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When she slipped the ring on Aodh’s ring finger, even though the band was large, she was concerned for a moment that even though her father, Preston, had been a tall and stocky man, proof in her genetics and her body's curves, but even with Preston’s Drahk DNA, he was nowhere near Aodh’s size.

However, the ring slipped onto his finger like it was fashioned for him.

The crowd Ahh’d.

“How...?” Kai shook her head, astounded.

“Mage magic.” Apophis’s mouth held a wide smile.

Kai laughed.

“Now. If no one else needs to pause this union.” Apophis’s gaze swept the large group. “If you two will join your left hands.”

Aodh took her hand, causing a soft tap of their rings.

The spiritual leader placed one hand on top of theirs and the other below. He squeezed firmly, holding them together as he closed his eyes.

A delicate breeze drifted around them, fluttering the train of Kai’s veil. She felt the wind circle her and Aodh, like bands, it became tighter and tighter. Heat infused their palms as the skin behind her ring began to sizzle.

She had the urge to pull away, back up, but she lifted her gaze to Aodh, who stared at her and held fast. So, she stayed planted in this spot with him.

Right before the bands of wind stopped her breath and the burning around her finger caused her true pain, Apophis opened his eyes.

“Through your dragon, you are mated. Through your hearts, you are bonded. Through your love, you are committed. By these rings, you are eternal.” Apophis’s hands squeezed theirs briefly before he let go.

“Aodh Brandr and his wife!” Apophis declared.

The roar and stomping of the Drahks’ cheers and shouts filled the space.

Aodh dragged her into his arms, lifting her feet from the ground as his mouth claimed hers.

His kiss was powerful and hot. The blaze unfurling on his tongue singed her mouth and licked along the opening of her lips.

Aodh's passionate dragon’s kiss coated her mouth with heated honey, and she drank deeply from him.

She wanted to consume the blaze roaring inside the massive man and have that fire touch every inch of her skin until smoke seeped from her pores and carried her into ecstasy.

She moaned into his mouth as she gripped the tight, bulging muscles of his shoulders, digging her fingers deep into the hard flesh and pressing her body closer.

Her breast crushed against his chest, and she hated that there was satin and lace and all the layers of clothing between them, blocking her from feeling the searing heat of his lit scale markings along her nipples.

Her mate groaned, rough and rugged, the sound of a rockslide shaking the ground and air around them.

“Maybe we should leave you alone so you can rut your new wife, Mckenna, in the dirt like the mad beast you are.”

Liekki’s timely humor seemed to cool Aodh’s desire enough for him to set her back on her feet. The kiss went on for a few more heartbeats before Aodh ended it.

Little flame, remind me to put my boot in my brother's ass.

First thing tomorrow.

Well, not the first thing. You’ll still be busy screaming into the dawn. He licked along the curve of her plump bottom lip.

Kai blushed.

Aodh kept a sinewy arm around her waist as he turned to Chanin, who held Morlie close to his side. “Most of the Drahk will adjourn to the Great Hall to feast and celebrate Drago’s life and our wedding. You and Morlie are welcome to stay and join them. However, I have other plans for my mate-wife.”

Chanin chuckled. “Congratulations to you both. Thank you for the invitation, Aodh. But we have been gone long enough from our Pack. There is still something I must take care of. Something you and the council will be briefed on in the coming days.”

“Until then.”

“Until then,” Chanin echoed.

“Thank you again for coming. I do not have to tell you to care for my mate-wife’s sister.”

“Never,” Chanin growled.

Without offense, Aodh nodded. He glanced at her and said, “Say quick goodbyes to your sister so we can go.”

Aodh released her and moved to Liekki and Yeongi to talk.

Kai’s heart was pounding with love and the expectation of the night her mate-husband had in store for her.

“Morlie.” Kai moved to her sister. Morlie had been running to her mate the last time they had parted. There had been no goodbyes. Kai was more than grateful that Aodh recognized she needed this moment.

Chanin took a step back, giving them a little space.

“I am proud of you. I was hurt that I didn’t get to say goodbye to you last time, but seeing how confident and at peace you look, I would never begrudge you for chasing after what was yours to have.”

She wasn’t sure about the emotions that linked Morlie and Chanin, so she didn’t want to put a label on them. However, she could see how the Wolf Alpha stared at Morlie, touched her, and always wanted her near him. She also saw that her sister meant more to him than the demand of his beast.

“Thank you. I never meant to cause you concern and stress when I left, but I couldn't stay away from Chanin any longer. It hurt too bad.” Morlie glanced over her shoulder at the wolf-shifter.

Looking back, she said, “I do miss you, Kai. We are meant for different paths, but I never want us to be distant.”

“Hey, our territories border each other. Besides, I’m only a radio call away.” When she felt the heat of Aodh at her back and smelled the sweet, roasted-cinnamon notes, Kai knew it was time to end the farewells.

She pulled her sister into an embrace. “I love you, little sister. Be well. The medical attendant who helped us said she hoped we met the wolves. And you did.” Kai leaned back and smiled. “Now go show them how badass you are.”

Morlie smiled. Something seemed to be hidden in the new uniqueness of her little sister’s gaze.

It was so faint that Kai could swear she was imagining it and possibly seeing what wasn’t there because of concern for her sister.

Morlie looked healthier than she’d ever been.

Even though her little sister looked the same in many ways, Kai felt the tone and strength in her muscles when they hugged, and the flecks of amber were now present in her sister's eyes when once they were gold-brown like hers. Kai wondered if Morlie shifted and, if so, what her sister’s wolf looked like.

Kai sighed. She figured she might never know, and it didn't seem polite for her to ask her sister to shift in the middle of all these dragons to assuage her curiosity.

“I will. I promise. I love you, Sissy.”

Moments later, Chanin held her sister’s hand and led her into the dense forest.

“Are you alright, wife mine?”

Once her sister disappeared, swallowed by the massive trees, Kai glanced up at Aodh. “I’m perfect.”

“Then let’s fly. I’ve a need to commune with you in your human Biblical sense.”