“As I’m sure you know now from connecting with Kage, we technically descend from a child born of both Bjark’s and Bard’s lineages,” Erica said. Anger flashed in her eyes, but she got it under control. “Thankfully, however, it’s allowed us to tap into more power than most when we connect with our mates.”
Viv glanced at Kage. “I’m surprised you didn’t try to mate with me sooner, all things considered.”
“Isn’t our first date soon enough?” Despite their dire circumstances, he managed a grin. “Especially considering I thought you were the enemy.”
“There is that,” she murmured. “But now you know the truth…we both do.”
“Hell yeah, we do,” he said softly, eying her with appreciation. He wished they could get back to lusting rather than dealing with Hallstein. Or running from him. Speaking of. His eyes went to his sister. “If I head to Maine with Viv, Hallstein will smell a rat.” He shook his head. “He’s aware that I know he’s not as strong up there. And he won’t like me being with a Sigdir in an area where he can’t access his full strength.”
“Well, she sure as hell can’t stay here,” Erica said. “Because we both know based on what happened at the club, he has no intention of playing nice with her. She might be offering an alliance, but it’s with a bloodline he despises. So he’ll take advantage of what she’s offering, but she’ll go through a lot of suffering for it. Then, once he has what he wants, every last Sigdir, including her family here, will be dispensable.”
Kage sighed. “And what about you, Erica? Because we both know if I bring Viv up north, he’ll take his anger out on you.” He shook his head. “I can’t let that happen.”
“Like I said, don’t worry about me,” she said. “I can handle myself.”
No sooner did she get the words out of her mouth then the doorbell rang.
Hallstein.
“Viv, go change,” Kage growled. “Don’t come out of the bathroom if you don’t have to.”
Yet they all knew Hallstein would demand it.
He would want to make sure Kage did what he had promised.
Vivienne frowned but said nothing as she headed for the bathroom. He frowned as well when he realized she had blocked her thoughts from him. Probably a good thing though considering what he was about to deal with.
There was only one more thing to try. If that didn’t work, he would have to battle Hallstein to the death. But he would for Viv.
Again and again.
By the time Kage answered the door, he had a whole new look. Bare chested with leather pants, he sported the proper amount of sweat and a whip. All the fixins for a good ol’ fashioned torture fest. Pleased, Hallstein grinned at Kage before Erica greeted him with a kiss.
Kage poured a glass of wine for Hallstein and offered a sinister grin that said he was looking forward to getting back to beating on Viv. The enemy read his meaning and nodded with approval. “So it went well? You’re looking forward to more?”
“Yup. Real good, boss,” Kage responded. And I’m looking forward to cutting your heart out as soon as I get a chance.
“May I see her?” Hallstein sipped his wine, his smile so cold maggots would freeze at the sight of it. “There’s nothing quite like seeing a strong woman broken.” He tapped his chest methodically as he strolled along, whispering, “Thump, thump,” his tone nostalgic and raspy, “thump, thump,” sick and demented. “Does the heart good.”
“She’s not fit to be seen right now,” Kage said. “Might take away from the way you…well…how you looked at her before.”
“Would it?” He could hear the smile in the enemy’s voice as he gazed around with delight.
When Kage glanced at Erica, she gave a brief shake of her head then glanced at his rack of steak knives. Her way of telling him that was their back-up plan. Meanwhile, he contemplated the array of medieval Viking weapons he had in a nearby room. Just a small display but one he took pride in. Expensive, authentic and very effective tools. A double-bladed battle ax. Sword. Mace. All sorts of good things.
Now those were the weapons he would go for if Hallstein made one wrong move.
“Well, my goodness, look at this,” Hallstein murmured with approval as he rounded the corner. “Loki’s cock, man, I’m impressed,” he said, awed. “Just look at her.”
