Page 2 of Smoke and Moon

A thought flashed in her mind that perhaps the medical attendants from the Consumer Medical Center had found them.The attendant said Morlie was marked.Were the bastards pissed that Morlie didn’t die, so they came after them?Or had they tracked them down to arrest them for leaving?Kai’s heart slammed into her chest.If she had to return to the Dispatch District to get her sister back, she would.

“Yes.Morlie was snatched.”Eilidh started to pace and wave her hands around as she spoke.“We were having a good time.We climbed trees and went to the truck.Then started back, but Irad said Morlie went back for something—” Eilidh stopped and shook her head.“I was supposed to protect her.When I learned from Irad that Morlie had returned, I raced to the truck to meet her.But...but she was already gone.”A fat tear rolled down Eilidh’s cheek.“I promised you.I promised Mckenna.”

Aodh.Kai knew it’d piss off Aodh that another had brazenly come into his area and took someone.Then she realized something Eilidh had said.“What truck?”

“The one you abandoned at the end of our southwest forest,” Eilidh confirmed.

Dad’s truck.Kai agonized and attempted to determine what Morlie returned for, but they owned nothing when they left the Dispatch.“What was so important that she put her life in danger?”

“This...I believe.”Eilidh took her sack from her back, opened it, and removed something bundled up.

When Kai saw the colors of the tattered material, she knew.Her heart ached.“Mom’s quilt.”

Eilidh stood silent.

Kai took the old, worn blanket and pulled it to her chest.She had not even thought about it as she let Aodh get Morlie from the truck.Only one thing filled her mind: getting Morlie help to keep her sister alive.Her eyes started to burn, but not hotter than the fire that grew in her blood.The blaze was rolling through her veins, and like acid, it devoured all the other emotions she felt.With the quilt in hand, she started toward the door.“Where is she?Who took her?”

“We smelledbirmyrl.Ursine...a bear.”

Her feet skid to a halt in the front room.“What do you mean a bear?”

“There are more than Drahk on this continent.There are of shifters and—”

She was amazed to see Eilidh right behind her when she turned.“I know that.But the bear’s area is a territory away.From the map, the wolves border the Drahk to the west.”

The young woman’s marking flared with a marigold tint, leaving the sickening color of sadness behind.“Yes.That’s right.”

“What was he doing here?And why didn’t you all go after them?”Kai set her hand, gripping the quilt against her hip, and pointed an accusing finger at Eilidh with her other hand.

“Your truck was right on the border of the Fae territory.Without clearance from the Mckenna, we cannot cross those lines.”

“This bear did,” Kai declared.

“Yes.However, the bear-shifter wouldn’t break the preternatural agreement unless he headed to the council meeting.The only reason a bear would cross the boundaries.”

“Whatever the hell his reason was, he picked the wrong girl to abduct.”Kai tossed the item in her hand to the back of the couch.

“Most likely, he was drawn to her mark.”

Mark?There was that word again.Kai wanted to ask Eilidh what she was talking about, but she refused to waste more time while Morlie was in the hands of a stranger.“We need to go.”

“Fafner and Irad have gone to notify Edjer, the head of security.He will tell us what to do and fly to Aodh at the meeting.”

“I’ll tell you what I’m not going to do...”Kai headed straight for the door.“Is sit around while some damn bear has my sister.”

“Where are you going?”Eilidh moved in beside her.

Almost at the door, Kai glanced at the young woman.She wouldn’t blame Eilidh for losing her sister.Recently, Morlie had been showing headstrong traits and fierce independence.She could see that Morlie did not consider all her problems when walking around this unfamiliar territory.“To get Morlie.”

A slight touch of Eilidh’s hand on her arm halted Kai's forward momentum.“We really should wait on the orders from Edjer or Mckenna.”

“The hell I will.”It took some effort for Kai to shake the girl's hand off her arm, but she did.

“Do you even know where you’re going?”

“I’ll figure it out.”With one hand on the door, she glanced back at Eilidh.Like her younger sister, Kai was ready to go stomping through the grounds and the surrounding forest in search of Morlie.“Wait.Do you know where the council meets?”

Eilidh appeared as if there was a war going on inside of her.Kai could tell that the girl struggled between obeying her Mckenna and correcting her wrong in losing Morlie.Sense must have won because Eilidh released a heavy sigh and nodded.“Yes.”

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