He kissed her and gripped her supple ass with his hands as he walked them to the large bed across the room, using spatial awareness ability to guide them to the destination.Amaros refused to allow anything to take his focus away from Michaela, even for a second.
Before the sun rose again, he’d see every inch of his mate's body and pleasure her until exhausted sleep claimed them.
Chapter Eight
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“Is that the hearth-stone vault?”A few miles outside the territory center, Kai spotted one dragon after another landing in an open field a half mile away to the right.Each had a large sack clutched in their claws before a massive three-story stone building.The beasts landing and leaving one by one in opposite directions reminded Kai of the videos in the archive center she’d watched of old airfields and the coordination of planes.She’d always been fascinated with flight schema, and now she saw it in real time, except dragons didn’t need a runway.
From her front view, she didn’t see a window or balcony like most buildings in the territory.It was plain and nondescript.She would have thought nothing of it and considered it a warehouse or storage facility.
“Yes.”Tana began.“They are delivering Drago’s hearth-stone to the sacred space, which will remain there until the next time a Drahk connects with that particular infinite stone.They represent a promise from the Great Spirit to our kind, each a connection to this Earth, proof we belong here.Guardians of the planet.”Pausing their trio momentarily, Tana, the older Drahkelle, a historian for her kind, who always seemed so stalwart and unfazed, released a small sigh.
Guardians of the Planet.It's too bad Drahks couldn’t save humanity from themselves and how they almost destroyed the world.
Kai looked at the jade in the hilt of Ladon’s board sword strapped to his back, and the tiger’s eye beads around Tana’s wrists.Before Kai had ended up living with the Drahk, she would have only seen the precious stones as expensive jewelry humans in the Consumer District would covet.After talking to Aodh, being with him, and watching a long-lost family member pass among his hoard, the significance of the stone tightened her chest.In the human world, it would have been her right to take one of the pearls and hold on to it in memory of her greatest uncle’s life.
However, living among the Drahk, she knew it would not be fair or proper to keep something so precious to another.So, even though there was a sadness in seeing large sacks of pearls going in, at the same time, a glimmer of hope warmed her because she knew in one of the next generations of younglings, one would be drawn to the infinity stone and make it their hearth-stone.
Kai placed a hand on her swollen belly and wondered which stone their little one would bond with when the time came.
She stood with Tana and Ladon for a moment; they all watched as each Drahk shifted and walked into the vast, high door of the vault.Kai mentally named each dragon as it landed before it changed.Knowing she had such a connection to them placed a small smile on her lips, even though her heart was still heavy.“I’m sorry that I pulled you away from assisting with preparing Drago for his final flight, Tana.”
The Mckenna’s attendant glanced over at her and shook her head.“On such a day, every Drahk is showing support somehow.Even those still on patrol surveying the border, those cooking the feast for this night, and gathering dry wood for the altar.We all play our part.My ensuring you are dressed for this night is just as important.”
Hearing the older woman’s words lifted her heart, and Kai didn’t feel so useless.
“We should go.Anala’s textile building is still a bit of a distance.She will want to see you and help you select the right garment for tonight.”Tana turned them back to their route.
Ladon continued to shadow their steps.
“I don’t want to put anyone out when I already have so many things you placed in the suite closet for me.Can’t I wear something I own?”There were so many things that Tana had brought her, including the tunic-style top and pants Kai loved to wear since her waistline was rapidly expanding.
“Not for tonight.It will not do.”Tana may be older, but her long, quick stride never faltered, so they’d covered such a great distance in less than two hours.
Used to walking with Aodh, Kai had no problem keeping pace.“Are you sure?There are things I have not even worn yet.”
