Page 34

“It is your land, Iskah. It has been your claimed territory for almost two decades. You and your people have a right to be comfortable and not feel threatened or set upon by any bond by the same treaty.”

“That’s right.” Frustrated, the Fae Queen ran a hand through her blue-turquoise strands. “But still...”

Aodh allowed her the silence to process her thoughts and emotions.

“Chanin and his Pack, even if they returned the girls unharmed. They still need to answer for the insult and thievery.”

He gave a sharp nod.

Her wings retracted. “Now that I’m calmer. Can we pass?”

Aodh offered Iskah a half grin. “Only after you contact Chanin and let him know you’re coming.

” He glanced at the ten Fae still facing off with his brother, security leader, and the guard.

If Iskah gave the word, they would attack, hoping to have the upper hand because they outnumbered them with odds greater than three to one.

However, the Fae attack would be to the ethereal beings’ detriment.

He shook his head and choked down his humor, knowing Iskah would not appreciate it. “After you radio ahead, you have permission to cross with a handful less warriors. Keijo and a few others would still make a point.”

Iskah thought his words over for a beat. “Alright. I’ll radio the Lupines. We’ll encamp here until tomorrow, and I’ll only take the necessary contingency.”

This time, he laughed. Aodh understood she would at least bring half with her. “Good.”

With that decision, they both headed back to rejoin their people.

“The Fae queen appears less rageful. Can we take that to mean she is less likely to brew multiple tornadoes and sandstorms to sweep away all the Lupines?” Liekki joked when Aodh gathered them.

“Maybe a frostbite or two, but she’ll talk,” Aodh confirmed.

“That’s better. Because if the Fae had marched over to the Lupines with a forest at their back, it wouldn’t have ended well for either group.” Edjer still kept one eye on the Fae. The security leader never trusted anyone outside of a Drahk.

“Which is what I wanted to avoid,” Aodh confirmed.

“What would you have me to do, commander...Mckenna?” Hydra looked from Edjer to him.

“Stand down. Maintain your post here for the night. Tomorrow, when they are ready, allow the Fae queen and no more than five of her warriors to enter.” Aodh placed a hand on the guard’s shoulder. “Good job.”

Hydra stood tall with her chest out and shoulders back, but Aodh didn’t miss the small, amethyst flame leap into her gaze.

“Thank you, Mckenna. And congratulations on the pending hatchling,” Hydra offered.

After a pat on her shoulders in thanks. He turned to Liekki and Edjer. “Now that the issue’s resolved, we’ll head back now.”

Liekki rotated his shoulders and brought one leg and then his other up to his chest in a stretch. “I’m down for a nice walk back to center territory.”

Aodh shoved his brother’s shoulder. “There’s no fucking way, I’m walking. I have plans with my mate, and I’m already late.”

“She’s already growing your offspring. You can lay off on the sex some,” Liekki ribbed him as they headed toward a clearing.

Edjer chuckled as he strode with them.

In the open space, Aodh met both men’s gazes seriously. “I’ll never lay off sex with Kai. However, it’s time I show her my hoard.”

Aodh shifted and took off into the skies, knowing the two he left stunned behind him would follow soon enough.

~YH~

Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

His front and back paws struck the earth in pairs for hours as he moved through the woods along the border.

He was on a path that kept him deep within the dense foliage on his side of the line.

Not because he was worried about being spotted by a dragon-shifter out on patrol, but because he refused to allow anything to slow down his progress to his one goal—getting to his mate.

Even though he was unsure exactly where she was within the Drahk territory, he figured the central area would be best to start his search.

If his Pack needed to request permission to cross their lands for any reason, they would steer clear of the heart of the fire-breathers’ Thunder.

Yes, the dragons utilized more of their territory for leaving space than his Pack, who enjoyed the proximity of each other, but a significant sect of the Drahks settled in one area. That was the place he headed.

From the small bite, he could sense her, feel the connection to her. However, since she only had a small amount of his serum, it wasn’t a homing beacon. He’d feel a stronger pull if he were close enough to her.

His ear pricked, and all his senses came alive when he arrived close to the populated area.

He heard the hum and chatter of conversation and felt the occasional vibrations in the ground caused by the heavy thud of dragon patrols landing.

