His touch calmed her.He helped her remember that the things that happened to the world were not her burden.She leaned back and glanced up into breath-stealing, amazing, turquoise-opal eyes.Aodh’s gaze helped her center herself.
Since some intensity had left his body, she hoped it was because she had done the same for him.
“They’re the North American territories.”He ran his thumb over her ear.“I’m not sure if you’re ready to hear this.”
She frowned but nodded.Chances were that she wasn’t ready but refused to shy away from knowledge and was tired of lies.
“When the human world went underground, the preternatural world claimed it.We’ve always been here.Living among humans, world leaders knew it.”
So many lies.
He continued as he pointed out each place.“Thebirmyrl, bear-shifters, own the new west coast Idaho, Utah, the eastern half of Nevada, and the northern tip of Arizona.Thevreyrioo, vampires are North andulfreki, wolf-shifters the territory to the east of them.”He drew his finger down the center of the map consisting of a big swath of states.“This is us here...our dragons require more space.”
Kai recognized the Manitoba region of Canada, and followed down through the upper half of Arkansas, covering seven and a half states—the Drahk territory.
“On our other side are thefjodengil, Fae taking Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and the remaining half of Tennessee.”
She swallowed and fisted her hands, trying to calm the quivers running through her body.Bears, wolves, Fae, and vampires?What has the world become?What has my life become?
In an instant, she found herself in Aodh’s arms.He crossed the room and sat with her in his lap behind his desk.“Breathe, Kai.”
Closing her eyes, she tried to stop the swirling of her mind and the queasiness in her stomach.She must have looked bad for Aodh to scoop her up.Kai was thankful because she wasn’t sure how long her knees would hold her.
“Deep breaths, little flame.”One of his large hands rubbed up and down her arm.“Nice and easy.”
She followed his instructions even though she was starting to feel better by being in his arms.Aodh had become a stabilizing force for her.
Filling her lungs one last time, she opened her eyes.
“You, okay?”
“Yes.”She nodded and forced herself to offer him a smile.She felt it wobble on her lips.“I’m good.”
He shook his head.“I should not have told you all of it.It was too much.Adjusting to my people has been enough for you to handle.”
“No.”She gripped his forearm.“I needed to know.I’ve been ignorant far too long.”
“You’re sure?”He pressed his forehead to hers.
She inhaled to draw in his roasted-cinnamon smell.“Very.”
Yeongi entered.“McKenna.Kai.Tana is here.”
