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“Yes.” He squeezed Kai’s hand as his dragon writhed inside him just at the mention of the volcanic glass.

Aodh paused. He wanted to ensure his following words impressed upon his mate the moment’s significance.

“As Drahks, we have been aware of each dragon’s hearth-stone from the time we discovered it as younglings. ”

“Do you all travel the world searching for the gem that connects to you?”

He lifted his hand and caressed along her neck, needing to touch her more.

“We used to centuries ago. However, once humans began to populate and explore every corner of the Earth, it became harder for a dragon to fly freely around the world. So, a while ago, a Wise One who happened to be a geologist began to collect every possible stone and mineral on Earth. We maintain them in a vault. Once a Drakh shifts for the first time, their parents and the leaders escort the dragon inside to discover their infinite hearth-stone.”

Attempting to drive home his point, he took a small step back and pulled one side of his vest away from his body.

Next, he ran a hand along the bottom seam until he could pinch the material between his thumb and index finger, causing a sliver of black obsidian to pop out.

A Drahk always has a piece of their hearth-stone with them. ”

Her brown gaze held his. “Have two dragons ever connected with the same piece?”

“Never. Because—”

“Dragon link.”

Aodh smiled at her. “Yes. But once a Drahk passes away, that stone cycles through and becomes available for another.”

“I think I’m beginning to understand how compelling that link is.”

“It is powerful.”

“I can see that.” She fingered one of her curls resting on her shoulder.

“Something else I remember I wanted to ask you, Aodh. My link through the baby is how I can exchange thoughts with you. But does it also allow me to recognize Drahks in their dragon forms? Even those I’ve yet to meet personally? ”

He slowly nodded. Aodh had not realized that the Drahk distinction ability was also something Kai would gain.

Before the Great Catastrophes, they never mated with humans.

Those with dormant traits of his kind remained suppressed.

None of the other humans who had come to the council as part of the exchange treaty had an awakened gene connected to them.

Even if they did, since he didn’t have a mate, they couldn’t have conceived.

Kai was the first. Kai was rare. Her gene had surfaced even without the serum in her skin like Morlie.

“Are you inundated with all Drahk movements and whereabouts?” Like all Drahk, Aodh’s link was part of his DNA, so the awareness was as natural as blinking. However, now that he knew more than just his thoughts, which he controlled, were flooding Kai, he was concerned for her well-being.

“Maybe.” She shrugged and ran her hand into her thick hair.

“It’s like the humming you mentioned as a constant in the back of my mind.

I haven’t distinguished between the multiple things affecting me today.

Before the Mckenna claimed me, the dragons kept their distance.

If I saw them, they were in the sky or so far away I couldn’t have said if you all were the same color, like a lounge of lizards from the same species. ”

His dragon hissed at her reference”

“Understandable.” He cupped her neck and pulled her close. “If it becomes too much, talk to me.”

Aodh could take her to one of the Wise Ones for training to differentiate what was coming at her and show her how to put up blocks for her sanity. However, since Kai would only have to deal with it during her pregnancy, Aodh doubted she would ever need complete mental guidance.

“I will.”

“Now. No other has entered the place I keep my hoard.”

“None?” Her lids stretched wide around her eyes as she stared up at him.

“None. It is a private space for our dragons.” Aodh drove both his hands through his short hair. “If anyone, other than a claimed mate, entered the area, even if that’s rare, the dragon would kill them. More the reason we keep it well hidden.”

“Oh, my.” Her hands trembled as she rubbed her arms. “Are you sure I should do this? I’m alright with not seeing it.”

“You’re mine, little flame.” He covered her hands still on her arms to offer her his heat for comfort. “The Mckenna has claimed you. Now let him show you his heart.”

Retaking one of her hands, he led her into the closet.

He continued further and deeper still along the long passageway between the clothing racks.

At the end, he pushed his dress shirts left and then shoved his slacks to the right along the rod.

He ducked below the fixture and pulled Kai into the extended space behind it.

He gazed down at her and saw how her face twisted and scrunched, showing her perplexity as she stared at a blank wall.

“You ready?”

Her eyes shifted to him briefly, then fastened back on the wall. “I guess.”

Aodh lifted his left hand and placed it flat on the cold, hard surface.

