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“What the hell, have they unleashed on the world?” Kai took a step back. She wasn’t stupid. There wasn’t any way she could fight this grotesque thing, not even with her sword skills.

It grumbled mindlessly, and the sound seemed contrived, just as its body seemed piecemealed from the most beastly parts of the various shifters.

She took another tentative step back, as its sharp eyes watched her. With a burst of energy and self-preservation, Kai turned and ran. Arms and legs pumping, sword in hand, she moved as fast as her legs and belly would allow and headed back to the territory's center.

Then she heard the heavy pounding of feet behind her, in front of her, all around her, like a drummer's symphony. Every time one of her feet struck the ground, she felt the powerful vibrations getting closer.

Would the Drahks dashing through the forest manage to get to her before the hellacious thing did?

“Kai. Kai!” Avalore’s high-pitched voice lashed out toward her through the dense trees.

“Aguya!” Ladon’s call to her wasn’t far behind.

Yet Kai didn’t wait for them to reach her, but continued down the path. She didn’t get far before a searing pain struck her shoulder. She lost her footing and fell sideways, landing hard, her back slamming into the base of a large tree.

“Damn it!” she cried, as searing pain exploded across her back and through her stomach. She clutched her middle with one hand, praying to the Great Spirit for her baby.

Kai blinked back the stars and darkness threatening to overtake her. She glanced up into the maniacal gaze as the savage entity, no longer human, towered over her prone body.

Her hand clutched the sword handle tightly, ready to protect herself and her unborn child in any way she could. She was thankful she hadn’t lost her weapon in the fall.

When she attempted to scramble back, the sadistic creature spied her movement and lunged for her. His clawlike hands swooped down, snatched her up from the ground as if she weighed no more than a field mouse.

Instead of giving in to the fear that was flooding her throat with bile, she recalled her hours of training with Khuzaimah, Kai anticipated the thing pulling her closer to him, and she allowed it, using the opportunity to strike.

Fast and using all her might, she drove her thin, long sword into its side, not stopping until she had run the thing through, her hilt pressing into its thick flesh.

“Rrrrrrrrrrr!” It bellowed as it shoved her away and to the ground again.

Kai’s sword pulled from its body with a wet, sickening sound, but she kept it in her grip, ready to defend herself again until help arrived. Her shoulder took the brunt of her fall this time.

So much noise filled the forest, but it all felt like it was coming through a tunnel from the ringing in her ears that dulled her senses. Struggling to sit up, she only focused on the big malformation before her.

Blood poured from the wound in its side, but it didn’t stop. Once again, the wild thing, enraged, came at her again. It raised one clawed hand ready to swipe down at her and slice her into ribbons.

As it swung its meaty arm, claws extended, Kai prepared herself for the blow.

It never came.

There was a thud as the arm that had been ready to rip at her fell to the forest floor at her feet.

The constructed beast howled. It stumbled and teetered a step or two as it turned toward its offender. Coming face to face with Ladon, whose broad sword was painted with the thing’s blood.

“Come on, mother fucker!” Ladon swung his sword left and right before him as he stepped surefooted backwards, drawing it away from her.

Angry, the horror on furred feet started to charge at Ladon.

However, it never took more than one step.

“No!” someone shouted.

All Kai saw was a flash of movement from the other side of the unnatural thing—it was her friend.

Avalore drew both Liekki’s broadswords and swung them high in a crisscross motion.

Their length gave her the reach she needed, with perfect precision.

Like shears slicing effortlessly through meat, the new Drahk female decapitated the head of the beast, as Ladon, working in tandem with her, drove his blade into the beast's heart.

Stunned, Kai inhaled sharply.

Thump. Thump. Thump. The head dropped, bounced, and landed before Ladon’s feet.

For a moment, the headless body remained standing.

Ladon shoved it in the opposite direction of where Kai was still lying on the ground. The guard pulled out his radio and reported the incident.

“Avalore...” Kai shook her head, shocked at her friend's deft skills. Yes, Avalore had been doing well with her training with Khuzaimah, but Kai didn’t realize how deadly she’d become.

“Are you alright, Aguya Kai?” Avalore lifted her arms and slid the swords into the harness at her back.

“Yes. Just a little bruised.” Kai started to get up and groaned. Her stomach was tight, making it difficult to rise.

“Easy. Let me help you.” Avalore kicked the severed arm out of the way and moved closer to her. She reached out and held Kai’s hand and shoulder to support her, and she pried Kai’s long sword out of her hand before slipping it back into the holster.

“Oh, gracious... Avalore, your arms....scales.” Standing, Kai stared at the bare extension of her friend's arm, revealed by the sleeveless lemon-yellow blouse Avalore wore, boldly showing her usual subdued markings.

“Wh—what—?” Avalore held her arms out and gazed transfixed at her limbs' reddish glow, as if she weren’t sure whom they belonged to.

“Has this happened before?” Kai reached out, but stopped short of touching the other woman.

Avalore shook her head vehemently, repeatedly turning her arms left and right, her eyes wide with wonder. “No. Never.”

“Your dragon is making itself known.” Ladon stepped up to them. When Avalore glanced at him, he met her gaze, assessing her eyes. “No flames yet, but I’m sure it won’t be long. I look forward to meeting Liekki’s mate's dragon.”

Avalore’s lips curled up in a smile as the color changed from the tint of rage to a canary yellow. “How do I subdue it?”

“Breathe,” Ladon declared with a shrug as if it were just that simple. “Aguya. Let’s get you back. More Drahk are coming to retrieve the body. I’m sure the Mckenna will want to examine it.”

