Page 26 of Smoke and Lure

Tana nodded.“I will ensure she has the proper attire and assist her where she needs to draft her words.”

“I have no doubt.Thank you for helping her.”Aodh turned back to Kai and then pulled her closer.“Rest.Eat.”

“Yes, Mckenna,” she teased.

He growled at her response to his command.After a quick kiss on her lips, Aodh left her in Tana’s capable hands, and he briefly spoke with Ladon.

Aodh left Ladon and gave Kai one final glance before he shifted, and his massive, burnt-orange dragon launched into the air.

“Did I hear Aodh correctly, Tana?Is there a specific attire for tonight?”

“Oh, yes.As people, we are not formal like the Fae or Vampyre, but when it comes to our fellow dragons' final flight and ceremony, we approach it with reverence, uniformity, and order.”

Magnificent.She would never grow tired of seeing the beast.

Kai was feeling nervous before, but hearing Tana increased her anxiety tenfold.“What if I mess up in what I do or worse, what I say?”

Tana’s warm gaze met hers.“I will make sure you know what to say when.We have enough time to practice until you are comfortable with everything.”

“Alright.Then let us start walking back to the center.”

Just as Ladon joined them, Kai started to turn toward home when the Drahks, who had filled the house earlier, began to exit carrying their same burlap sacks.Each stuffed to capacity.The Thunder members headed into the same wide-open space beside Drago’s home that dragons had been coming and going from since she came out with Aodh.Each dragon flew away with the heavy satchel in one of its front claws.

“What is happening?What’s in the bags?”she asked.

“Drago’s hoard.They will place them in the archive building.Until another Drahk connects with it as a hearthstone.”

“Oh.Wow.I didn’t consider the stones would need to be moved.”

“Who knows?Maybe the Great Spirit will ensure your hatchling will have the pearls as its hearthstone.

With Tana at her side and Ladon at her back, Kai began their journey toward the heart of the territory.“Now, that would be a true blessing.”

Chapter Six

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