Page 172 of Smoke and Lure

What do you know about your family?

Avalore wrapped the sheet tightly around her middle and then sat up in bed, revealing that both her arms, from shoulder to wrist, were etched with markings.She answered Aodh,Nothing I can think of out of the ordinary.My parents were packed in the district slums like everyone else; that’s where they raised my sister and me.I don’t know any of the other family, and neither parent discussed much about their pasts.My father is black, and my mother was Dominican before she passed.

That seemed to pique Aodh’s interest.He set his hands on his hips.Do you know what part of the old Dominican Republic?

Kai knew Aodh spoke of the country in the past tense because, like most of the world, it was underwater and no longer existed.

Avalore sat for a moment looking off in the distance, as if trying to remember, then glanced at Aodh again before saying,A mountainous area...the Bahoruco region.

Liekki straightened up from the wall.Are you sure?

Aodh shot his brother a lopsided grin.If your mate is genetically from the same area where your hearthstone was mined, the same place I recall reading about where a small Thunder of Drahks resided for some time within that volcanic rock area when our kind scattered from Scotland after the war with England, your connection makes sense.

What are you saying, Mckenna?Avalore folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side as she eyed Aodh.

You may be a second or third-generation Drahk at the least.

My mother wasn’t a shifter.She didn’t have markings.I would have seen them.Not to mention, she caught XD87867 and died.No shifter immunity there.

Aodh shrugged.One of her parents was, he declared.

For your dragon to link with Liekki’s and come forth, I’m damn sure they shifted but kept their ability a secret to remain under the radar.Shifters do it all the time.Aodh continued,if your mother had not married a human and found her true mate, her dragon would have also emerged.

Avalore's face lit with awe.

There wasn’t any illumination to the other woman’s markings, but Kai knew it would probably be a matter of time.

Kai felt green.She was more than happy with her life and how it turned out.She was the Mckenna’s mate, bringing into the world the next leader of the Thunder, but she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t feel bereft that Avalore would change and shift, truly becoming one with her mate, Liekki.

Why would the Great Spirit bestow such a wonderful gift on Avalore yet leave her with nothing?Not just nothing, but the things she did have, like the connection to all the dragons, which allowed her to sense and speak with them, and her extra-human strength, would vanish once she delivered the babe.

Kai’s body tensed, and she didn’t realize how strongly she was responding to her thoughts physically until she felt the discomfort of her miniature guest.The babe inside her reacted, shifting and moving, and kicking a tiny foot into her side as if attempting to fight against the constraints of her emotions.She gasped and stroked her stomach in the spot the baby pushed, trying to assure the little one that she was fine.

Always attuned to her, Aodh's head snapped in her direction, his brow furrowed, and his body shifted slightly, ready to come to her aid.

Mate-wife?Aodh communicated directly to her, not along the path where the others could hear his concern for her.

She forced a smile and made an even grander production of rubbing her stomach in a broader arc.I’m fine.It’s just the babe.

It wasn’t a total fabrication.

He gave a slight nod but held her gaze for a moment longer before focusing again on Avalore.

Not wanting Aodh to see how she was affected, she shoved her emotions into a dark space inside herself, so that she could think about it later when she was alone.As she turned and walked to the chair to sit down, she hoped the others would think it was the baby and that she just needed to get off her feet.

Kai told herself that she’d always been good at accepting things as they came, and this wouldn’t be any different.She’d get over it.

A part of her called herself a liar.

One thing she knew she must do was keep her feelings locked away from Aodh.Because they were so connected, it would be easy for her to slip, and he’d feel the impression of her disturbing emotions.

She hated hiding things from him.However, she didn't want to burden him with them until she was sure how to deal with her feelings correctly.He had enough on his plate.

So, how long do I need to stay in this smog-filled room?Avalore asked.

You need to remain calm and comfortable until the remainder of your markings come in.Since it is happening so fast, I’m sure you’ll be out by the end of the day, if not tomorrow morning.

Avalore sighed.Okay, but Liekki knows, I don’t like being locked up.

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