Kai let him take her arm. “Yes. Let’s get— Ahhh!”

A sharp pain like never before shot through her stomach and pierced through her crotch. Kai’s knees buckled.

“Whoa... Aguya, are you alright?” Ladon encircled her shoulders, steadying her.

Avalore rushed to her, still shining bright, as she took hold of Kai’s other arm.

Unable to speak until the pain abated, Kai stood between the two in the forest.

She forced air into her lungs as the pain began to subside. “Guess, I’m more than a little bruised from the fall.”

“We need to get you back as quickly as possible.”

“If you permit me, Aguya. May I carry you? We could move faster.” Ladon stood waiting for her consent.

“I think you should let him,” Avalore added.

“Umm, if you believe it is necessary.” Kai knew it was a big deal for a Drahk to touch another, and to carry someone else’s mate was significant.

If Kai thought she could make it back to the Mckenna building on her own steam without taking a long time, she would try to convince her guard that she was okay.

However, she knew in her core that something was wrong with the baby, which was her primary concern.

“You have my permission. Please help me get back.”

Promptly, Ladon leaned down and picked her up, then immediately rushed forward, Avalore in step beside him.

Moving at Ladon’s pace, it didn’t take them long to return.

As they broke through, she heard the fierce beating of massive wings moments before an epic, burnt-orange dragon dropped from the sky. In a flash, Aodh was there.

“Give her to me,” came Aodh’s commanding growl.

Ladon didn’t hesitate as he handed her off. “Mckenna, forgive me. I only left my post for a mo—”

Kai whimpered, crying out and clutching her belly as she turned into Aodh. She felt the gush of water pour over her thighs, accompanying the piercing pain. “Aodh...the baby...it’s too soon—”

“We’ll discuss this later. Go to Edjer and tell him I want to double the security in the forest around the territory center and report anything suspicious. If another thing or person is on our lands, I want them eliminated. Now, Ladon!” Aodh ordered.

“Right away, Mckenna.” Ladon scrambled away.

Aodh shouldered through the gathering crowd, tearing across the hard-packed ground at breakneck speed toward the building.

Liekki, return now! Our plans are changing. We will go to war by nightfall tomorrow, and I will need you to communicate this to the council.

Kai tried to breathe through the sharp pain as she heard Aodh’s mental orders to his brother.

Rarely did Aodh have his communication path to his brother wide enough for her to pick up on their discussions.

She attributed it to the Mckenna being thrown off by the unexpected early arrival of their child.

I’m on my way, Mckenna, Liekki confirmed no questions asked.

Aodh raced into the doorway and took the stairs three at a time. “Tana!”

“I am right behind you, Mckenna.” Rapid steps echoed behind Aodh. “I’ve already given instructions for the items I need and sent for your mother.”

Kai couldn’t see the attendant or anything since she kept her eyes closed and face buried against Aodh’s broad, hard chest. She took deep breaths to fill her lungs with his roasted, sweet-cinnamon scent, using it to soothe herself.

Once they were in the small suite, Aodh rushed in and stood in the front room. As if confused about what to do, he turned right, left, and right again and decided on the large wicker bucket seat in the middle before the fire.

“Not there, Mckenna.” Tana stopped him as he leaned forward, prepared to set Kai down.

When Aodh rose, Tana crossed the room and waved him behind her.

Kai ground her teeth together and tried to relax between the tightening of her stomach and the stabbing pain.

“We will start here. Bring her to the bed, please,” Tana directed.

Aodh moved toward the bed and waited while Tana pulled out the stack of sheets and towels, then laid them out over the bed.

Aodh gingerly settled Kai in the middle of it when it was set.

When he shifted as if he was going to release her, Kai quickly gripped his arm. “Please, don’t leave me. It hurts so bad.”

Her body trembled, and she wanted to tell him that the pain in her belly was great, but minimal compared to the excruciating fear in her heart. She knew the cause of her early labor was the attack and her falls, and she was afraid something might have happened to the baby.

“I’m not going anywhere, mate.” He stroked along her back.

There was a knock at the door. Tana hustled away to answer.

What if I’ve lost—?

Shh...our offspring is tough. Everything will be alright.

Another pain slammed into her, a knotting pressure in her back that throbbed into her hips and down her legs, even as the searing pain between her thighs stole her breath. She dug her nails deep into Aodh’s thick skin and cried out until it subsided.

Aodh brushed her damp hair away from her cheek as he blew soft streams of smoke around her face. Breathe. Just breathe.

Trembling, Kai followed his orders.

“You are mine, love. My everything. The mother of my people. You reconnected us all in a way we thought lost, and you gave us hope. Never doubt your importance to our Thunder.” His determined gaze held hers, while a moss-green flame flickered in his irises, as he caressed her face, giving her his calm.

His words were a balm to worry that had resided in her for too long. It was clear he’d heard the whispers in her mind.

“Myhnn,” she confirmed in Drahk. “I love you, Aodh.”

“I love you.” Those pale flames shifted and flickered into a ruby hue in a blink. “No one hurts you. I promise, I am going to kill every fucking one of them for touching you, love.” He brushed his lips over her temple and held her close to his chest.

Tears burned in her eyes before they ran down her cheeks.

This man would take on the world and fight for her because he loved her, and she realized she’d been a fool to doubt her place in his life because of jealousy.

It wasn’t the Drahk way; she was a Drahk no matter what changed for her after the baby was born.