He felt the energy radiating off it as his body filled with the excitement of the wonders held on the other side.

With a firm push, he extended his arm out, and there was a snick, and instantly, the entire back wall gave way and slid out of place, revealing the massive cavern behind it filled with piles and piles of black obsidian.

“The Mckenna desires you to enter and explore the beauty of his hoard.” Aodh stepped back and allowed Kai to move past him into his space.

She took a small step forward but halted and peered in. “Wait. I don’t have on shoes.” She glanced down at her wiggling toes. “Some of it looks sharp.”

He tugged and pulled her forward. “My hearth-stone will never harm you, mate. Come.”

Their connection and power around their hearth-stones was part of their mage genetics, like shifting.

Kai’s first step was hesitant as she cautiously placed her foot along the path of embedded black obsidian, both polished and rough virgin pieces. Once she did not wince in pain, she took a second step, then another as she moved deeper within the massive space.

“How is this possible, Aodh?” Her words were breathless and filled with awe as she turned one way and the other, setting her sights on one hill of stones only to gasp at a mound of another collection.

Aodh wasn’t sure how he would feel having Kai in his secret space. Even though he knew it was past time for him to show her. He’d felt the urge since meeting her, but he knew it could not happen until his beast accepted who she was to them.

Now, he moved into the cavern, climbing along the valleys and hills of the stone that was precious to him.

He inhaled deep and filled his lungs with the pungent sulfuric perfume that clung to each stone, proof of how the searing heat from within the Earth’s surface crafted, shaped, and created each piece, leaving its mark on the land.

Volcanic glass to ancient dragons was the original hearth-stone of their kind.

Born of fierce passion of the Great Spirit as he created the Earth and purified it within the core by fire—black obsidian reigned.

Aodh watched Kai chatter on to herself of the wonder as she leaned forward, plucked a plum-size piece of stone, and held it up to the light glowing from the lit sconces along the cave-like walls.

Aodh’s bones quaked as a blaze of fire frissoned through the marrow and sent a searing heat through his flesh, signaling his shift. The flash of pain was overwhelming but lasted less time than it took him to exhale.

“Oh, Aodh...it feels like mag-ic—” Her words broke away as she curled her fingers around a glossy piece of obsidian and held it close to her chest while she stared at his dragon.

Through the eyes of his dragon, he could see her tantalizing curves shudder with nervousness and smell the anxiety seeping through her pores as she stood before his beast in the center of his hoard.

“Umm...” She licked her lips and swallowed as if she wasn’t sure of the words to say.

When she stooped down and lowered her hand toward a pile close to her, he called out mentally, Don’t !

She froze, her fingers not fully extended enough to drop the chunk in her hand. I was only looking at it. I wasn’t going to take it.

Do you like it ? His dragon stepped back. Black stone shifting and tumbling around from his weight. He stretched his hind legs back until his massive belly rested in a large divot he created within the stones.

Y-e-ess . She glanced at the stone, turning it left and right as if playing with the light bouncing on it but only penetrating the edges. It’s so dark, so mysteriously beautiful .

Keep it, mate. I want you to have it.

Are you sure ? She drew herself up, appearing more at ease in the place.

His dragon leaned his head down and then inched it forward until his snout bumped her hand holding the stone. It would please me greatly .

Then I will .

The beast sighed and let out a light stream of white smoke that curled around Kai’s legs and up her body in ribbons.

Kai smiled and coyly used her free hand to palm some of the smoke and lift it to her nose. She inhaled slowly.

The Mckenna’s mammoth body shivered at the sight. Mine .

Yes . Kai confirmed and began to walk through the hoard again, lifting stones of various sizes and holding them toward the light for examination before putting them down and grabbing a different one.

Aodh’s dragon lay captivated by her. At ease, his beast extended its front paws and buried his talons in a pile beneath him only to unclasp the stones and push them away again—gratified, pawing like a big cat on its favorite blanket.

Besides your particular stone, choose a handful of small pieces.

What for? This one is enough . Kai held up the black obsidian in her right hand.

Yes. But Aodh wishes to have something made for you .

She tipped her head to the side and observed him for a moment. Okay. But only if I can have a fragment melted into my father’s ring .