Page 25 of Smoke and Flame

“Time will tell.Morlie was close to death by the time I was able to create enoughdeatach glan heylaround her.”Now, Aodh dragged a hand through his hair, but he swallowed back the sigh.It was a show of weakness, and he wouldn’t reveal that before his assembly.“We will see what happens.For now, she is under my protection.I do not want anyone not cleared by me to enter that chamber or even the room.She will not become some spectacle for all curious individuals in the Thunder.”

“By your word, Mckenna.”The statement came from Edjer while all others nodded along.

Aodh did not doubt that his security leader and others in his assembly would ensure everyone followed his edicts.

The room fell silent for a moment.Aodh could practically feel the shift around the table and sense the growing tension.He was not psychic even before the great catastrophe when his kind worked in the human world, hiding in plain sight.Still, knowing what was coming next didn’t take extreme intelligence.His people were internally debating whether or not to ask the question on each of their minds.Aodh was ready to let them sweat it for a minute or two.

“And the other?”The question came from Anala, the head of textile manufacturing for the Thunder, which produced everything from bedding to clothing.She was a quiet sort, methodical in all things.

Aodh knew it was how Anala had won her position.Not through brawn or lineage, she worked hard, long hours, studied everything about the craft, and stayed under the radar.When the time came for Seon, the daughter of the previous leader, to assume the position, Anala challenged her.For their Thunder, one had to know the job and win battles in both forms of their kind.Anala shocked her rival, Seon, and the Thunder when she won.She had not gloated but claimed her new title and position with a quiet grace.

Rising, Aodh walked to the windows.In this room, they were smaller, unlike the ones on the second floor of all the buildings, which their dragons used as launching pads.The conference room windows were also extra thick and did not open, solely to keep the discussions private.Keeping secrets in the Thunder wasn’t customary, but the assembly always discussed things first and tried to find a resolution before passing the information on.

He kept his back to the members at the table as he began, “Kai.Her name is Kai.She was not sick.Underfed and unwashed, but from all I sensed, fit.”Aodh did not go further into detail about Kai’s person.Not only because thinking of her body in any way would arouse him but also he didn’t want to share any more of her than he had to.

That bit he’d analyze when he was alone.

“It is rumored she is yours.”Anala still rested back in her chair on the other side of Liekki as she spoke in low tones.It would be a whisper to humans, but everyone in the room could hear her—loud and clear.

Taking a deep breath, Aodh glanced back at her.He was glad the textile leader did not use the word ‘mate.’But Anala had great intuition about others.It was part of her perspicacity, unlike others on the assembly who rushed ahead.Liekki included.

“Yes.”Aodh shifted to face them all again.“She is mine.”Taking his time, he stared at each assembly member’s eyes before continuing.“I know everyone here has concerns about the state of our Thunder and what will become of us in future generations.”

The last generation in their Thunder were now dragonets, juveniles just being trained in their first flights and learning jobs to find their place in the Thunder.The current gap without hatchlings, their offspring, wasn’t good, and if they didn’t begin to build the next generation, their numbers would dwindle, and they would become weak.

“I promise, as your Mckenna, I’ll not see our Thunder endangered.”

“We trust you,” Hugo rose.

Two at a time, his assembly got to their feet and echoed the Com leader’s words.

“We trust you.”His brother’s declaration came last.

Aodh’s chest puffed up to hear the surety of them all, and the pale-amethyst flames flickered in their gaze as the joyful hue weaved along through the dragon markings on his fellow shifters’ upper bodies.

He didn’t have to look down to see if his markings reflected a rich ultraviolet, revealing his pride in their support.

“Over the next day or so, I will be indisposed.Liekki, my second, will take command.If there is an emergency, contact him or Yeongi, and they will get me.”Aodh didn’t elaborate on where or what he would be doing.However, he was sure the perspective shifters around him would note any subtle changes to his coloring.If he didn’t guard his emotions and lustful thoughts in his mind, various tones of blue would reveal them.

“Things will be fine.Do what you need to, brother.”Liekki placed a big hand on Aodh’s shoulder and squeezed.

Aodh released a short wisp of soft, white smoke directed at his brother.

Liekki chuckled as he lowered his hand, not bothered in the least.

Shortly after that, Aodh adjourned the meeting and returned to his office to complete the paperwork awaiting him.

~YH~

Kai walked out of the bathroom after drying her body with one of the most oversized towels she’d ever seen, let alone used.She slipped into the larger of two robes she’d located in the closet.After Ninki’s comments, Kai refused to use the smaller one, figuring it belonged to the other woman, who, according to Ninki, was a frequent apartment resident.She clutched her dirty and worn clothes and felt heat flush her cheeks at the thought of anyone having to launder them.Not only because they were extraordinarily filthy but because they were threadbare, and chances were that they were so ragged they would disintegrate at the first drop of water.Since they were all she had, she hoped cleaning them would not be the end of them.She would have washed them by hand in the bathroom sink as she’d done many times but didn’t think the nice, mild-smelling soap would work to get the stains out.The items needed beating against a rock or two with harsh soap.

She padded into the bedroom where the air was warm but the stone floor cold, making her regret not having shoes.The steam created by the hot water, thanks to Ninki, had saturated the bathroom like a warm cocoon.The cold beneath her feet was shocking, sending jolts through her heels and legs as she started toward the closet.

However, even the unexpected chilly stone did not dampen the tingling over her body.It was mild while she was in the water but intensified once she’d dried off.It felt like someone glided feathers up and down her body, covering every inch of her skin only after she’d dipped in something mentholated.It wasn’t only causing her flesh to tingle but also causing an ache and throbbing sensation in certain areas of her body.Her breasts felt heavy and sensitive, and her nipples drew taut, making her want to slip a hand into the lapel of the robe and touch them, squeeze her breasts to ease the ache.But worse than that was the swelling and throbbing of her sex.She caught herself more than once in the bathroom pressing and rubbing her thighs together to stop the issue.The only thing she could conceive, resulting in her body’s odd reaction, was that she had to be allergic to one of the products in the jars.She’d have to discover which one it was and stay away from it while here.

She almost hated not using them because they smelled light, fresh, and had a hint of sweetness.Nothing too overpowering like a lot of the harsh soaps in the Dispatch.Since most in the section were struggling, having the luxury of bathing came with a cost that was too high.So, there were only abrasive bars and gels aimed to kill off germs and infections.But the products here made her skin feel hydrated and moisturized.She could not remember her skin or hair feeling so soft.

Yup, she’d hate to give that up for the limited time she would be here.

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