Page 25 of Smoke and Moon

“You don’t think...”She had a hard time getting the words out.

“No.Oh, no.”Our world works because we each respect the agreed-upon rules.“We may get a rogue shifter on occasion, but for an alpha to cross the border would set off battles that no one wants.”

Morlie nodded and sighed.The knowledge twisted her thoughts and emotions, but she would lock them away now.

“The woman calling the shots at the meeting said Kai had to bring me back when I was better.Once my health was restored.”

Eilidh held her gaze, and Morlie knew without her saying it that her friend had to know the truth already.

“I’m not ill anymore.Now what?”

Those words hung in the quiet room.

Eilidh fingered her hair back behind her ears.“Well, Aodh can probably talk with Iskah, the Fae Queen and council arbitrator, about extending the time when you must appear before the council until you reach maturity.”She chuckled.“I didn’t realize you were much younger than my friends and me.”

Morlie smiled and relaxed against the cushions of the couch.“I usually get the opposite.Since I am shorter and don’t have the lush curves of my sister, people assume I’m younger.”

“Well, no worries.We’ll have to have a big party with dancing for you when you turn eighteen.”

“That would be great.”Morlie leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling.She hadn’t had a birthday since her parents had passed.There had been no time or resources, and then she got sick.“Twenty-one twenty-three will be a better year than many of my previous ones.”

Feeling famished, Morlie got up from the couch and started toward the table.

“You mean was.”

“What?”Morlie was so hungry now she didn’t wait until she’d sat before she removed one of the lids.“Was what?”

Eilidh was walking toward her.“You said twenty-one twenty-three.”

Grabbing a fork, Morlie speared two pieces of meat and brought them to her mouth.With her free hand, she motioned for Eilidh to join her.“Yes.When I turn eighteen...and we...can have the party.”She mumbled around the food she chewed.

Her friend was still standing between the sitting area and the table as if she were stuck to the floor, staring at her.

Morlie swallowed before questioning her.“What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s May twenty-one twenty-four.”

Her fork slipped from her slack hand and clattered against the tray before striking the floor.Morlie didn’t hear what sound it made when it landed because all the blood rushing in her ears drowned out every sound around her.The only thing she could hear were the words echoing in her mind: Kai lied.

I’m nineteen.

~YH~

The intense kiss went on.

Aodh claimed her mouth like he was a starving man, and it was his last meal.He consumed her.His tongue dove deep into her mouth, gliding along hers and driving her desire higher.Kai wanted to show him she could give back as well as he was giving.She tightened her lips around his tongue and sucked, drawing him further into her.She loved the taste of him.There was a savory smokiness to him now.An intense flavor that wasn’t there before she met his dragon.

After sharing his beast with her, it seemed the experience had released something in Aodh.He devoured her mouth, and his kiss was both hot and potent.She felt his strong arms surround her, holding her pressed against him.Everything inside of her came alive and stretched toward him.She wanted and needed him with the same insanity that seemed to have overtaken Aodh.

Out in the forest, there had been a desire combined with an urgency, but it was nothing compared to what was happening between them now.Aodh’s tongue thrust and continued to parry with hers while she closed her lips tight and suckled him each time he attempted to withdraw.

His hands were everywhere, gripping her ass, rubbing her back and fisting her hair.She enjoyed it all.She was touching him in the same way.His arms, chest, and neck were the perfect playground for her to explore, especially with his scales radiating heat, the same heat that thrummed through the dragon's chest.She wanted more of it, and she wanted to feel it on the outside and inside until she, too, was burning from within.

The tearing sound filled the space.She gasped at the shocking kiss of air on her back.She leaned away, severing their kiss for the moment.Kai gazed up at Aodh, his cerulean light gaze locked on her with an intensity that caused her knees to shake.

“Aodh?”she questioned as her dress sagged between their close bodies.

“I need you now, mate.No barriers.”He stepped back long enough to rid himself of his boots and pants.

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