Just like there would be no choice the next time he saw her, he’d claim her.He needed to for multiple reasons.
“What is before me this day?”Aodh wanted to know.Typically, the assembly meetings were during the day, but Aodh knew from the appearance of his brother that the Wise Ones who operated as council members would want to know what had brought the humans to their borders.
“Mckenna.”Yeongi glanced down at his paper tablet.Electronic devices were made obsolete by the massive level of destruction.“There is trouble in Europe.It will need your attention.I have a report from the com division.”He continued to move at the pace Aodh had set.
Their territory was huge, encompassing a chunk of the mid-west America and central Canada.The Mckenna building—housing the large hall, his suite, and one of four healing chambers sat in the center of their territory.However, the leadership offices where he worked were only ten miles from it.It worked for them, and they respected the preternatural magistrate law to only build in clearings and flat lands.There was a respect for nature as it had never been before.
“Would you like me to brief you now?”
“No, Yeongi.If it can wait until tomorrow, I will pull in the heads of the divisions, and we can set up a course of action if we need to intervene.”He looked to his right, taking in the medium stature of his aide.Yeongi was massive and still impressive compared to humans.In his Thunder, all Drahks were respected equally for what they provided, not just those who could soar along in the first line of defense.“What draws you from your bed at this hour?”
“I was with Calida when she was notified about the incoming communications.”Yeongi shook his head.“A squawking radio is hard to ignore, no matter how hard one tries.”
Chuckling, Aodh understood what Yeongi and his mate had possibly been doing at this hour when Calida got called in to work.Calida was one of Aodh’s top com technicians.She was second in line to run that division.Since the world changed, she and Yeongi had been mated, with no young.Yet.
The thought of his aide and mate being unable to have offspring added more pressure on his shoulders.Most of his Thunder respected his position and would never say anything to him about being restrained by his refusal to claim a mate.
Aodh sighed.“Well, thanks for being quick on the intel.”
Shadows filled the land, heralding the coming dawn.Others passed him and nodded in respect as they started their day, but still, it was quiet.Aodh glanced up and saw a handful of gigantic shadows soaring.He would have already been at his building if he had taken flight.However, he knew the same thing now that he did upon walking out of the hall; he needed to burn off as much energy as possible.
If he did not, rushing back to his suite and taking Kai would be too easy.
Not to mention, until he was sure how his beast would react to Kai, he needed to keep it locked within.
Kai.
Fuck.His cock was thickening again.The last thing he wanted was to walk into the council and sport an erection like some young dragon unable to control his urges.It would be bad enough that they would not only detect the acrid aroma of sickness that cloaked Morlie but also Kai’s musky notes on him.The thick, wild, sweet headiness of her arousal was still playing in his nostrils.When he had kissed her, it had taken the strength of Samson for him not to lower himself to his knees and follow the path to where it originated between her thick thighs.The woman had tempting curves.The mating lure that weaved around them urged him to bond with her.Mate her.Claim her.Making her his was like a mountain inside his lower gut.The only thing giving him balance was his beast, who was using that mountain of desire like a cat with a toy, batting it around and keeping it in check.
Soon, it would not matter what his dragon wanted or didn’t want.The Drahk, the man, would have her.He had needs.Kai was not the first person he’d lain with that the dragon had not marked.Fuck.None of the women or female Drahk had been accepted.It was their way of life.But their dragons didn’t stop them from having all the sex they wanted.It just burrowed deep and slept, ignoring what happened.
Aodh was partly glad when he spotted his two-story office building finally coming into view.If it was as he suspected, based on Liekki’s appearance and the murmurs of the few groups in the hall, all the wise ones would be present and waiting on him.
“You don’t have to attend this meeting with me, Yeongi.”
“I know, but I figured since I’m up and my mate is away, I might as well work.”
Recognizing his aide’s dedication, Aodh gave him a firm pat on the shoulder as Yeongi opened the ash-gray stone door.
Taking the immediate left, Aodh went into the conference room instead of taking the stairs to his office on the top floor.Only single or double-story buildings made up their territory.No skyscrapers as the humans were fond of building.Because their dragons enjoyed claiming as much sky as possible, they used the canopy of the tall trees that grew wild and unhindered to keep them secluded.
It wasn’t only dragon-shifters who lived this way; it was part of the preternatural treaties.It allowed for the privacy of all entities.
“Mckenna.”Keahl, the old tackle division head, was the first to greet him when he walked in.
There was a low rumbling around the thirteen-person table, made of reclaimed wood, like all wood lawfully used.Silence fell as he moved toward the head of the table.Two large maps were fixed flat under glass in the center of the rectangle shape.Taking his seat, Aodh averted his gaze, not ready to meet the questions that would be just under the surface of their eyes.
Yeongi took the chair to Aodh’s left, ready to take dictation or provide needed reports.
“Good day, son.I hear we should alert the educators that school may be in session soon.”
Chuckles rang out around the table from the Drahk, and Drahkelles gathered.
Aodh glanced at his father on his right.After he’d stepped down as Mckenna, Rhys Brandr took his place on the Wise One’s council.“Nothing is set in stone yet, Father.”
“At least tell us if the rumors are true.”Drago stroked his long, thin, white beard as he arched an eyebrow at Aodh from the other end of the table.
Drago was the oldest Drahk, more than two centuries in age.He had been one of the division leaders when Aodh’s grandfather was Mckenna.The elder’s markings held little illumination reflecting from the beast within him.It was rare for Drago not to be in human form because when he shifted to his dragon, he would have to stay in that form for weeks before he had the energy to return.All others in his phase of life had already joined the Great Spirit.
