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“I s it possible that Liekki or Avalore got injured on their way back from the meeting yesterday, or did they stumble on another ill human, perhaps?” Kai glanced at the big Drahk beside her as they left their place and headed down the stairs.

The air was filled with the delicious scents of all the mouthwatering dishes the cooks were preparing in the Hall's kitchen. However, as ravenous as she usually was with her pregnancy, Kai’s stomach desires played second fiddle to the other hunger she experienced.

Her core still hummed from his erotic manipulation of her body just moments before.

She hoped whatever the situation was with his brother, it wouldn’t take long, because she was more than a little sexually frustrated.

She’d been ready to be wrapped around Aodh like a capuchin monkey and riding his thick, stiff shaft while bathed in the warmth of the blazes, both the one in the hearth and the one brewing in her mate-husband.

If they were upstairs right now, he’d be licking her nipples with his dragon’s wicked flames and bringing her to another orgasm.

She could kick herself for letting her mind disturb her sleep to the point she got out of their bed in the first place.

In a blink, Aodh halted on the stairs then cupped her ass and lifted her with ease as he turned her body into his.

His hips were angled forward so that he was ideally situated under her burgeoning belly.

He pressed his stiff length, still more than half mast, right against the crest of her needy sex.

“Little flame, if you don’t stop thinking about me fucking you, I’m going to bend you over the railing and do just that.

Remember that the sun will be up in a few moments, the Great Hall is already filled with the kitchen staff laying out early morning platters, and soon Drahks on early work shifts will start coming through the door, including this entrance before us.

None of them will be shocked to find me balls inside of you, because you know we’re lusty shifters who enjoy fucking.

But more than a few will hold off their meal, watch us, but I won’t stop.

” Aodh thrust his hip, grinding his increasingly hard staff over her clit.

“So, if you want to put on a show, just think about my cock one more time and more than a few of our people will know just how much you cream on my dick when I pound deep inside you over and over again. Because I will angle us in a way they see its glistening paint every time I pull out. Try me,” he growled.

Kai sank her teeth deep into her bottom lip, purposely causing herself pain to shut down her wayward thoughts. It was damn hard as his wicked words flooded her ears and mind.

Falling leaves. Jumping grasshoppers. Whistling wind.

What are you doing, mate-wife? Aodh frowned at her as he squeezed her ass and his scales shifted from the erotic hue of sapphire blue to a canary yellow.

“Thinking of arbitrary things that won’t have my bare ass on display.”

Aodh’s chuckle roared through the stairwell.

Kai smiled, crisis averted. She patted his shoulders. “I think you can set me back down, before Liekki links to you again.”

“True. But I’ll hold you to your word .” Aodh let her slide down his body slowly until her feet were settled firmly on the stone stairs again.

His reminder just made it hard for her not to think about what she’d promised, inadvertently having her impaled on the steps for all to see. She smacked him in the abs before she continued their journey down. “Play fair.”

“Never where you are concerned, little flame.”

He kept his large, strong hand at the small of her back as they traversed the last few steps leading down from the Mckenna suites, then crossed the atrium to the outside doorway.

As soon as they stepped out into the pre-dawn light, Kai saw four Drahks land in the field.

She recognized their dragons, helping her decipher the shifters by name, and knew they were from the night patrol.

Aodh had ordered Edjer to increase the number of security members on each route along the territory due to the escalating situation with the human government.

Three males and one female shifted and headed in their direction; more would follow, ready to partake and break their night fast.

Phew . Saved by her bare-knuckled determination. Aodh was right, they would have put on a show.

She shook her head slightly as she turned in the opposite direction.

Aodh's hand rested on the small of her back, leading her around the side of the building toward the glass door of the medical room.

When they entered the room, they both froze at the sight. The door snicked softly behind them.

Kai wasn’t sure what she expected to see when she arrived, but this wasn’t it.

“Good gracious,” Kai cried out. She stepped forward slowly, her feet feeling like dead weight as she attempted to make sense of the scene. “Are they both hurt?”

Aodh's recovery was quicker as his long, heavy strides carried him across the floor toward the glass.

“Liekki, what the hell’s going on?” Aodh’s heavy baritone filled the room on their side of the glass.

