“I love you Amber.”
Oh God, no. Not again.
Then something shifted. Changed. He inhaled sharply and pulled back. His eyes met hers. A smile blossomed on his face. So much joy. So much thankfulness. “And you love me too.”
Stunned, she realized what had happened. What was different.
The pact had been fulfilled.
The brothers could once more shift into their dragons.
Amber nodded as he stepped back. She had so much to say. So much she wanted to share. But there wasn't enough time. Like she had seen in his dragon lair, air swirled around him before he blurred. She crouched, both terrified and awed as the blur lifted and she realized what had happened and where she was.
Tucked between…dragon talons.
Staring up, she watched as massive wings curled over her. A horrendous sound met her ears and she knew it was the tidal wave crashing over them. Except this time there was nothing but humidity as she remained completely untouched by the water.
Instead, it sounded like a massive waterfall echoing off of rock. It almost felt like she was in a cave but knew she wasn’t. Hell, how tall was he? Sixty, seventy, maybe eighty feet easy? Clutching the leathery skin at her side, her gaze connected with the eyes lowered beneath the protective wings.
Obsidian, lethal, they devoured her…loved her.
Kol.
Even through the intensity of his gaze she detected a smidge of mirth. No sooner did she think as much, words floated through her mind. “I love you to Valhalla and back, Little Dove.” The dragon’s eyes almost seemed to twinkle. “No…I think right now you’re my Little Syn.” The roar of water grew louder as his words skirted through her mind. “But I’m not much fond of you being between my toes.” She heard the lust in his voice. “I look forward to once more having you somewhere else entirely.”
Amber had no idea what the sound was that came from her. Half snort, half sob? Either way, it was obnoxious. But he seemed just fine with it based on the chuckle that rumbled through her mind. “Laugh. Be happy. But no fear.” A low glow emitted from the dragon’s heart region. “Because there is no darkness when you are with me.”
Amber meant to answer, say something, but all went silent. The sound of rushing water stopped. Her eyes stayed locked with those intense dragon eyes and she felt something inside her roar up, something she knew was connected to him. Intense, soul-deep, his words pierced her mind and her heart. “You saved me.” Then the dragon gave something she knew it struggled with…something Kol struggled with. “And you saved Sean.”
It was then that she understood why she had dreamt of him and Sean sopping wet in her living room. Why they had asked her to save them. Because they had both drowned and were connected to life through her, through each other. And somehow she had saved them...with her sketches? With her love? She had no idea.
Amber covered her head as wind roared around her and Kol spread his wings. While tempted to hover in fear, she was ensnared by the sight of him lifting off and flapping his broad wings. While most would be terrified, she stood on shaky legs and for a flickering moment saw not a massive dragon, but the boy dragon he had been.
She shook her head, in complete awe.
Little Kol had grown up.
Megan and Veronica came alongside. The three sisters held hands, their eyes wide and jaws dropped as they watched the horizon. The wave had receded and three massive dragons were circling the enemy warships.
One black. One gold. And one black with brown flecks.
Adlin and Grant joined her and her sisters.
“They willnae need us now,” Grant said with pride.
“Nay,” Adlin said. “The pact has been fulfilled. The Sigdir brothers have well protected our clan and are now free.”
Chaos reigned upon the sea and though Helga and King Alrek were fighting for all they were worth, their power wasn’t nearly enough to combat three full grown male dragons.
Swooping, raining down fire, they were glorious.
“But it certainly wasn’t all because of the dragons,” Grant murmured.
“Not in the least,” Adlin agreed.
Though the sisters meant to respond—either to agree or disagree—there was nothing comparable to watching the loves of their lives embrace glory. Embrace who and what they were. To watch them free and finally, once and for all, destroying all that had threatened them and their loved ones.
“There is always a strong lass behind every strong lad,” Grant said as he and Adlin walked back down the dock.
