Page 69 of Smoke and Blood

“I’m so proud of you.”His hand slid down to the middle of her spine, then back up.

Another quake shook her, and goosebumps pimpled along her skin.“Chanin,” her voice croaked.“I’m tired.”

“Let’s get you to bed.”Thankfully, he didn’t wait for her to attempt to rise.Instead, he scooped her up in his arms and then rose.

She offered no resistance.Her body too shaken.She felt dizzy and more than a little out of sorts.

Chanin walked around the bed, then kneed his way into the center, where he laid her down.Once she settled, he leaned over and dragged a sheet and blanket from the end of the bed to cover her quivering form.

She reached out and gripped his wrist when he slid toward the edge as if to leave.

“Please, don’t leave me.”

Turning to look at her, he smiled.“Never, mate.Just getting out of these jeans.”

When she released him, he got up and made quick work of shucking his pants.Nude, he climbed back in beside her.

He opened his arms to her, and she crawled right in.

“Will it always...be this hard?”Morlie yawned as she curled into Chanin’s warm embrace.

His strong arms tightened around her and drew her closer until she was laying her head on his chest.“No, mate.It will become as easy as breathing and happen in a blink.”

The soothing sound of his steady heartbeat echoed in her ear and relaxed her.She wanted to ask more questions about her new life but lacked the mental or physical energy to do so.It only took a few seconds before all thoughts left her mind as she breathed in Chanin’s comforting scent and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Eleven

Home.Liekki urged his beast onward into the sky.It was the pre-dawn hour, and the sun had yet to rise.He was walking the barren lands of the southern point of their territory.It was an oceanfront now but was once the old Black Mesa.It wasn't very likely that the rogue wolf or anyone else lived in the area.However, he didn’t mind being in the place.Strolling among the unique rock formations always provided a place of solace for him.At night, there weren’t as many stars in the sky as there used to be, and the land was dark without a moon to illuminate the wonder of it all.The sight wasn’t an issue for his dragon.

It was still a place of peace for him at the moment.The central area was too crowded for a Drahk to think.

Well, for him to think.He couldn’t speak for anyone else if they felt the same unrest.He couldn’t even sift out what was going on with him.The only thing he knew was that a pulsating energy thrummed through his body and brought attention to the cavernous hole in his core the size of a canyon.Never before had he felt a sense of lack, emptiness.

There was too much entertainment and numerous Drahkelles to keep him occupied when he wasn’t handling Thunder business for and with his brother.Since Aodh had his mate and had claimed her, Liekki was used to managing more than his regular duties.It didn’t bother him because it was better than the downtime that seemed to stretch time.

Flap.Flap.Flap.His dragon’s massive wings beat through the air, sending dust, gravel, and debris across the land as he went higher and higher.He didn’t allow his beast to soar into the dense clouds this time, knowing his dragon wanted to feel the warmth of the sunrise on its scales.

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