Page 47 of Smoke and Lure

Don’t pull that rank shit with me, Liekki.Aodh’s beast growled within.His brother’s response only made him more concerned.No one is accusing you of not doing your damn job, brother.

Liekki moved his head from left to right, stretching out his neck muscles, but Aodh could still read all the tension in his brother’s body.

When Liekki kept silent, Aodh continued.Since your patrol the other morning, you’ve had your shields up.I can’t remember the last time I had to fuckin’ radio you to communicate something.

Liekki’s gaze shot toward him.Orange flames flickered in his brother’s eyes as his lines lit up the white fabric of his short-sleeved dress shirt and the skin of his arms.In a breath, the fire of his emotions was banked.

Don’t I have the same rights as other Drahks?To fuckin’ privacy?Liekki bit out and turned away.

Aodh’s head snapped back.If his brother had shifted and allowed his beast to bite his head off, Aodh would not have been more shocked.Glancing up at the sky, where the ribbons of purple hue declared dusk would soon fade to night, Aodh exhaled.

He didn’t have time today for whatever was happening with his brother.Just as Liekki stated, this night was about Drago and Kai, his mate.Nothing would ruin him being there for her and giving her what she needed.

Abso-fuckin-lutely.Aodh stepped around his brother until he was right in his face.You know you can tell me anything.When you want to pull your stubborn head out of your dragon’s ass long enough to talk, you know where you can find me.

Liekki grunted.

Ignoring his brother’s continued silence, Aodh turned around and said, “Let’s get ready!”

Aodh started to walk away to ensure space for his dragon.His beast was bigger than all the others, except his father’s was a close second with Liekki’s, and Edjer and Keahl’s were a match in size.They would have to make a star shape around the house to accommodate the fifth flyer, creating five distinct points.

Tomorrow.

Aodh halted.He glanced back over his shoulder at his brother.

I figure tonight, your horny ass will be busy with your mate all night.Liekki arched a single brow that disappeared under the ebony strands of his long hair.A very pregnant mate.

Aodh knew what Liekki meant.Kai’s belly made her appear much further along than she should, which concerned Aodh.

He smiled wickedly.I definitely will.Tomorrow first thing.Aodh refused to allow whatever was going on with his brother to fester.

Liekki strode past him to take his position and punched him in the shoulder.My head in my dragon’s ass...good one.My dragon should find himself so lucky.

A single corner of his brother’s mouth curled a fraction, offering a glimpse of the jovial guy beneath the cloaked surface his brother had buried himself beneath right now.Then Liekki winced, and his step faltered for a second.

Aodh chuckled, figuring Liekki’s dragon probably disliked the comment.

He glanced left and then right.He could only see his brother and Keahl but could sense the others in place on the other sides of the house.

Taking a deep breath, Aodh prepared himself to give the Wise One his final flight.“Drahks, take your form.”

Centering himself, he felt the heat of his dragon spread through his body as the beast sent fire into his blood, causing his veins to sizzle and spark with excitement and filling him with the power of immortality even though he knew just like Drago, one day centuries from now he would take his final flight.

In a breath, Aodh settled into the core of the massive, burnt-orange beast whose enormous head reached high beyond the top of the house.The Mckenna huffed and met the gaze of the four other dragons surrounding the single-level home before it peered down into the open roof and saw the prepared form of the white dragon.Besides the ropes fastened and knotted around Drago’s huge still form, the hoard room appeared desolate and barren without a fire or a pearl, proof that all life had been vanquished.

The Mckenna felt the grief of its people, even the ones waiting at the ceremonial ground, vibrating through its core.Not wanting to delay any longer, the orange dragon coordinated the sections and positions of the group.

Following orders in silence, each dragon bowed its head and carefully nudged at the thick ropes the Drahks who prepared the dragon had cinched around Drago’s massive form in a Shibari fashion, which would allow them to carry the deadweight of the dragon with ease and not harm its scales.

Rhys and Liekki each claimed straps for the wings, and Keahl and Edjer carefully locked their jaws around the ropes for the back section of the body.

Once each dragon's jaws held the leads, the Mckenna called out his next order,Let’s fly!

With that, the burnt-orange beast was the first to launch itself into the air, shaking the ground in its wake.The movement of its vast wings caused heavy wind currents, which made every tree in the vicinity bow as if respecting the dragon being lifted and beginning the journey to its final resting place.

Up and down, the Mckenna flapped its wings as it flew higher and higher into the sky.

The quartet mirrored their leader's movements and synced their wing strokes with Aodh’s burnt-orange dragon’s.

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