Page 58 of Smoke and Lure

Morlie clutched the ring around her neck, a small replica of the one on Kai’s thumb.She wondered what emotions were running through her sister right now.Had the wedding been too much for her sister?A reminder of what they had lost.Perhaps Aodh should not have invited them if this event was too much for Morlie.

Kai stared at her sister and tried to read her expression, but it was a blank mask.“What is it, Morlie?”

“You gave me Mom’s ring because these rings, passed through generations, symbolize the parents we lost.You wanted to make sure we both were connected to them.However, Sissy, it was also a representation of a legacy of commitment passed down.”

Kai nodded, confirming her sister's words.She felt her sister might need assurance and said, “I love you, Morlie.And our parents loved us.”

“Always.”Morlie stepped forward and kissed Kai lightly on the cheek.“Now do as Father instructed and give your husband the ring.It’s rightfully his.”

She couldn’t believe she had not thought of that.The excitement of the day and Aodh giving her a ring he had designed for the occasion slipped her mind.“Yes.Thank you.”

Quickly, Kai yanked the ring from her thumb and held it to Aodh.“Do you mind?”

She wanted to make sure her mate didn’t feel some way about wearing her family’s heirloom.

“Never.”Aodh held his hand out.

When she slipped the ring on Aodh’s ring finger, even though the band was large, she was concerned for a moment that even though her father, Preston, had been a tall and stocky man, proof in her genetics and her body's curves, but even with Preston’s Drahk DNA, he was nowhere near Aodh’s size.

However, the ring slipped onto his finger like it was fashioned for him.

The crowd Ahh’d.

“How...?”Kai shook her head, astounded.

“Mage magic.”Apophis’s mouth held a wide smile.

Kai laughed.

“Now.If no one else needs to pause this union.”Apophis’s gaze swept the large group.“If you two will join your left hands.”

Aodh took her hand, causing a soft tap of their rings.

The spiritual leader placed one hand on top of theirs and the other below.He squeezed firmly, holding them together as he closed his eyes.

A delicate breeze drifted around them, fluttering the train of Kai’s veil.She felt the wind circle her and Aodh, like bands, it became tighter and tighter.Heat infused their palms as the skin behind her ring began to sizzle.

She had the urge to pull away, back up, but she lifted her gaze to Aodh, who stared at her and held fast.So, she stayed planted in this spot with him.

Right before the bands of wind stopped her breath and the burning around her finger caused her true pain, Apophis opened his eyes.

“Through your dragon, you are mated.Through your hearts, you are bonded.Through your love, you are committed.By these rings, you are eternal.”Apophis’s hands squeezed theirs briefly before he let go.

“Aodh Brandr and his wife!”Apophis declared.

The roar and stomping of the Drahks’ cheers and shouts filled the space.

Aodh dragged her into his arms, lifting her feet from the ground as his mouth claimed hers.His kiss was powerful and hot.The blaze unfurling on his tongue singed her mouth and licked along the opening of her lips.Aodh's passionate dragon’s kiss coated her mouth with heated honey, and she drank deeply from him.She wanted to consume the blaze roaring inside the massive man and have that fire touch every inch of her skin until smoke seeped from her pores and carried her into ecstasy.

She moaned into his mouth as she gripped the tight, bulging muscles of his shoulders, digging her fingers deep into the hard flesh and pressing her body closer.Her breast crushed against his chest, and she hated that there was satin and lace and all the layers of clothing between them, blocking her from feeling the searing heat of his lit scale markings along her nipples.

Her mate groaned, rough and rugged, the sound of a rockslide shaking the ground and air around them.

“Maybe we should leave you alone so you can rut your new wife, Mckenna, in the dirt like the mad beast you are.”

Liekki’s timely humor seemed to cool Aodh’s desire enough for him to set her back on her feet.The kiss went on for a few more heartbeats before Aodh ended it.

Little flame, remind me to put my boot in my brother's ass.

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