than a little intimidating.

However, Morlie had no fear that if anything went wrong, the male beside her would not hesitate to protect her. As if Chanin heard her thoughts or wasn’t a fan of the fire show, he released a low growl and shifted so that his shoulder was slightly in front of her.

Everyone but Kai continued to breathe fire for a few minutes before the space in the center of the circle, which had once held a lifeless dragon and a big pile of timber, was only ash, decimated in a single breath.

“I thought dragons were resistant to fire,” she whispered to Chanin.

“Typically, they are.”

Once the deed was done, the crowd stepped away from the ring of stone but didn’t immediately disperse. Instead, it seemed as if they were moving to gather again.

“As entertaining and informative as this has been, I don’t see why we had to come bear witness to it,” Morlie grumbled as she glanced down at the clothing she and Chanin wore, not of their choosing. “And it doesn’t make sense that we are dressed for an occasion we couldn’t even attend.”

Chanin caressed the small of her back. “Agreed. With all the questions this has incited, it would have been better for Aodh to arrange a time for you and your sister to meet.”

Morlie shrugged, more than a little irritated.

She gripped the ring around her neck and squeezed it.

She never missed her parents more than she did right now.

Usually, Kai helped fill the void and kept the ache of missing them at bay.

However, the valley between her and her sister right now seemed cavernous.

“Yes. Aodh said she would need me with her tonight. However, I don’t think Kai,” who she saw talking and standing with a lovely, stately woman with salt-and-pepper tresses piled high on her head, standing beside the man resembling Aodh.

With the older female’s striking resemblance to Liekki and Eilidh, Morlie figured it was Mckenna’s parents. “...needs my support right now—”

Before she could say more, Liekki strolled toward them with long, heavy strides. His massive shoulders broke through the trees.

“Chanin.” Liekki's rough voice greeted her mate first.

“Liekki. Interesting presentation.” Chanin angled his head toward the low, smoldering pile of embers.

“What can I say? We like to do things big.” The ‘wicked humor’ violet flames Morlie had come to expect from the Drahks’ second-in-command danced in Liekki’s eyes. “Morlie. Good to see your new furry nature hasn’t changed your beauty.”

She blushed.

Chanin snarled and snapped his teeth as he pulled her closer.

This only made the warmth flare more in her cheeks. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had dragon genes, then why was it that she was never attracted to Aodh’s brother or any other Drahk male while she lived among them? “Liekki, charming as ever.”

Because you were meant to be mine .

She smiled as her core filled with warmth, making her pulse race at her Alpha’s possessiveness.

Always yours, she confirmed, even though she never glanced away from the massive male before them.

“I don’t know how to be any other way,” Liekki shoved a hand through his long, dark hair.

She thought she saw a shadow move across his features for a moment. However, it was gone so quickly that she figured she’d imagined it.

“Anyway. I believe this is the part of the evening Aodh would like you all to join us.” Liekki shifted his body to allow them to pass.

She glanced at Chanin to see if he had any clue what was about to happen, but he stared at her with a shrug before they started forward.

There was a bit of rustling behind them.

“Trust me, no one will harm them tonight.”

When Morlie glanced over her shoulder, she saw Liekki holding a hand out to halt the Lupine security.

The men that had journeyed with them stood bare in the shadows of the trees but snarled and looked no less menacing as fur began to pop out on their bare skin, quick to dispel Liekki’s words, which did not entirely convince them.

Especially after they had all seen the fiery display of the dragon-shifters setting one of their own on fire, even though the dragon was already dead, it still didn’t give any of the wolf-shifters a warm, fuzzy feeling to watch.

Chanin gave his team a firm nod, letting them know everything was fine. Only with the clear message from their Alpha did the guards stand down.

“If that’s all straightened out,” humor-filled Liekki’s voice, “I’ll escort you two over.” Liekki led them out of the woods and headed across the clearing toward the group.

All eyes turned in their direction. However, Morlie didn’t witness any shock among the throng.

Now that they were in the depths of the people, Morlie had lost track of her sister.

The Drahk were too damn wide and tall for her to see around them even as the group seemed to part gracefully as she and Chanin walked behind Liekki toward Aodh, who was standing next to Apophis and his assistant Yeongi.

“Morlie!” Kai shrieked, broke away from the people she was talking to, and rushed toward her.

Correction: one person was shocked. Kai.

“Kai.” Morlie pivoted and turned toward her sister. The two of them collided and fell against each other in a tight embrace.

Gathered in her sister’s arms, Morlie felt her eyes well up with tears.

It had been so long since she’d received one of Kai’s fierce, warm hugs.

The kind that always made Morlie feel like everything would be okay, even when her body was being destroyed by disease, Kai had a way of holding her close and easing all her fears.

“Sissy. It is so good to see you.” Morlie loved her new life, but at that moment, being held by her sister made Morlie miss the simple days when the two of them and their parents sat for a meager meal, laughing and talking.

When her parents borrowed a board game from the gaming center, they’d play for hours on the one night a week when their father only had to work a half day.

“I’ve missed you. After the day I had, I needed this.” Kai kissed her cheek twice before stepping back and assessing her, looking for changes.

However, Morlie was doing the same thing. Now that she was before her sister, who stood attired in a gorgeous off-the-shoulder white dress with delicate lace on the sleeves and form-fitting silk. The snowy fabric complemented the beautiful medium-brown of her sister's skin.

Having stared at so many of the people during the ceremony for so long, Morlie could almost swear that the design of Kai’s dress was on a higher level than the others, who only wore classic, plain tunics or other average clothing—making Kai stand out gloriously.

Morlie figured it had much to do with who Kai was to Drago and her role in the ceremony tonight, but it worked since Kai's mate’s dress shirt and slacks were just as well-tailored.

“I’ve missed all this.” She waved a hand before her sister's enlarged stomach. “But you still look breathtaking, Kai.”

“Thank you.” Kai’s lashes fluttered as she rubbed a hand over her swollen belly. “I was shocked I could find something that fit me so well.”

Morlie frowned. “I don’t know much about pregnancy, but you appear further along than I expected.”

“To me, too.” She smiled and patted her stomach. “I think this is new for everyone.” Kai waved away the discussion of her oddly advanced pregnancy. “I was going to ask Aodh to radio the Lupines to tell you about what I discovered about our family...but now you’re here. Why? How?”

“Aodh.” Morlie declared. “He invited Chanin and me to come because you needed me.” She reached back and grasped Chanin’s hand.

She was grateful when her mate moved up beside her without hesitation. “This is my mate, Chanin, Alpha of the North American Pack.”

Kai smiled at him. “It’s good to meet you officially, Chanin. My sister seems happy; she must be treated well with you and your Pack.”