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“Follow protocol, but no fire attack. Apprehend Chanin with the least amount of force and notify me. He is an alpha but ally of sorts.”

“And if she runs?” That question came from his brother, who stared out the window not at the people passing by but at the forest beyond.

“We let her,” Aodh declared.

The room fell silent, everyone understanding their roles and the expectation to play in this uncanny situation.

However, Liekki shifted in his seat and turned his sights on him.

Aodh knew what his brother’s look communicated. His mate would disagree with his decree. But Kai was his to handle.

Just then, the squawk from Edjer’s radio broke the silence. “Hertug! Hertug Edjer!”

The anxious call for the security commander caused everyone in the room to sit up straighter.

When the leaders were in a meeting, their second in command took over to minimize interference in handling the Thunder business.

It had to be serious if someone on his team was calling specifically for Edjer at such a time.

Edjer pulled the radio from its latched case on his hip. Compressing the button, he spoke. “This is Hertug Edjer. What’s the reason for this disturbance?”

“Hertug, this is Hydra from the North East gate. We have Fae here...many Fae requesting permission to enter our border and cross our territory.”

Aodh’s markings began to sizzle. It wasn’t like the Fae to move outside their territory for multiple reasons. If they were not only entering but doing so in what seemed to be a shocking number and crossing through, then something would go down.

Edjer frowned and met his gaze as he responded. “What is their purpose?”

“The wolves have taken two of our young women.” That voice came from Iskah, the Fae Queen who either grabbed the radio from the guard or leaned in to ensure she was heard.

Fuck. Aodh wanted to roar at the dual situations. He had a wolf possibly already at one border and now a court of Fae at the other.

Aodh shot to his feet. “I’m on my way. Liekki, Edjer with me,” he directed.

“I want them to see we are acknowledging their concerns, but not present a show of force.” Aodh pointed toward Hugo.

“Have your comm teams get the word out through the Thunder. I don’t want anyone alarmed and making either of these occurrences worse. ”

“Will do, Mckenna.” Hugo rose.

Aodh started toward the door with his small group filing out behind him. He turned right and vaulted up the stairs two at a time. When they arrived at his office, Aodh’s assistant had already beat them there and had the glass door to the landing open.

One by one Aodh and the others shifted and launched off the landing taking flight.

~YH~

Kai returned home and was shocked to see both guards had already been removed.

Both the downstairs door and the upper hallway were empty now.

Aodh requested them taken away, but she didn’t think it would happen in the time it took her to walk from his office.

She was glad to be able to tell her sister she could move about without a shadow once again.

Kai was sure it would do a lot to calm the unease that seemed to be brewing around Morlie.

Once Kai reached the top of the stairs, she went to her suite instead of heading directly to her sister with the news.

It took some effort, as always, to push the heavy stone door open.

She crossed through the living space and went to the bedroom closet when she entered.

She immediately went to the jacket hanging up at the end of the rack with her clothing.

She missed not wearing her father’s military jacket as often, but being around Aodh made her feel a security she had not felt since her parents were alive.

She still missed them but was trying to learn to move forward with her life, not always looking back and worrying.

Aodh did that for her. She wanted to be everything to him as he was to her.

Besides, she would be a mother soon, which would be a significant change for her.

Digging in the top pocket, she took hold of the metal objects.

Standing in the long, silent closet, she considered the two rings.

She stared at them. The thicker, larger ring represented her father’s love for her mother, and the thinner and smaller gold band symbolized her mother’s love for her father.

Both their lives had ended too soon. She closed her eyes briefly and prayed that she would have at least half the love they shared and that the Lord would grant her the same strength and dedication her parents had to her and Morlie.

Before she ended her prayer, she added her sister to it, too.

Even though she feared them parting one day, she wanted her sister to find love with just as much passion.

“Amen.”

Lifting both rings, she kissed them, wishing she had just one more chance to kiss her parents’ cheeks.

With a sigh, she placed her father’s band back into her pocket while keeping hold of the other ring.

She looked around the closet to find something to hold the piece of jewelry.

Seeing that Aodh had more than one pair of boots, she went to a pair at the back of the closet and removed the shoelace from one.

