Page 171 of Smoke and Lure

Kai moved back the other way behind the glass to get the same view that Aodh would have.Her heart pounded anxiously in anticipation.

Liekki removed his hand from his pocket and took hold of the top of the sheet edge while he reached down and gripped the other end at her feet.Without any further hesitation, he slowly dragged the sheet toward the middle of Avalore’s body but stopped short of revealing more than her legs and an arm.

“Oh, my goodness,” Kai gasped.

“Oh, shit!”The words slipped from Aodh’s mouth so loudly that they came through the glass.

Aodh took a single significant step toward the bed.His gaze moved slowly along the other woman’s extremities.

They both saw dragon-scaled markings covering her arm, most of one leg, and to the knee of the other.Scales!

She has scales, Aodh.Liekki appeared exacerbated, he paced a short path behind the other side of the bed.

She does, Aodh confirmed in an absent tone as he leaned close to Avalore’s arm to stare intently, investigating each scale.

Liekki growled.The sound was so strong and heavy that Kai felt the vibrations through the mental path.

Aodh cut his brother a sharp look.

Liekki took a small step back and exhaled.Twin plumes of white smoke emerged from his nostrils—physically calming himself before his Mckenna.

They started on her back, smoking as if it was being seared into her skin from the inside.I expected the ones on her stomach, but...not this.

The ones on her belly?As in more than one?Aodh adjusted his body and resumed his full height again.

Kai thought about what Aodh told her yesterday about the Vampire Prince’s mate carrying three babies because of her government’s scientists playing God and mixing the women’s blood with rabbit DNA.Kai had never been more relieved that she’d gotten her sister out of the district than when she heard the information from the meeting.Even though Morlie had been deathly ill, there was probably little chance that she would have ended up in the lab.But there could have been a situation where Morlie volunteered for the money or even herself if she hadn’t been dealing with ill parents and a sister.

Yes.Two scales appeared on her lower belly, confirming that the claim was thoroughly successful.But shortly after, Avalore began wincing in pain and talking about her back and thighs stinging.I showed them to her, but they kept showing up in batches to the point that Avalore began crying out and shaking, and for a moment, she blacked out from the intense pain.Liekki’s scales radiated a blood-orange hue, proof that he was both agitated and worried.

So, you brought her here.Aodh bracketed his chin with the fingers of one hand, appearing deep in thought.

I had no fucking clue what else to do.When she wouldn’t respond, I wrapped her in a sheet and rushed here.I figured in the chamber, I could get her to a level that would help her heal and rest faster than if I kept her at my place.Maybe I should have taken her to Apophis.

Perhaps.But I can have the spiritual leader come here if it is needed.

What’s causing it?Liekki leaned his back against the wall close to the head of the bed.

Did Avalore tell you anything about her family history?Maybe one of her parents was Drahk?This appears to be a direct line marking.

Liekki shrugged.My dragon can hear her dragon, Aodh.

Aodh arched a brow and stared at his brother.

Her dragon.Kai kept that thought to herself as she pondered the situation.Avalore not only developed markings all over her body like a Drahk, but also had a developing beast inside her, not just little ones.

Kai was trying to sort out her feelings about all of it.

Why are you all discussing me instead of asking me?Avalore rolled to her back as she opened her eyes.

Kai gasped.

Then Kai realized that since Avalore was Liekki’s mate, she could communicate with him mentally.As a claimed mate and family member, and apparently a Drahk, Avalore could also converse with the Mckenna.So, the other woman was a party to the entire conversation.

Neither Aodh nor Liekki looked shocked but rather curious because Avalore was awake while so much healing smog saturated the chamber.Most humans would remain in an induced sleep state until it all dissipated, but Avalore was responding differently.

What do you want to know, Mckenna?

Avalore's use of Aodh’s title was also a telltale sign that, deep within, she recognized the hierarchy to which she was now subjected.

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