Kage’s insides twisted in rage when he realized what the enemy was referring to. Viv was sprawled across a poolside bench in rough shape. It was clear she’d been hurt badly but was eager to welcome Hallstein as she managed to sit up, cracked open one swollen eye and murmured, “I’m sorry for my behavior earlier. I just wanted you to notice me. I never should have—”
“Shhh.” Hallstein smiled as he crouched and put a finger to her lips. “All that matters is that you’re sorry. And that you’ve gained some respect.” He cocked his head. “Because you have, right?”
“So much,” she assured as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth and she ran her tongue over a chipped tooth. “I was just having a little fun but won’t make that mistake again.” Fear flashed in her eyes as she looked from Kage to Hallstein. “I’ll never test either of you again. I was wrong. But, I know better now.”
“Oh, what wonderful news,” Hallstein said, genuinely pleased as he patted the top of her head with a tentative hand as though she was diseased. “See? It’s been a good day after all.” He stood and smiled at Kage and Erica. “The best I’ve had in a while.”
“Excellent,” Erica declared. “Shall we party then?”
“We shall.” Hallstein grinned. “You and me that is.” He clapped Kage’s shoulder in passing. “I’m going to take your sister home for some much needed enjoyment of my own.” He rolled his shoulders and called out. “Good job, Kage. I look forward to seeing you and your new mate tomorrow.”
Kage met Erica’s eyes, shook his head and mouthed, “Don’t you fucking go with him.”
“Take care of Viv,” she mouthed back. “I’m a big girl. I know how to take care of myself. Now get her the heck out of here, Bro.”
“Hell, Erica.” He started after her, but it was too late. She vanished right along with Hallstein. And because of dragon magic, he had no idea where they went.
But he had even bigger concerns. The brutalized condition of his mate.
Or so he thought.
The moment he rounded the corner Viv stepped in front of him, crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. Gone were the bruises and weakened woman. Instead, she seemed fine, flushed and downright pissed.
“I’d say it’s time you got me out of here.” Determination lit her eyes. “Then we’ll figure out a way to save your sister.”
Chapter Thirteen
LIKE KAGE’S OTHER place, the one in Maine was impressive with endless windows. On the ocean, it afforded another wow-is-this-for-real view of the Atlantic. The only difference was that it sat on a cliff overlooking a rocky shore.
A fire burned on a large hearth as the sun started to rise, casting the log cabin in a wondrous array of colors. Kage said nothing as he headed for the kitchen. He was upset, and she didn’t blame him.
“So let’s form a plan then go back for her,” she said. “I’m already feeling much stronger because we mated. More powerful. Aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I saw your new powers first-hand,” he grumbled, bracing his hands on the black granite counter top island. A heavy scowl settled on his face as his eyes met hers. “Quick thinking but I didn’t like it.” He ground his jaw. “That really sucked, Viv.”
She didn’t realize until that moment how much it had hurt him to see her like that. “It was all dragon glamour,” she assured. “I wasn’t in any pain.”
“It sure as hell looked like it,” he grunted.
“Good thing because it bought us time,” she reminded as she rounded the island and touched his shoulder. “We’ll get Erica back then we’ll figure out a way to annihilate Hallstein and his crew.”
“That’s not going to happen without more help.” He reeled he
r closer. “I think it’s time we had a genuine conversation. Now that we know we’re on the same side and it’s not Hallstein’s, I need to know more than what I’m catching in your mind.” His eyes dropped to her lips. “From your mouth.”
“Keep looking at me like that, and we’ll get nowhere fast,” she murmured as her skin began to heat.
He sat her on the island and braced his hands on either side of her as if he needed to keep her contained and close to him. She sensed his overwhelming need to protect her.
“Talk to me.” His eyes searched hers. “Obviously, your end game was to get close to Hallstein and kill him. Your family supported that? They were willing to sacrifice you?”
“I was willing to sacrifice myself,” she said. She told him about the dreams she’d had. About how she sensed Kage could lead her to Hallstein. “My people knew I dreamt about you, but I never told them about those last few dreams. The ones that connected the dots between you, Gerri and Hallstein. They would’ve tried to stop me.”
