Page 7

For a moment, Kai felt as if the woman could see through her lies but brushed it off.

Aodh’s heat consumed her senses again. Kai swallowed. “Soon.”

The woman in the green dress gave a simple nod to Kai before she glanced up high over Kai's head.

“The council will expect word within the week informing us when the marked one will turn eighteen. I expect the guardian to release her on that day. Or the council will grant the Lupine alpha permission to go and claim the mate of his Pack member.”

Kai figured Aodh must have nodded because the willowy woman leaned back on the table again as if the conversation was closed.

Not liking the resolution...not liking it at all.

Kai hoped over the next few days that she could get Aodh to agree to mate Morlie with someone in his Thunder.

He made it seem like not just anyone could be someone’s mate, but with this situation looming, it was dire for Morlie to be mated and keep her close.

The wolf growled, apparently not happy with the outcome.

Kai didn’t give a damn about how he felt. She stomped forward.

Once her sister was within reach, Kai took hold of her arm and yanked her close. She just wanted Morlie to be safe. Far away from them all.

“What about this one?” asked a rough voice of one of the big, gruff-looking men whose shoulders spanned the width of a great oak. He crouched down to stare into Kai’s eyes, sniffing the air around her.

She gasped at the audacious act.

In a blurred movement, Aodh was there wedging himself between them. He crouched and opened his mouth wide as he roared.

Flabbergasted, Kai saw a blaze of oranges and red rolling in the back of Aodh's throat while red flames filled his eyes.

Her pulse quickened, and heat flooded her core. The sight would have scared her weeks ago, but now it stoked something inside her and made her feel alive.

Aodh snapped his jaw closed, and his speech came out harsh as he stared down everyone. If two mountains were slammed against each other, causing a thunderous rumble, it was just how Aodh’s words sounded coming out of his mouth, broken and almost incomprehensible.

Growls, grunts, and hisses rang out from the men and women gathered in the circular structure at Aodh’s words.

Barely versed in dragon tongue, save for the naughty things Aodh repeated when they had sex and the handful of words he’d taught her.

She pieced together what he was saying into something like.

..Touch her, and I will bite off half your body and blow the ashes of your bones over the heads of your people.

It didn’t seem to matter how much of Aodh’s words the others understood because it was clear they grasped his meaning and saved their bodies from mutilation by taking two giant steps back from her.

“Allow me to make a second suggestion to you, Dragon King.” The willowy woman moved gracefully toward them.

Snowy white orchids bloomed in the Fae Queen’s vacated steps.

“If you plan to keep her, stop dicking around and mate her, or the next time she appears before any of us, I will invoke the reverting clause of the treaty of rights. Regardless of the fact, she isn’t a marked one. ”

Marked one? Kai’s body warmed as Aodh’s heat surrounded her, a protective shield against the Fae’s words. It drew Kai closer to Aodh even as she kept a tight hold on Morlie’s wrist.

Aodh offered a sharp nod.

With a smile, Iskah turned and faced all the council members. “This meeting is adjourned.” On a sweet breeze, the council judge was gone.

Soon after, two wisps of black smoke curled where Armaros and Marceline sat on the table's edge. The bears stomped off, leaving the wolf shifters to retreat last. Chanin held Morlie’s gaze for a long moment as if trying to communicate something to her.

Kai pushed her sister further behind her and away from the man’s gaze. Even with Aodh’s threat, she wasn't sure if it was enough to keep the wolf from moving toward Morlie. With a low growl, he and his second turned and ran fast into the forest.

Some of the tension left Kai’s body for the first time since hearing someone had taken her sister. She turned to Morlie. Her sister’s face appeared to be a mask of confusion.

“Morlie, are you okay—?”

“Liekki, get her back to our territory.” Before her sister could answer, Aodh grabbed Morlie by the waist and tossed her. “I trust you to have protection around her until I return.”

Kai gasped and tried to reach for her sister.

Morlie screamed.

Liekki caught Morlie effortlessly as if her sister weighed no more than a sack of potatoes. “I will guard her myself.”

“I expected no less,” Aodh confirmed.

Liekki held Morlie as he made quick, long strides into the same tree line Kai had walked out of and in the opposite direction of the wolves, bears, and Fae.

“Wait. I’m coming—”

Aodh’s thick arm encircled her waist, bringing her body flush to his as he finally took his sword.

She practically sagged with relief to have the hefty, cumbersome weight out of her hands.

The heat of his body kissed along the length of her back while he pressed his lips to her ear. “Oh no, little flame, the beauty of your bravery is enticing.”

As her sister disappeared into the woods, Kai turned in Aodh’s arms and faced him.

The day had been eventful in so many ways.

Her heart had raced wildly and caused her blood to boil and pump in her veins first in anger, then in fear, and now with desire.

She’d never imagined she’d find herself prepared to battle entities that were bigger, stronger, and faster than her.

However, for her sister, she had done just that.

Since Morlie was safe and out of danger, Kai wanted something for herself. Someone.

The smoldering flames in Aodh’s eyes were so dark they appeared indigo instead of the usual cerulean of lust. The heat of his desire called her on a deeper level. Her need thrummed through her body, and her core ached.

She moaned and leaned into him.

Bowing his head, he claimed her mouth. His kiss was rough and consuming.

She tasted the hot, honeyed sweetness coating his tongue as if the blaze that had roared in his throat was now filling her mouth, scorching her senses and igniting her passion like never before.

His roasted-cinnamon scent perfumed the air around them.

In response, her sex throbbed, and dampness coated her thighs.

There was something different about him.

When he pulled away, she chased him and wanted more.

He cupped her face while he caressed her bottom lip with his thumb.

“Aodh,” she panted.

“Tonight, I’ll become your God of Fire.”