Page 21 of Smoke and Blood

Yes.The moment my dragon impregnated you, I knew which seed took root, male or female.

Kai was amazed, even as her cheeks heated at remembering her claiming night.With Aodh still nude and her body sore from the feverish passion they just shared, it was as if she experienced it all over again in real time.

Then she realized what he’d said and gave the big man a sharp eye.“Hey!If you’ve known since the beginning, why didn’t you tell me?”

He brushed her wild strands back from her face.“You already dealt with many emotions when you discovered the first scale.I wanted you to have time to adjust and not get overwhelmed.”

She stared up at him.“I may be human, Aodh, but I’m not fragile.”

“Trust me, Kai.I know you're incredibly strong here.”He touched her temple.“And here.”He placed a finger over her heart.

Stretching up on her toes, she kissed his lips.“Thank you.”

“Mm.”His touch continued down over her stomach.“But it’s the strength of your walls here that gets me—”

Laughing, she swatted his hand away from her sex.“No more of that right now for you, Mckenna.”

The big man smacked her ass.“Fine.Then feed me.”

As Aodh dressed, Kai sat on the log and pulled the utensils out of the backpack.She stirred the stew and was happy to see the thick consistency of the broth.The smell made her mouth water.She scooped up a little of the broth and held the spoon toward Aodh when he sat beside her.

He closed his mouth around the silverware.After he savored it for a moment, he nodded.“It’s delicious.I may have you cook for me weekly.”

She shook her head and rested her hand over her belly.“Maybe once the baby is born.Something you may not know, ‘all-knowing dragon king,’ is that pregnant women can’t take the smell of raw goat.”

Aodh arched a brow.“I didn’t know this.”

“Stick with me, mate, and I’ll teach you a few things.”Kai winked at him.

He let out a barking laugh.

They ate and talked.Kai had more than a few questions about what she had seen during their flight.

Soon, the pot was empty, and Aodh washed it in the lake.Once they stuffed the pot into the vacant satchel, Kai placed it on her back.

“You ready, mate?”

She began to nod, but a big yawn took over.

Leaning toward her, he kissed her on the cheek.“Let’s get you to bed.”

In the next moment, Aodh’s dragon stood before her.She climbed into his claw again.

The dragon used his tail to swish dirt onto the fire and put it out.

Kai was plunged into darkness again, but it didn’t take long before she heard the dragon's massive wings flap and felt the air's brush on her face.She wasn’t even sure if they had made it above the treetops before she was asleep under the protection of her dragon king.

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