Page 44 of Smoke and Blood

She’s strong and will pull through.He would have loved to declare Morlie was well, but even now, shivers and cold sweat tortured her body.He tilted his head down and parted his lips to breathe heat along the top of her spine.

There wasn’t a need to release Morlie long enough to pull the blanket over her because the fever would take her soon enough.

She is a fighter.It was evident in her eyes and how she gripped the rock, ready to bash into Minsi’s skull.Regardless that the bitch was stronger.

Rudie.Chanin shook his head.Not because he would have wanted to see his old lover struck, but it was clear the runt picked a side and championed a victory for Morlie.Rudie’s tone showed confidence that his mate would be her avenger against the fierce she-wolf.

I know, I know, Minsi is stillpack.

He chuckled at his assistant’s mocking tone.He’d repeatedly said those words to Rudie as they related to Minsi's role in the pack and his life.There was no longer a place for Minsi personally but as a pack member, even if Minsi fought against what she considered a demotion in rank.Rudie was right in one aspect: one day soon, Morlie would have to face off with Minsi.His mate had to prove she was the strongest female lupine in the pack or lose the respect of his people, even as she remained his through eternity.

You have work to do, runt.

I’m on it, Alpha.Take care of her.

Chanin raised his mental shield, ending their communication.He didn’t need anyone to tell him to care for Morlie.She was his mate, and he would destroy the world to protect her if needed.

A soft moan slipped from Morlie’s lips as heat spread over her body, drenching her petite form and causing hot rivers to form and travel through her skin.She went limp.

He released her and shifted away to allow her body to recline on the bed.He leaned over her and lapped the pool of sweat collected in the dip above her collarbone.Prepared to lick every steaming droplet from her skin, he drew his tongue down her arm toward her hand.There was an herbaceous taste now complementing the usual sweetness of her skin.She was changing.Her musky violet and vanilla notes saturated the room, combined with his scent and the nefarious aroma of sex, so much sex; it held an earthy wildness to it now.

Everything about Morlie he desired, wanted, needed, and even as a part of him couldn’t wait until she was whole and healthy again to sheath his cock deep within her tight, wet walls.Oh, yes, once she was better, he wouldn’t allow a day to go by where he wasn’t thrusting inside of her on every available surface and wall in his home.He planned to fuck her so often that the very bricks that held his house together would constantly echo her screams like the old cavernous rock formation of the Grand Canyon in times past.However, what he did now had nothing to do with lust.Instead, he tended to his mate with care because he needed her to survive this.Come out on the other side, accepting her wolf, being his she-wolf.

You can do this, mate.

~YH~

“I hear you and Kai are headed to our parents’ for the evening meal?”

Aodh cocked a brow up as he glanced up from the security reports he reviewed and eyed his brother as he strutted into his office.“We are.I assume Mother invited you.You planning to go?I could tell our sister to be there as well.We could make it a family affair.”

Liekki chuckled.“Yeah, right.Do you think Eilidh will not attempt to set your tail on fire the next time you’re in flight if you try to keep her from spending time with her friends?She enjoys her evenings feasting, dancing, and laughing by the fire.”

As the oldest of the siblings, Aodh could only help but wonder if that was all his little sister was getting into at night.He could ask one of his security team, but it wasn’t in his nature to invade another Drahk’s privacy unless he needed to intervene.As the big brother, he also did not want to think about his sister being intimate with anyone.Even if Eilidh would not be doing anything that he, Liekki, and practically every grown drahk partook in when they were of age, he put it out of his mind.Dragon-shifters were sexual beings, as he’d explained to Kai.

Besides, Kai’s sister was the same age as Eilidh; she was now off on her own and mated.Possibly even Lupine by now.If Morlie didn’t call Kai soon, he’d have to contact Chanin.The Alpha wolf needed time with his mate to help her adjust, but Aodh didn’t want his mate to worry.And when Kai wasn’t eating, sleeping, exploring divisions of their territory, or fucking him, her eyes were shadowed with concern.Aodh couldn't handle seeing that for long.

Nodding, Aodh agreed with his brother’s words.The only difference with their family compared to most Drahk was that they’ve always held positions on the leadership council and eventually in the Wise Ones.Even as a drahkelle, his sister must step up, find her place, and lead.“True.But the sprite will have to learn responsibility eventually.”

“Perhaps.”Liekki lowered his bulk in the seat across from him.“However, until the youth are flooding our territory again, I’m in no rush to see the young adults settled down and step into major roles.”

Aodh wondered if it was because his brother had not settled on a mate yet.His brother, unlike his monogamous nature, Liekki had prided himself on having a different female or females in his bed or whatever available corner he chose to fuck them.However, as he eyed his Second-in-Command now and watched his brother stare out the large window as if he’d lost something beyond the treetops, Aodh spotted the weary lines around Liekki’s eyes and the drawn tension in his brother’s shoulders; Liekki was restless.

Perhaps he’d been preoccupied with Kai and going on with her, the situation with the humans, and the other territories; it seemed he’d missed a problem regarding Liekki.

“It’s true.”Aodh continued to lean back in his chair and study his brother.“Since our breeding issues have been resolved—”

“All thanks to our virile God of Fire,” Liekki faced him with a wink.

Aodh chuckled and shook his head.The thought of Kai swelling with his youngling filled his chest with warmth from the fires of joy his dragon exhaled within him as the damned beast rolled over as if he were basking in the sun—cocky bastard.However, Aodh couldn’t chide his dragon because of the swelling pride he felt every time another scale appeared on Kai, and her stomach rounded a bit more; it stole his breath.

As he refocused on Liekki, Aodh noted that even with his brother’s jovial attitude, he could now recognize the mask.He pondered how long his brother had dealt with the mysterious weight on his shoulder.

“Are you coming tonight?Is that what you came to tell me?”Aodh arched a brow.

“No.”Liekki glanced down toward his pants and picked an imaginary piece of lint from his clothes as he avoided eye contact.

Another sign something disturbed the towering beast before him.If they were in dragon form, it would be easier for him to read Liekki and pick up on the powerful emotions their beasts couldn’t hide.

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