Page 70 of Smoke and Moon

Morlie’s brows rose high.She stared at her for a long moment, her face blank, not revealing anything.

“Look, I’m sorry.”Kai covered her sister’s hand and rushed on.“I know I should’ve told you earlier today.I just wasn’t sure...Even now, am I being selfish in telling you when you don’t—”

Her words broke off when Morlie pulled her hand away.

Kai swallowed.Damn, it was too soon.I should’ve waited.

But when Kai expected her sister was going to move away and get up and march into her suite, pissed, Morlie reached for Kai’s hand and sandwiched it between her long, thin, elegant fingers.“Kai.”

Staring at her younger sister, Kai waited.She wanted Morlie to have the space to share her thoughts.No matter what they were.

“I’m so happy for you.You can always talk to me no matter what I’m going through.As I told you before, you’ve carried so much of the burden, and it’s time you shared it.”

“Okay.”Kai placed her other hand on top of her sister’s and squeezed.

Morlie offered a gentle smile.“You are going to be the best of moms.Hell.Look how much practice you’ve had taking care of everyone in our family.”

“You think so?”Kai allowed some of her insecurity to show in her trembling voice.

“Yes.No doubt.”

“I’m scared.This world we now live in is nothing I’ve ever imagined.”

“But you have Aodh to help you navigate it.Who I’m sure is pretty happy about it.”

Laughing, Kai released some of the tension.“Very and obsessed with me eating and resting.”

“Do Eilidh and Liekki know, yet?”

Kai drew her hands away and ran one through her curls.“Every Drahk knows.Not because I told anyone before you,” she rushed out.“Apparently, a dragon link connects them on some strange level and makes them aware of health, sickness, and fertility.I don’t understand it.”

“Well, it explains a lot.”Morlie nodded.

It was Kai’s turn to arch her brows.“Like what?”

“When we were out, how everyone spoke to you with crazy delight and smiled like fools as we passed.”

Her exhale was sharp.“It is a lot.I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

“You won’t,” Morlie declared with firm confidence.“Well, I’m with Aodh.You do look tired.”Morlie rested a hand along her cheek and drew Kai’s gaze to her.“Get some rest.”

Now that she told her sister the news, exhaustion sat on Kai’s shoulders like a wet cloak.“That’s exactly what I will do.”Kai rose from the stone step.

Morlie rose, too.“Good.”

“I know you will meet Eilidh and the others for dinner.But Aodh wants to show me something, and I don’t know when or if we will be down for dinner.”

“Don’t worry about me.No time like the present to start taking care of myself.”

Kai stared at her sister.For a moment, she felt something in Morlie’s tone.Maybe if she hadn’t been so tired, she would have examined it and delved deeper into it, but it would have to wait until later.

“Night.”Kai pressed a shoulder to her door and shoved it open.

“Rest well,” Morlie called out to her.

~YH~

After shutting the door of her suite, Morlie pressed her back against it.Her core was quivering, and her blood felt as if it was pumping too fast through her veins.She would have thought it had to do with her sister’s news about the baby.However, she was truly happy for her sister.If anyone had given enough to others and now they needed joy, it was Kai.Besides, the sensations had been with her off and on all day.

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