“And that just proves how great a mentor I already am to you,” Adlin said. “Because you have firmly learned the first rule of being a great MacLomain wizard. We lads are nothing without our lasses. ‘Tis a simple truth indeed.”
Their words faded away as Amber avidly watched the dragons. Then her eyes went to Helga as the seer spread her arms, thrust back her head and murmured words into the sky. King Alrek stood by her side, arrogant even as he watched the dragons burn their fleet within minutes. Ships cracked, fires spread, a mass funeral as they sunk into the sea around the one remaining ship. The nucleus of all that was left that could do harm.
“Naðr’s furious,” Megan murmured, eyes on the massive black dragon making wide sweeps over the ship. “But he wants you to know he’s holding back, Amber. That the seer’s magic cannot hurt any of them.”
Veronica stood tall, proud, a small smile on her lips as she eyed the golden dragon that swooped and swished its tail, causing massive waves for the teetering ship. “My husband is feeling playful with the end so near but wants you to know he will not take this glory from Kol. This moment is meant for his little brother.”
Amber’s eyes fell on Helga and King Alrek as they chanted but whatever they did seemed to fizzle. Kol swooped several times before he came in low, wings flapping just enough so that he could hover in front of the ship.
Men screamed and jumped overboard, but the enemy king and the seer held their ground. Based on the sway of her hips and the sultry way she spoke, Helga was trying to entice Kol.
But whatever she said, whatever Kol saw…or felt…suddenly spurred him into action.
For a split second she heard the rage that had come from him when he jumped onto King Alrek’s ship to save her. Then it turned to something far different. Far louder and a hundred times more ferocious. He flapped his wings once, twice, and then thrust his head forward.
Fire roared from his mouth and ripped along the ship.
Helga and Alrek were consumed in flames. No amount of magic could save them as Kol’s brothers rained fire down upon them as well. The ship was ripped away so quickly that within seconds there was nothing but crackling embers sinking into the sea.
Her sister’s arms came around her lower back and they pulled her close as they watched the dragons roar and sweep in wide circles over the ocean. As they triumphed in their glory. It was powerful and consuming.
Amber didn’t bother brushing away tears as they slid down her cheeks. No, she wanted to feel every last one. She wanted to watch them revel in their freedom because she had never met three men…or dragons, who deserved it more.
They continued watching the dragons long after the ship sunk. Eventually, Megan pulled them after her. “Come sisters. The baby is safe and our men need to fly for a bit and reunite with their dragon. Let’s go get a drink so Amber can fill us in on everything that happened to free our guys from their pact.”
“Sounds good to me,” Veronica agreed as they walked down the dock.
“Me too,” Amber murmured. But she couldn’t help peeking over her shoulder. It was hard to take her eyes off Kol. She didn’t want him out of her sight. Rather, she wanted him in her arms. She wanted to know he was safe. But she wouldn’t say as much because Megan was right. The guys deserved some play time.
Though the damage was substantial, the ships and docks were well-protected by Kjar’s magic. And, whether by magic, namely Adlin and Grant's, or good engineering, the fortress wal
ls still stood as did the village beyond.
Based on the cheering crowd, she surmised that they had for the most part remained unscathed and there were few if any deaths. Warmed by that thought, she smiled as villagers embraced them. Smiling, jovial, vendors were handing out ale and mead for free. It was truly a day of celebration.
“Amber?” She had a split second to turn before Kara wrapped her up in a big hug. “I’m so glad you are all right.” They held tight before the Viking woman pulled back and Asmund embraced her.
She couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Good to see you both.”
Smiling, the couple held hands as Kara spoke. “We did not think you would make it but…” She shook her head, smiling even wider. “Great love saved you.” Then her lips twitched, wise little thing that she was. “And though it looked like Kol saved you, my guess is you saved him too.”
Though she knew she should be happy, Amber's chest tightened. Kol wasn’t here. She clenched her teeth. Nor should he be. He deserved his freedom. He deserved to embrace what he loved most. Her eyes turned back to the horizon even as more people hugged her and Hagal, her favorite vendor, made sure she got some ale.