His vision flooded with heavy waves coming off their bodies, but he could smell them mostly.

The cloying sulfuric stench that surrounded them and clung to everything they touched clogged his nasal passages.

Once, twice, three times, his wolf shook its large head to clear the fetor.

His movements were silent as he slowed, took in the buildings, and analyzed the people he passed.

He focused his thoughts on Morlie, brought the memory of the complex, gentle, woodsy, violet scent with vanilla’s musky sweetness, and isolated on it.

Chanin’s beast forced all the other smells of the woods surrounding him and the dragon-shifters away as he searched.

The questions loomed In his mind: What will I do if I locate Morlie in this mass of scales ?

Get our mate .

His wolf didn’t hesitate. The beast was very clear about what it wanted.

Chanin wanted the same thing. However, what the man knew compared to the wolf was the situation had to do with diplomacy.

Tact. Deep within Chanin’s core, he yearned for his mate.

He desired to have her in his arms and have more than a small taste of her skin.

He wanted to sink his dick and fangs into her at the same time.

He’d try to make Morlie his mate in every way.

But, if he charged into Drahk territory without permission and laid claim to her, regardless of the fact everyone on the preternatural council knew she was his mate, the council wouldn’t view his actions well.

He would expect everything from a confrontation with several dragon-shifters to a face-to-face with Aodh.

Chanin didn’t fear clashing with Aodh because they were both solid and competent leaders who didn’t give over to unbridled anger unless provoked.

Nor was he afraid of facing off with a dragon because he was faster and vicious enough to hold his own, but without a couple more packmates at his side, he wouldn’t be able to beat a mammoth beast. The power of their wolves’ jaws and the sharpness of their teeth made their species the only ones able to take down a dragon if the scaly beast didn’t take flight or assault them with fire first.

Creating a conflict was not why he was there that day, but if he laid eyes on Morlie, Chanin wasn’t responsible for what he would do.

~YH~

“Never has a day taken so much out of me.” Kai dragged through the door and headed toward the steps leading up.

They appeared like the stairway to heaven to her.

Every cell in her body was exhausted. She felt like every step required so much effort she wanted to groan. The giant-size steps didn’t help.

“The walk was nice. Thank you.” Morlie paced herself up the stairs, matching Kai’s.

Kai glanced at her sister. “It was a great afternoon. I feel a little guilty watching the Drahks work so hard and go about their day getting things done, and I’m not contributing.”

Morlie frowned. “Everything they do seems to take so much strength...even Eilidh can sling a boulder without breaking a sweat.”

“True.” Kai continued up the last few steps. “But I am not used to being idle, you know that.”

Her sister nodded. “I do. You have worked hard for years in collections and caring for me and our parents. You deserve a little time to rest.” Morlie faced her. “Did Aodh say something to you about working?”

She shook her head. “No. The opposite. He wants me to eat and sleep.”

Morlie tipped her head to the left and stared at her. “Sleep and eat? Well... I can understand the eating. Honestly, I feel hungry a lot lately. You think it’s because we lacked food for so long?”

“That probably has a lot to do with your increase in appetite.” Kai noticed that her sister was enthusiastic when it came to eating.

Not just when Tana brought them food, but when Kai had asked her to stop by the gallery kitchen for a snack before they went on their walk, her sister agreed eagerly.

Morlie had eaten the food Tana brought out to their table with as much enthusiasm as Kai had.

Kai was happy to see her sister looking so healthy that she had regained her desire for substance. She knew why she was so hungry, and it gnawed at her heart that she had not told Morlie. It was past time she did so.

“I require a nap. And I know Eilidh asked you to join her and her friends tonight, but do you mind if we sit here for a second?”

“Sure.” Morlie lowered herself to the top step but shifted so her back was against the railing wall, leaving ample space for Kai to sit.

Exhaling, Kai sat and mirrored her sister’s position along the opposite wall. Kai glanced at the open door in the fading sunlight as she bit into the side of her bottom lip and tried to formulate the right words.

“Everything alright, sissy?” Morlie lifted her hand and rubbed their mother’s ring around her neck.

Parents.

“Yes. Things are perfect for me.” Kai smiled, hoping to reassure her sister.