Page 63 of Smoke and Blood

“Yes.”Rhys nodded.“It was his hearth-stone as well.The sword would’ve been moved to the archives when he passed.”

Kai figured the grand Drahk had passed before Ninki was born because Kai knew it was the other woman’s hearth-stone.”

“What made you ask, son?”Rhys picked up his beverage and drank.

Aodh glanced at her.“Mate, may I see your ring?”

Kai slipped her father’s ring from her finger and handed it to Aodh.She looked forward to hearing what Aodh’s parents may know about the ring’s metal or history.To her, it didn’t make much sense for her family to be in possession of something that was starting to seem like it didn’t belong to them or they had no right to it.

“This.”He handed the jewelry to his father.“I learned about it from Brantley today.”

Rhys examined the ring, turning it over in his hand, and peered inside.Kai was shocked when he placed it between his thumb and fingers and squeezed it hard.

She gasped, expecting it to bend under the dragon-shifter’s might, but it remained a perfect sphere when Rhys held it up again.

“I think the blacksmith is correct.It is dragon’s gold.”Frowning, Rhys passed it to his wife.“Where did you all get this?”

Brenna checked it out as well.

“My father.After he and my mother passed, I removed it, wanting to have a part of them with me.”When Rhys looked from Aodh to her, Kai continued, “My father told me he got it from his mother.It’s been handed down for generations.I don’t know for how long or why they do it.”

“Wow, utterly fascinating.”Brenna handed it back to Kai.

“There are two of them.Kai’s sister has the other with her,” Aodh informed his parents.

Rhys shook his head.“I don’t think I know enough to help you.I know that mages once had a treaty with Drahk and lived among us.They gave blessed or magic-filled golden gifts for one reason or another.”

Kai met Rhys's gaze.“Is it possible my family got this from someone as a gift or maybe bought it in a state auction and just admired the ring set and passed it down?”

What she didn’t want to think was that the item was stolen from someone, from the dragon-shifters.She would turn it over to them if she discovered that was the case.She knew Morlie would do the same.

“Perhaps.”Rhys nodded and pushed his plate to the side.

“If you don’t have the answers, Father, I was thinking about asking Tana, a Thunder historian.”Aodh dragged a hand through his short hair.

Kai felt just as frustrated as Aodh.

Rhys leaned on the table, supported by his forearms.“Tana may have some insight.However, Aodh and Kai, the only person I think who would have clear answers to your question is Drago.”

“You may be right, Father.I never thought about him.”

Perplexed, Kai shifted her gaze to Aodh.“Who’s Drago?”

“He’s on the Wise One's Council and the oldest Drahk alive.”

“When can we talk to him?”Kai wanted to get up now and meet the wise dragon.

“Sooner rather than later.”There was a solemn note to Rhys's voice.

Aodh took hold of her hand, lifted it, and kissed the back.“Tomorrow, Kai.We’ll see him tomorrow.”

~YH~

“Stunning.You are a beautiful sight to behold.”

Morlie felt a little tired, and her body ached in her joints as if she’d been running for miles past the point of exhaustion of her muscles.But outside of that, she felt invigorated by some second wind energy.Waking up to Chanin’s voice in her ear made her smile.

However, something felt different about her mouth that she couldn’t explain.Her thoughts were jumbled, and she had the most challenging time making heads or tails of the day's events.Not sure if she was ready to face the night, and somehow, even with her eyes closed.She knew the time of day and felt a strange awareness of evening as if it were a part of her.

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