The dragons were gone.
Off to sow their oats.
And she didn’t blame them.
“There they are,” someone cried. “Just past the last dock.”
Amber scanned the sky. Nothing. What was everyone talking about? But the crowds were rushing forward along the shore. She stepped aside and let them go. Yet always she kept a smile plastered on her face. These people had been through so much. If they needed to get to something, she wouldn’t stand in their way.
Suddenly, the crowd slowed then stopped.
Though she tried to peer over their heads, she was too short. Or they were too tall. Either way, it didn’t much matter when they stepped aside and cleared a path. Amber had less than a second to see who was heading her way before Kol, once more a man clad in black leather, lifted her.
"You are what I love most, woman," he growled, obviously having heard her thoughts.
There would be no knight in shining armor moment or anything softly romantic right now. No, he wrapped his hands around her backside, took a few long strides and brought her against the fortress wall. Air broke from her lungs moments before his lips crashed against hers.
The crowd roared.
Everything he felt, needed, wanted, filtered down to that one ravenous kiss. His determined body pressed against hers as their tongues wrapped, reunited, desperate even though they knew what they had found wasn't going anywhere.
They belonged to one another.
Had found one another.
“Kol,” she whispered against his mouth. But he covered her word with his lips. Easily lost in his kiss, his touch, they didn’t stop. The crowd had filtered away by the time their lips parted long enough for him to kiss along her jaw and down her neck.
Drifting in and out of coherency, she struggled to speak through ragged breaths. “You. Need. To. Know.”
His lips brushed over hers, sweeping back and forth. “I know everything I need to.”
“No,” she managed as his leg pressed between her thighs. What did I mean to say? It was important. Really important.
Amber shook her head, a small grin coming to her lips before she grabbed his cheeks and made him look at her. Desperate for him to hear, for her to hear, she thrilled at her own words. “I love you, Kol. So much.”
His lips came against hers and curved into a grin. “I know, Little Syn.”
She smiled. “So no more Little Dove?”
“No more Little Dove. That got you out of the darkness and into the light. Now you’re my Little Syn.” He trailed his lips along her jawline until his words were against her ear. “After all, you protect love too well.” The flicker of his tongue along her neck made her groan. “You protected me so well.”
“Hate to break up a good time but you guys need to come now,” Megan said from somewhere nearby. “It’s Kjar.”
“Of course,” Amber murmured as she untangled from Kol. “Is he okay?”
“We don’t know,” Megan said, striding ahead.
Kol pulled her after him and it wasn’t long before they left the crowd behind. No fires were lit further down the beach. It was but snow and ice. When they found Kjar, he was sitting on a rock, body trembling, head bent. Naðr, Raknar, and Veronica stood nearby, clearly upset as they paced and eyed him.
It was odd seeing Kjar like this after she had seen him in the twenty-first century. Before Megan could stop her, Amber crouched at his feet and tried to make eye contact. “What’s going on, hon. The pact is fulfilled. You did it. We did it.”
“Where is she then?” he murmured, head still bent. “Where is the Unnamed One?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. Amber tried to meet his eyes. “I remember you in the future. Everything’s okay now. You and Dayna did it.”
His eyes snapped to hers. “Because she is Dayna right?"
Amber held his gaze, confused. “Who?”
“I haven’t lain with a woman in so long. Not since she asked me to help. Not since I knew I shared a descendant with someone close. Do you know how much she gave up? Everything.” He cupped her cheek. “But where is she?”
Amber was about to respond, to try and help him any way she could, but a soft voice came from behind. “I’m here Kjar. I’m finally here. All of me.”
Everyone turned…
To the Unnamed One.
Amber stepped aside as she ripped off the hood and veil then dropped to her knees in front of the demi-god. Amber knew based on her sister’s gasps that they were as stunned as she was.
It was their cousin Dayna.
The Unnamed One had been Dayna.
