Page 12 of Smoke and Moon

“What does that mean?”She looked from the man to Aodh, not trusting this group of strangers to be truthful.

“Your government put a mark on her, a treaty signed upon her.”Aodh touched her shoulder as if he were imploring her to understand the situation.

Kai refused to understand anything about any of this.She shook her head in denial.“When did they do this?Are we all marked?”

“You told me you took Morlie to the medical clinic for help.It would have been done there.”

‘...she had been marked for transport.’Kai recalled the medical attendant’s words.She realized now that she had misunderstood the attendant.Had the woman been trying to help Morlie, or was this how it always worked?The medical personnel scared people and encouraged them to go outside the wall, only to be captured by the shifters.

‘Pray you meet the wolves first.’Kai stared over at the Lupine leader.Now, they’d met the wolves.

“Those who are marked come before the council and are appraised.No exceptions.”It wasn’t Aodh who continued, but a willowy woman moved closer in the inner circle yet kept her distance.

The woman’s features were so strikingly serene and breathtakingly beautiful that Kai wondered if she were a Vampire or Fae.

“Well, by the looks of it,” Kai waved her hand toward her sister, who was still sitting in the center chair, looking confused.But there was something else in Morlie’s gaze Kai didn’t have time to decipher.“I’d say you all have already assessed her.So, now what?”

“We discover which alpha senses traits of his people on her, and they claim her and take her—”

“No one is taking my sister from here but me,” Kai declared, turning her head from left to right, meeting each of their gazes and holding a lid on the anxious storm rolling in her stomach.

“She’s mine.”Chanin now stood next to Kai’s sister, shielding Morlie from...her.

Me?That doesn’t make any sense.

Morlie gasped.

Aodh’s rumble filled the open space.

Kai shook her head.“No.She is my family.”My only family.

“Kai.”Morlie’s voice trembled, but Kai couldn’t look at her.If she saw tears or fear in her sister's gaze, it would wreck her, and she would cause the war Aodh was trying to prevent.

“She’s still not well.”Kai tossed out.

“I will heal her fully,” the werewolf alpha declared.

She wanted to scream at the obstinate man.He didn’t even know Morlie.Why was he so determined to have her?

The ethereal woman began, “By the treaty agreement made by your human government—”

Kai shot a look at the brown-skinned woman in the flowing, green dress.

The woman stared back at Kai.At that exact moment, the wind picked up and blew hard.It wrestled the ends of Kai’s skirt high up her thighs and pressed against her, forcing Kai back a step.She wasn’t sure if the gust was a coincidence.

Refusing to cower, Kai shoved her hair out of her face before stating, “My government no longer has any authority over me or Morlie.I do.”She jabbed a finger into her chest.“I am her guardian.”

“Your sister is an adult.So, in this situation—”

She felt she was losing this battle, and getting these leaders to see reason was more complicated and challenging.Kai had to do something because the alternative was to leave her sister there.That was something she refused to do.“She’s a minor.A child.Not an adult yet.Morlie is only seventeen.”

For the first time since Kai barged into the meeting, silence descended.Long moments passed as all ten sets of eyes stared at Morlie.They seemed to take her in, assess her, and search for some truth other than what Kai stated.

What if Morlie knew the truth?

Kai’s heart pounded.She had never told such a bold lie before but felt she had no choice.The only thing she could do now was to double down on it.“Humans have laws that govern what can happen to minors.My government made a mistake.It is unlawful for them to hand over a minor under the age of eighteen to be...be mated to someone.”

“She smells sweet, but not in the way children do.”

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