Page 8 of Smoke and Lure

She gasped.

Liekki saw how her thighs flexed beneath the sheet.He held his hand out to her.“It would be easier for you to see in the mirror.After you bathe.”

Avalore glanced at his open hand.She hesitated, appearing unsure about trusting him.

“I promise to be on my best behavior...or close to it, little lure.”He couldn’t make promises he wasn’t capable of keeping around such a lush creature.

When she still didn’t readily take his hand, he offered, “You can keep your protection with you if you like.”

Liekki chose to disregard the joyous response of his dragon.

Gripping the larimar in one hand, Avalore slipped her other in his.

Tugging her up to stand before him, Liekki found he couldn’t marginalize his response within the fierce beating of his own heart.

Chapter Two

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“Ow!”

“You must be on guard at all times.Anticipate an attack.”

Morlie placed a hand on her stinging cheek and attempted to rub the hot pain away as she stepped back, hoping to put herself out of arm's reach of Rieka.From the center of the living room, she glanced from Rieka to Rudie, who was back at the island working on their morning meal, trying to figure out if the other young woman had steered her wrong.Rudie had appeared excited at the sight of Chanin’s mother when she showed up unexpectedly, offering to train Morlie against Minsi.

She returned her gaze to the older woman, who seemed to have a relaxed wide-leg stance with her lethal hands in her pockets.Morlie didn’t trust it, not after the slap.Even though the strike wasn’t as hard as the one she’d received from Chanin’s ex-lover, it still had her cheek hot and pulsing.

“Why would I think someone on my side would hit me?”Morlie demanded.Her parents and sister had raised her to respect those who were elder, and because of that, she would not look for something to hit her mate’s mother back, but the tightness in her core and the low growl inside of her wouldn’t stand for being someone’s punchbag at all.

“We are Lupine.You are Lupine, Morlie.”Rieka stepped toward her.

Morlie didn’t hesitate to step back.“I know this.”

“You might know it here.”Rieka slipped a hand from her loose pants pocket and tapped two fingers against her temple.“But you must know it here.”She withdrew her other hand and pounded a fist to her stomach.“Our hierarchy is built on fierce strength and loyalty, nothing else.Chanin is Alpha because he is the strongest, fastest wolf in our Pack.When he shows weakness, someone will challenge him and attempt to take his position.”

Lowering her hand, Morlie frowned.“What does that have to do with me?Will I have to fight to defend Chanin?”

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