Though it was clear Naðr was both confused and tentative about interrupting an intimate moment, he strode up alongside anyway. “I don’t understand. Explain this.”
Kjar cupped Dayna’s cheeks, eyes never leaving hers as he said, “The Unnamed One, Dayna, always knew Helga’s intentions. That though her sister had wanted the great favor Odin would bestow because of the pact, Helga's ambitions had changed. In the end, she embraced evil and wanted something else. Not only the power of the dragons but access and control over the future. Being an advanced society, the twenty-first century held great appeal.”
Kjar shook his head. “Through her dark magic, Helga knew which three sisters the stones were meant for. And with that same magic, she made contact with Megan’s ex-husband. She promised him great power and knowledge if he would aide in making sure Megan ended up with Yrsa and King Rennir, Helga’s longtime allies.”
The demi-god was emotional as he continued. “In order to protect the pact and the great love connections as well as our descendant, Sean, the Unnamed One created a doppelgänger who harnessed half of her soul to maintain a presence in the twenty-first century. She was known as Dayna."
“Why didn’t Helga simply create her own doppelgänger to gain access to the future?” Raknar asked.
“Even after accessing dark magic, she was not strong enough,” Dayna said. “As the first-born seer, I was.”
Amber frowned, focusing on something Kjar had said. “I’m confused. Why did you just say Sean was our descendant? I thought he was only yours Kjar…”
Her words trailed off as understanding slowly dawned.
Dayna swallowed hard, eyes never leaving Kjar. “Because Sean is not just Kjar’s descendant, but mine as well.”
It was then that Amber really saw the way they were looking at each other.
Kjar and Dayna were in love and would start a lineage that led to Sean’s birth.
“So Dayna,” Kjar murmured. “As you know her, the Unnamed One, gave half her soul to the doppelgänger so that she might be in two places at once. So that she could not only keep an eye on Helga but keep watch over Sean and the sisters. That she might help steer them in the right direction. She explained her weakened state as her power
s simply lessening due to age. This also served another purpose. It gave Helga the impression that she might at last be the most powerful seer. Which, naturally, fed into her vanity. And in turn made it impossible for Helga to see just how absurd such a possibility really was."
“That’s when you gave Helga the power to talk through you,” Amber murmured.
“Yes,” Dayna said softly. “I had no choice. A sacrifice must be made when a seer is in two places at once. Mine was the ability to speak aloud in only one of two locations. I chose the twenty-first century."
“How did we never know this?” Megan shook her head. “Hell, you’re our cousin. We’ve known you since we were kids!”
Dayna’s eyes met Megan’s. “I have been alive for a very long time. My power is strong.” She sighed. “But I can look very young.” Her eyes pleaded with Megan. “I love you and your sisters. I never meant to hurt anyone. My goal was only ever to protect a greater good. With Kjar’s help, I was able to achieve that.”
“How is it again that the demi-god helped you?” Naðr said softly.
Dayna’s eyes returned to Kjar’s though she spoke to the King. “He saw me through time. After that, he did anything he could to see to the protection of your people.” Her eyes went to Naðr’s. “And that of the MacLomain clan.”
“And now that the pact is fulfilled, Dayna, or Aella as she was known at birth, is once more whole and her doppelgänger no longer needed. She can once more speak.” Kjar touched her cheek tenderly. “And no longer overshadowed by her sister who kept her veiled so that all might focus on Helga’s beauty, Aella can once more show her beautiful face.”
A long moment passed before the King turned to Aella and held out his hand. She took it and rose to her feet. Naðr looked at her for a long moment before he sunk to one knee. Lowering his head, he said, “You have my deepest thanks. Not only did you protect us well but you ensured that we all found our true loves.”
Kol and Raknar fell to a knee and lowered their heads as well, murmuring their thanks.
“No. Stand.” Aella shook her head, eyes flickering between Megan and her sisters. “If you should be thankful to anyone it’s the gods and the wonderful women who found you.”
Viking Heart (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 3) Page 27