After she folded the string in half, making a loop at one end, she fed it through the ring.

She then tucked the two ends into the loop, allowing her to slide the loop down toward the ring to hold it fixed in place.

Kai left the closet and hustled out of the suite to Morlie’s.

Once there, she used the side of her fist to bang on the big door.

Kai was surprised moments later when Morlie opened the door with ease. “You must have learned a new trick to opening the heavy door. You’ll need to show it to me.”

Morlie shrugged. She stepped back to let her in but did a double take as she glanced over Kai’s shoulder. “They’re gone?”

“Yup.” Kai smiled from her place in the sitting room. “I told you I would speak to Aodh about them. He immediately had them called away.”

“Thank you, Kai.” Morlie stepped closer to her, but she didn’t embrace her.

Kai found her sister’s actions a little weird because, unlike the Drahk, who didn’t touch each other often, she and Morlie’s parents were big huggers.

Kai told herself to let it go. Since her sister had awakened, she’d watched her like a hawk and analyzed everything her sister did.

She’d keep reminding herself that Morlie wasn’t a child and had the right to grow into her own person.

“I’ll pass your thanks to Aodh.”

“You ready to go for that walk? I need the fresh air.” Morlie stared back to the door.

“Wait. Before you go, I wanted to give you something.” Kai squeezed her hand around the ring.

Morlie tipped her head to the side and eyed her curiously. “What is it?”

“This.” She held her hand out to her before unfurling her fingers. In the middle of her palm sat the tie and ring.

Her sister stared into her open hand. “Kai...is that—?”

“Mom’s wedding ring. Things have been so crazy for us since they passed. Maybe having a piece of them with us will give us some goodness.”

“I miss them so much.” Morlie sniffed as she picked up the band gingerly and held it cautiously as if she feared it would go away any second, as their parents had.

“So do I.” Kai felt her eyes water up as well. It felt like they were in a paradox, both feeling their parents there and losing them all over again. “I know they’d be proud to see the beautiful, smart, and determined young lady you have become.”

“Because of you, sissy.” Morlie’s watery gaze met hers.

“Because of you,” Kai declared. “Let me put it on you.”

Morlie handed it back and then turned her back to her.

She stepped up behind her sister. “I’m sorry I don’t have something better to hang it on.”

“No worries. Chains break, but ties bind.” Morlie reached up and covered Kai’s hand at the back of her neck.

“Always.” Kai squeezed her sister’s hand and double-knotted the ends to keep them from falling apart. “There.”

When Morlie turned around, she held the ring at the end of the string right above her heart. “Perfect. Thank you for giving it to me.”

Kai moved forward and embraced her sister. She felt Morlie flinch and pull back a bit before her sister leaned in, wrapping her arms around her to return the hug.

She pushed away the concern at Morlie’s initial reaction, just figuring she’d startled her sister with her fast embrace.

“Let’s get out of this suite.” Kai released her sister.

“Yes.” Morlie walked to the door. “I’m ready for the walk. I need the fresh air.”

Kai laughed at her sister’s dramatics. But for such a long time, Morlie had been cooped up, and her sister probably felt more than a little stir-crazy.

When Morlie eagerly dragged the door open, Kai shook her head. “Show me the trick with the door.”

Morlie looked from the door to her. “Just try centering yourself to the door before you pull it. Don’t fight against it like it has already defeated you.”

“Okay. Close it back. Let me try.” Kai stopped at the door.

Morlie stood on the hall side of it. She took hold of the handle with one hand and drew it shut.

On the other side, Kai angled her body to the door and then took a breath before she reached out to the handle with one hand.

She tugged like she would do an average door.

She tugged again. It budged a little but didn’t open more than a crack.

Finally, frustrated, Kai grabbed the handle with both hands and yanked at it.

When it opened, she stared at Morlie, who lounged against the landing wall.

“I guess I’ll have to keep working on it.” Kai started down the stairs with her sister.

“Maybe I’ve developed some superhuman strength.” Morlie raised one arm and flexed her small bicep.

“Well, good for you. Maybe I’ll find some, too.”

The sisters laughed as they stepped into the lavender sunlight.