“With good reason.” He shook his head. “I understand being prepared to do anything to protect family but did you ever consider that he might’ve killed you first? And if he did, how vulnerable that would leave your kin?”
Viv swallowed hard. “It was a risk I had to take.” She cocked her head. “What about you? Sounds like you’ve sacrificed yourself just as much if not more so to protect your sisters. I can’t imagine they’re too happy about that considering you’re their only brother.”
“They don’t know about me,” he said softly. “And it needs to stay that way.”
The minute they connected, she’d sensed deep pain in him. Almost as if his soul were wounded. Now she knew why. She, more than anyone, understood what it felt like to live life separated from immediate kin.
“So how does Erica know about you?” she asked. “And the rest of your sisters don’t?”
“Because Erica’s the most powerful of our lot,” he replied. “She figured out dad had a child with another woman before he married her mother. Apparently, she’s known about me for a while but didn’t track me down until recently.”
“Because of the war, right?” she murmured. “It’s all coming to an end soon, isn’t it?”
“How do you know about that, Viv? An unrecorded war that took place…is still happening over a thousand years ago.” She felt his mind brush hers to discover more. “And how do you know about time travel?”
“Because…” She braced herself for his reaction. “Me and mine traveled through time to get here.”
He stared at her for a long moment before he whispered, “You did, didn’t you?” Her mind was opening to him more and more. “Shit.” His eyes widened as he saw a truth she’d done well to hide so far. “You’re an original…” He shook his head. “You traveled here from the beginning of dragonkind on Midgard…tens of thousands of years ago.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I guess you could say me and my people are the backup plan in all this.”
“But who brought you here?” He shook his head. “And how did they know what was going to happen?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I did at one time, but it’s been blocked since then by something far more powerful than us. All I know is that we’re here to help our tenth-century descendants when and if they need us.”
“You’ve acclimated well,” he said. “I would’ve never guessed you were from another century.”
She was somewhat surprised by how well he was taking all this. “Thanks.”
“Damn.” His wheels were clearly spinning as he looked her over. “Your dragon isn’t repressed at all, is it? You’ve shifted before. That’s why you could hide who you really were from me so well at the beginning. And that’s why you could fool Hallstein. Because you’re an original.”
“Technically I’m the grandchild of an original, but that’s right,” she said. “The truth is where I’m from we spent most of our time as dragons, not humans.”
She eyed him, wondering if he was ready to hear everything.
“What else, Viv?” He shifted even closer. “I know there’s more. I can feel it.”
“There is,” she whispered and fought back tears. “I never thought I’d see you again, let alone find you in the twenty-first century. But I have.” She cupped his cheek. “It’s really you.”
Viv opened her mind to him completely. Let him see everything.
Another life…at least for him.
“We knew each other before,” she continued. “We were mates.” They had fallen in love young. “After you died in the massacre that wiped out your tribe, I couldn’t stay.” She clenched her teeth against strong emotions. Ones she had worked hard to repress. But mating brought it all back. And confirmed everything. He was, for a fact, her original mate’s reincarnate. “When I learned about a group of Sigdir dragons who intended to hide in the twenty-first century, I volunteered to come. To help out from this end.”
His muscles tensed as the memories came flooding back.
“All of you are volunteers, aren’t you?” he said softly. “Not necessarily direct family.”
“That’s right,” she said. “Though we feel like we are now.”
“So you know exactly what it feels like to be separated from immediate kin,” he murmured.
“I do.” She nodded and touched his arm in comfort. “But at least I had time with mine. The same can’t be said for you, and I’m sorry for that, Kage.”
“I’ve survived.” He might have perfected the whole tough guy look, but she felt his pain.
