“No thanks are necessary since youwillbe mine.”His upper body was inside of the truck cab, and it was unclear if he said more.
She ran to do his bidding and shut off the ignition, then hustled back to the other side.“Yours.Your what?”Domestic.Aide.Employee.Scrap collector, she’d done plenty of that.
He unbuckled Morlie, scooped her into his arms, and then turned back and faced Kai.“My everything.”
~YH~
“What?”
Ignoring the question of the beautiful woman with the unruly mane of curls and the thick curves that made the beast within him roar, he started toward the path that took them back toward the center of his Thunder’s territory.It would have been faster if he had allowed his beast to take over, but while it may have permitted him to transport the ill one, it was doubtful it would accept the other so quickly without a legitimate meeting.
He lengthened his stride down the overgrown, narrow path.His broad shoulders broke branches and limbs, forging a clearance for the human in his wake.Rarely was this route used.The slight form in his arms reeked of the decay settling into her organs.The foul stench wasn’t foreign to him.The odor often accompanied the humans they interacted with shortly after the humans began to move about above ground again; however, they still clung to the ones the council received at the meeting grounds.It wasn’t the only scent emitting from her.However, it was the most paramount at this time.She wouldn’t make it if he didn’t get her to the chamber.He was sure this would break the heart of the woman breathing hard and running behind him.
Kai.The thought of her in pain sent fire into his blood.She was his.He had no clue how she had come to be roaming through his thunder’s territory.However, the reason was of no consequence.
She was his.The connection was undeniable.
“Wait.”She panted.“Can you stop for a moment?I need you to explain your words back there.”
He halted.
“Oof.”Her shapely form ran into his back.
Glancing over his shoulder, he looked down at her.“Kai, do you want to talk or get help for the dying one?”
“Her name is Morlie.And stop calling her ‘dying!’”she raged.
There she went, ordering him about again.One corner of his mouth curved.He enjoyed her fierceness and would look forward to all that energy in his bed soon.
“Morlieisdying.”He turned so that he could see her.The sun would crest soon, but the land was still dark, and he doubted the woman behind him could see much.
“No.You said you could save my sister.”
“Then we must go, Kai.”He enjoyed the play of her name over his tongue.Fuck, even his beast had unfurled the first time he spoke it in the language of his people.
She sighed.
He continued making his way.His strides were still long but not as fast so his woman could keep up better.It was unsafe for her to end up lost in the forest, which separated his territory from others who may be out hunting.Hell, if an unmated male in his Thunder came upon her, he could claim her first, even if their scents didn’t match.He’d be incensed.
However, if other entities captured her and mated with her...
Aodh didn’t feel like killing anyone today.
The decision to circumvent the front and head to a back entrance of the vast edifice that sat before them as he finally led the way out of the foliage staved off the multitude of questions from his kind.It was early still, but men of the sentries would be breaking fast in the great hall before they started their daily assignments.Few lived in the main building, but all in the thunder could eat in the gallery.Also, the back entrance was closer to the healing chamber, which was rarely used, especially since battles over territories had ceased in the last ten years.
It would allow him time to set up the dying—Morlie—before he needed to call a meeting and inform the preternatural council’s magistrates of the situation.
“Gracious...”Kai gasped behind him, her breath coming out heavy.She stopped at the forest edge and stared at the massive stone structure.
His chest swelled with pride at her response.He knew the sight of their buildings was impressive.Hell, it was in their nature to collect and design beautiful things.But there would be time enough later for him to show her everything about his territory.
“This way.”He was thankful that there was more stone than glass on the first two floors of this side of the building.That and the time of day concealed his movements unless someone was gazing out of the upper floor.At the back door, he shifted the weight in his arms to open the heavy door.
“We’re here.”He entered first and headed through the antechamber to the glass enclosure.
“What is this place?”Kai stepped in and began looking around.She frowned as her gaze landed on the white walls and wide space.She stared at a corner area where a few chairs sat facing the glass room, then looked at him.“Where’s all the medicine and the medical staff?”
He understood what she was asking because he’d had interactions with those in the human profession of healing.“We don’t have those sorts of people.My people don’t need them.Just this space.”
