“You make me proud, little flame.”
Turning away from Liekki, still not ready to discuss his announcement, she glanced at the shorter-haired man as he tenderly cupped Aguya's face.
“You're sweet, Aodh.Thank you for making me do the training.”The medium-brown-skinned woman kissed Aodh’s palm.
“Even I could not have predicted Khuzaimah bestowing such honor.”Aodh fingered one of Aguya Kai’s coils and tugged her closer.
Avalore heard Aguya giggle like an enamored schoolroom girl.
“She was just being nice.But it did feel terrific to wield the sword.Thank you again for the gift.”She stroked the black-jeweled hilt of the sword still in her hand.
“You’re welcome.And know that Khuzaimah doesn’t spout words she doesn’t believe deeply.”
Their intimacy clued Avalore in quickly, realizing the big Drahk was the Mckenna.
Oh, hell.Nervous, she swallowed and stepped back, bumping into the hot, muscled wall behind her.Unlike at Liekki’s place when she fought against his presence at her back, now she found comfort in it.
“Do not fear, little lure,” Liekki’s imperious tone was low.
Avalore shifted, relaxing a bit more.
Her movement must have drawn the pregnant woman’s attention, because she finally glanced beyond Aodh’s mammoth shoulders and looked at her.
She smiled.“Is this Avalore, Liekki?”
Avalore was shocked to know that the Mckenna’s mate knew about her.
Liekki didn’t respond vocally, so Avalore had to believe the stoic one nodded affirmatively.
Aguya’s smile widened as she moved along the fence a step so that she was directly in front of Avalore.“Usually, introductions are made, but if I waited for Liekki to do it, he’d either say something sarcastic or nothing at all.”
Avalore laughed.“True.Aguya Kai, it is nice to meet you.”She stepped forward but didn’t extend her hand, recalling the lesson she’d gotten from Chumana about Drahks not touching.
However, Aguya broke with custom and held her hand out.“You can just call me Kai, please.It’s good to have another human in the territory.Well, there is another, but she’s mated to a Drahk who patrols our Northernmost post and they’ve yet to come to the center.”
“May I ask why everyone calls you Aguya?”Avalore tilted her head.
“It means ‘Mistress of Fire’ in Drahk.Like a queen or consort to a leader.”Kai rubbed her protruding belly.“The designation given when the Mckenna’s claimed mate conceives.”
“Oh.”Wow.“That means you're very important to the Drahks.”
“Yes.For many reasons but most of them connected to the little one.Still, I’d prefer you to call me Kai.”Kai extended her hand further.
She clasped the other woman’s hand.“Well, Kai.I’m Avalore, but I’ve always been called Ava.”
“Ava it is.”Pulling her hand away, she placed a hand on the forearm of the Mckenna.“This is Aodh, the Mckenna of the Drahk and my mate-husband.”
Avalore shifted her gaze to the huge man a few feet away, leaning on the fence, but she didn’t know what to expect from him.
However, a growl pierced the air before Aodh could do more than set his gaze on her.
Liekki.The overbearing dragon-shifter must have a death wish if he was going to snap at his brother, the leader of their Thunder.
Aodh only arched a single brow so high, Avalore was shocked it didn’t touch Aodh’s hairline.
Kai covered her mouth as if she hid a smile.
Avalore was annoyed.She went to take a step forward to greet the leader, only to feel a hand on her hip immobilizing her.She started to shoot a look at the man behind her, but the Mckenna’s voice pulled her back.
