Page 84 of Smoke and Blood

“I’ll get it.”

“You sure?”Rudie’s face was tight with concern.

Morlie saw the worry on the younger woman’s features.However, she was sure Chanin’s assistant was apprehensive about who was on the other side and if that person was Minsi.

For her, Morlie was more inclined to hope it was Amira and Lovel, not someone who came to cause her harm while Chanin was away.If it were Chanin’s ex, Morlie would face it head-on.Even knowing that with only twenty-four hours to her credit as a shifter, she probably still could not beat the she-wolf in a fight, but she wouldn’t back down.For a moment, she did consider grabbing the knife, just in case.Instead, she headed to the front.

“We’ll both go.”Rudie followed a couple of steps behind her as they crossed the dining room then the living room.

At the door, Morlie inhaled, but she couldn’t pick up any of the person’s scent through the heavy wood.She gripped her bravery with both hands and then opened the door.

Morlie stared at the woman on the porch before her.The woman’s sharp, intense stare held Morlie’s.The stranger’s pride and confidence were evident in the upward angle of her chin, and her shoulders sat back and proud, even as she stood with both hands shoved into the pocket of loose-fit pants with a wide stance.

“May I help you?”

“Hello, Morlie.I’m here to teach you how to kick Minsi’s ass and finally put her in her place,” the woman declared.

Stepping up beside Morlie, Rudie gasped, but a broad smile still stretched the assistant’s mouth.“Morlie, let me introduce you to Rieka, the Alpha’s mother.”

Chapter Thirteen

Are you ready?

The soft breeze made the ends of her hair flutter and caused several curls to caress her cheek as she hovered over the balcony's edge of their suite.She didn’t bother to finger the coils away from her face as she stared out over the busy central area of the territory.It was almost early afternoon, and most Drahk were fully involved in their day.Aodh had gone into the office to handle a few things that morning and then come back for her.She slid her hands over the top of a burnt-orange claw as she settled into the giant paw of the dragon’s hold.

Kai knew the dragon wasn’t asking whether she was ready for the flight.This wasn’t her first.However, this was the first time she would be coming face to face with a dragon-shifter who was over four centuries old.A man who may have answers to her history.A history she had never considered before her dinner with Aodh’s parents.

Now she had so many questions.

Yes.I’m ready.

The massive, scaled dragon launched them smoothly and efficiently into the air.She would not have realized they'd left the ground if she hadn’t watched their ascent into the golden-lavender sky.His flight was smooth, as if the air stood still and honored the God of Fire.Then the dragon brought its gigantic wings down and up, forcing the tall trees to bow under the strength of the wind it manipulated with each flap as it carried them higher and higher.The height would allow them to cover more ground in less time.

Unlike with their last flight, they headed north.Aodh had explained to her that Drago, the leader of the Wise Ones' Council, chose to live in a secluded glen far away from most Drahks, preferring an otherworld-type of solitude.The old shifter only visited the central area twice yearly for the bi-annual Wise Ones meeting with the Mckenna.She knew from Aodh that Drago had never ruled over the Drahk but had held a leadership position in the Thunder.

There is Drago, the dragon announced sometime later.

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