Kai had a flashback to not so long ago when her sister was sealed inside the space, dark and heavy with smoke, as Morlie fought for her life. Was this déjà vu?

Now standing at the glass, she could see the difference between the rich, dense smoke that shadowed Morlie from her sight and the dark swirls of smoke filling the chamber, giving her no problem seeing through it to the bed.

Liekki and Avalore lay on the bed, she on her side, facing the door with her eyes closed and him spooned in tight behind her, his arms surrounding her while he threaded his fingers through her long waves.

When they first walked in, she wondered if she and Aodh were the ones about to get a show.

For a moment, Kai thought the new mates may have been having sex, and questioned why Liekki would have invited them down.

Yes, Drahks enjoyed sex and had no qualms about being observed, but they didn’t issue out tickets for viewers.

However, in the blink of an eye, she saw that Liekki may have been shirtless, but he was dressed in standard male Drahk apparel—dark pants and boots. Avalore, on the other hand, Kai couldn’t tell what she wore or didn’t, because the other woman was covered from shoulders to feet.

Why are you all here? Aodh leaned a shoulder against the glass, arms folded over his chest. He spoke mentally to his brother since the thick, clear wall made communication difficult without yelling.

Kai was grateful that Aodh opened a connection that allowed her to participate in the conversation.

Liekki glanced over his shoulder at them. He seemed reluctant to leave Avalore as he slowly uncurled himself and exited the bed. Come in. I need you to see something.

When Aodh pushed from the glass, Kai did, too. Ready to find out what was happening.

But Aodh stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “You can’t go in the smoky room, Kai.”

She frowned. “Why not? I’m around your smoke all the time, and I’m not bothered.”

“True. However, you're still human, and we don’t know how such concentrated levels of Liekki’s healing smog will affect you, even with the little one.” Aodh stepped to her and kissed her temple before he went to the door. “Be back, love.”

“Fine. Go. I’ll wait out here.” When Aodh hesitated before opening the door, Kai gave him a small smile to reassure him.

It was evident his brother was very concerned about whatever was going on with Avalore, and Kai didn’t want to stand in the way of Liekki getting his brother’s support.

Once Aodh entered the chamber, Kai followed along the glass wall, trying to get a better look at Avalore.

She took everything in about the other woman and tried to figure out the situation, but Avalore gave her nothing.

Liekki’s mate lay on the bed, still, while the two men stood before each other, talking.

She thought about pressing her ear to the glass-room door to pick up their low tones.

Why the urgency, Liekki? And why is your mate here?

I’m unsure how to describe what’s happening. I’m hoping you can help.

Kai practically sighed with joy when the men’s thoughts came through. She knew Aodh ensured he and Liekki spoke along a familial path to keep her a part of the conversation.

Hmm. Was there an incident on the way back from the meeting? Did your mate get hurt? Aodh peered down at the woman in bed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Liekki shoved one hand in his pocket while dragging the other through his long, dark strands. No. Avalore and I made it back fine from the meeting. A little unorthodox, but no issue.

Okay? Aodh’s brow was pinched.

It was after that that something happened.

After?

Liekki lifted his chin and met Aodh’s gaze boldly. After our claiming moment .

Both Aodh's and Kai’s brows went up.

She searched her thoughts to conceive what had placed such a worried expression on Liekki, Mr. Devil May Care. It always seemed that nothing could rattle the big blue dragon shifter. Something had.

Explain. Aodh lowered his hands.

It’s easier if I show you.

Aodh nodded.

Liekki moved toward the bed to Avalore and waited for Aodh to follow.

Kai moved back the other way behind the glass to get the same view that Aodh would have. Her heart pounded anxiously in anticipation.

Liekki removed his hand from his pocket and took hold of the top of the sheet edge while he reached down and gripped the other end at her feet.

Without any further hesitation, he slowly dragged the sheet toward the middle of Avalore’s body but stopped short of revealing more than her legs and an arm.

“Oh, my goodness,” Kai gasped.

“Oh, shit!” The words slipped from Aodh’s mouth so loudly that they came through the glass.

Aodh took a single significant step toward the bed. His gaze moved slowly along the other woman’s extremities.