Page 8 of Smoke and Moon

Aodh could read between the lines.What Morlie represented was important, as was their ability to ensure their resources by adding to their numbers.Aodh wanted to deny the Fae queen’s words.He turned and faced Morlie.The younger woman had a family resemblance to Kai, but other than that, she was very different.She was slim instead of having Kai’s mouth-watering curvaceous frame, which he loved.Morlie sat in a sleeveless midriff tunic, and her low-riding pants left her hipbones bare.Her dress was on par with the young females in his territory, but here, at this moment, the outfit revealed too much skin, especially since he knew what was coming for her.

He wanted to remove his business shirt and drape it over her shoulders, not caring about council etiquette, but he couldn’t.However, his Drahk scent was too powerful.His clothing would mask or disrupt the traces in her mark.He crouched before her.

Her large, watery gaze stayed on him.“Aodh, I want to leave.”

“I know you do.”He exhaled.He wished the notes in her mark had been Drahk linked.Then, none of this situation would have happened.Once Morlie was better, he could have called a meeting and presented her before his Thunder.The Drahk whose dragon responded to her would have claimed her, and there wouldn’t have been a need for her presence here.

“But Morlie, right now, this has to happen.”

“Why—?”She reached for him, but he quickly moved back, avoiding her grasp.She frowned.

Aodh saw the hurt in her eyes at his rejection.Morlie was his mate’s sister, therefore, a sister to him.Quickly he explained, “I can’t taint you with my scent.”

She shook her head, showing she didn’t understand.

“You know my kind are dragon-shifters.Well, there are others,” Aodh pointedly looked at the leaders over his shoulder.Fixing his eyes back on Morlie, he continued, “When you were ill, your people placed a mark on you with a blended serum.All humans have a genetic makeup that links them with a preternatural entity.Usually, it is dormant and buried so deep in your DNA that it’s never engaged, and doesn’t emerge unless someone crosses paths with their mate.”

“Like Kai,” she whispered.

His scales heated at the mention of Kai’s name, but he resisted his natural response.“Yes.For you, the trace amount of serum has forced your Were match to the surface.”

“And it doesn’t match your kind.”Morlie glanced down at her lap.

“No,” Aodh answered her, even though he knew there was no need.Morlie wasn’t asking a question.He could see in her posture that somehow she knew there wasn’t a connection to his people for her.“None of the leaders on this council will harm you, but they have to come close.”

She nodded but still didn’t look up.

At that moment, she looked so young.Her trembling had subdued some, but it was still under the surface.

“Be brave.”He started to rise.

“Will I go back to your territory after this is over?”she asked in a low voice.

Aodh much preferred the fighter Morlie than this resigned side of her.“We’ll see,” he answered, unable to make her promises.He stood and glanced over her head at his brother.

Liekki gave a sharp nod.Just like him, his brother knew this had to happen.

“Are we ready to proceed?”Iskah looked at him.

Aodh stepped back, and Liekki did the same on the other side.“Yes.”

Iskah entered the clearing toward Morlie as she began, “By treaty directive we have with the humans, this offering now sits before us.”She walked a slow circle around Morlie, her hands out and palms up as she spoke.“Her appraisal to determine which herd, coven, Pack, sleuth, or...Thunder she is a part of will now begin.”

When Iskah stopped before Morlie, she lowered her hands.“Morlie.”

Morlie slowly raised her head and met the Fae Queen’s gaze.

“Try not to be afraid.No one will hurt you here.”

Morlie rolled her lip between her teeth but gave a slow nod.

Iskah walked away.“The others may survey her.”

Aodh figured Morlie didn’t engage any of the Fae elemental lines of fire, water, wood, wind, or earth, making Iskah aware that her Fae blood hadn’t awakened the young woman’s dormant genetics.

Armaros quickly stepped off the table and glided to the floor.

Aodh rolled his eyes at Armaros’s theatrics and the bold show of vamp powers.

---