“I know Hallstein was Bard in that life. Our…previous life. Mine at least,” he continued. “And I know about the mass genocide of my people because of him.” His eyes narrowed. “The Sigdirs came to our aid then fled. Why?”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “All I know is that the Sigdir dragons didn’t do it of their own free will. And those of us who chose to come here did so to help right that wrong.”
“Yet you were willing to risk it all with this little stunt you pulled.” He frowned. “Your heart might’ve been in the right place, but it sounds to me like you weren’t thinking too clearly.”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” she conceded. “Meeting you and discovering your connection to Hallstein wasn’t part of any plan. Just an unforeseen opportunity.” She pressed her palm against his chest, still caught in the memories of another life. How much they’d loved each other. How much she still loved him. “As to finding my mate reborn? You. I never imagined I’d get so lucky.”
It was clear he was still getting used to the idea. But she could tell by the thoughts flickering through his mind that he wasn’t totally opposed.
“You traveling through time from tens of thousands of years ago might explain a lot but not how you know about the war in the tenth century.” He shook his head. “How do you know about that? And how do you know it’s intensifying?”
“Julie keeps me updated,” she supplied. “Because she’s—”
“Right, Julie,” he interrupted as more telepathic revelations hit him. “She’s helped bring a few people together in Winter Harbor.”
Viv nodded.
“Which means Julie knows Grant Hamilton,” he went on. “A friend to the Sigdirs and a master manipulator when it comes to bringing mates together across time.” His eyes narrowed as all the pieces started to fall into place. “Someone who might also have the connections and power to hide some Sigdir dragons in the future.”
Viv shrugged. “That I can’t confirm.”
And she couldn’t. But it made sense all things considered.
“Your home…” Kage murmured, following her thoughts. “In New Hampshire.” His eyes narrowed even further. “An old colonial protected by Scottish wizards.”
“That’s right,” she murmured, her eyes flickering around his place. “Almost as good a hiding spot as here. Winter Harbor.” Her eyes held his. “Not far from your sisters’ chalet.”
Chapter Fourteen
<
br /> WHO KNEW A simple date would lead to all this? Kage had learned a lot in a very short time. Things that Hallstein sure as shit shouldn’t know. Viv had risked far too much walking into that club. Hell, if the enemy had caught even an inkling that she was from the time of original Sigdir dragons, Kage would have already lost her to him.
The woman had balls. He’d give her that.
“C’mon.” He swung her into his arms. “Let’s get you downstairs where it’s safer until I figure out our next move.”
“How is downstairs safer?”
“You’ll see.”
“I’ll be damned,” she whispered as they went down a long spiral staircase. “This is unbelievable.” Her eyes widened on everything as he set her down. She knew exactly what she was looking at. “This is one hell of a dragon lair, Kage. I’m impressed.”
“Thanks.” He shrugged, a whole lot happier by her approval than he let on. “My dragon likes it.”
“I’ll bet.” She took in the massive area with a kitchenette nestled in one corner and a California king in the other. But those weren’t the impressive parts. No, she was referring to the wide swath of rock floor overseen by an entire glass encased wall that separated them from the bottom part of the cliff. Water crashed against the lower half, creating a unique mouth to his ‘cave.’
“I’m surprised you keep your lair here in the north,” she said, “when you seem so…southern.”
“It’s safer to shift here. Hallstein hates the area so, for the most part, stays away,” he said. “Not to mention, Maine’s above sea level. Which makes the cliffs a much better foundation for a dragon lair.”
“True.” She shook her head as she looked around. “All this wealth…your wealth,” she murmured, still following his thoughts. “Inherited from your mother.”
Inherited. Provided by. Shared. Same difference. Sort of.
“Yup.” He eyed the contents of his fridge and worked on distracting her. She didn’t need to focus on his ma. Because if all went as planned, she’d likely never meet her. “I don’t have much to eat.” He cocked a grin at her. “But I’ve got enough to whip up some nachos. Extra spicy?”
Paranormal Dating Agency: Her Wounded Dragon (Viking Ancestors' Kin, Book 4.5) (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 7
