“Of course I did,” she replied. “You’ve been protecting me for over twenty years, Sven. You were older, wiser, stronger and,” she shrugged, “you were becoming a bit stubborn and even grouchy when I didn’t take your advice. Especially toward the end.”
“Because I always knew best,” he said softly, his words not quite apologetic but certainly acknowledging they were true. That he was guilty.
“Pierce never did that with me, and honestly, it was refreshing,” she said, not about to hold back anything. “He let me be me.”
She could tell by his expression that he had several comebacks to that. All of which he was admirably keeping to himself. No doubt he felt Pierce didn’t know her nearly well enough to realize when he should be alarmed. He didn’t know that Emily could on occasion be impetuous and it could get her in trouble. How trusting she could be. There were a few other things Sven was likely thinking, but he held back.
“Why were you so forlorn when you sat on your back deck then?” he asked. “Were you just missing your kin?”
“I missed all of you, and you know that.” She took a swig from her skin, reading between the lines of his question. If she so enjoyed this new side to her, why did she seem so sad? She could go back and forth and visit her family whenever she wanted. “I think what you meant to ask and should in light of our new friendship is, was I missing you?” She met his eyes. “Would I have come home had that Yggdrasill not shown up?”
“Would you have?” he said softly.
“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “I actually decided to come home that morning and had already told Pierce.” She looked at the fire and remained perfectly honest. “I didn’t tell him I was coming back for you, but he knew.” She squeezed his hand. “Everything aside, our friendship means too much. That is what I came back for.” Her eyes went to his again. “That’s what I can’t give up. I just needed it to change...evolve I guess.”
“Then we will make sure it does.” He squeezed back. “And we will make sure, no matter what does or doesn’t happen between us, that it never fades.”
As their eyes held, she nodded, more hopeful than she had been in a long time. “Promise?”
“Promise,” he assured.
She could tell he wanted to wrap his arm around her shoulders and tuck her against his side in comfort like he always had but didn’t. He was respecting her unspoken newly laid boundaries, and she appreciated that. Because right now outside of a little hand holding, physical contact wasn’t a great idea. It affected her too strongly.
After that, they finished eating, settled back next to each other and finally chatted like old times except now she said things she never would have before. She told him how close she had grown to Pierce and how remarkably different twenty-first century human men were. How easy going and accepting they were compared to men in their society and most definitely, to dragon shifters. That wasn’t to be helped though. Male dragons were by nature dominant and yes, even a little controlling when it came to protecting their female counterparts.
Though he could have, Sven didn’t comment on that but seemed exceptionally at ease with talk of Pierce. Maybe too much so. But then he had his fair share of comments about twenty-first century human females too. How guarded and untrusting they could rightfully be yet also very bold.
Determined to remain as nonplussed as he seemingly was by Pierce, she ignored the jealousy that, unbelievably enough, seemed even stronger than it had been before. She didn’t think anything could upset her more than watching Sven with the village girls. But something about knowing he was fraternizing with twenty-first century women like herself set her on edge.
Regardless, it didn’t go over her head that they were masking their issues with one another in a light, friendly conversation. His frustration with her overly trusting nature and likely, his desire that she was a bit bolder at the end of their first kiss. That she hadn’t fled like she did. And undoubtedly, her irritation with Sven’s controlling nature when it came to her. Something Pierce blissfully lacked.
“Did you sleep with any of them? The women in the twenty-first century?” she said bluntly, well aware she drank her mead a bit too fast. She needed more liquid courage than expected when she decided to lie down beside him. Because along with everything else that had changed between them, the simple act of lying next to him was another ball game now.
“No,” he replied, evidently not fazed by the question...or perhaps pleased by it. Hard to tell when it came to him. Unless she looked at him to see if he was fibbing. Something she just couldn’t bring herself to do.
“Did you sleep with Pierce?” he continued.
“No,” she answered a little too quickly.
She felt his body tense and knew his eyes had narrowed. “Did you want to?”
Now they had arrived at the other point of contention between them. One she had no right to feel. Especially not if they remained friends and nothing more. Even if they became something more. While tempted to avoid it and get riled up like she had when she was younger, she decided this new friendship deserved more. The truth was his dragon knew where she stood because male dragons knew such things, but still.
“Yes, I briefly thought about sleeping with Pierce, but it wasn’t for the right reasons,” she said, pressing on because he deserved the truth, not the immature and jealous behavior she had displayed before. “I wanted to sleep with him, so I could tell you I did. That I wasn’t a virgin anymore, therefore, a grown woman, who could make her own decisions.”
Back in the day, she would have gone on and on reminding him he’d slept with others, so it was only fair she did too. It was a conversation that never got them anywhere. She usually became frustrated with her own immaturity which didn’t help her cause in wanting him to treat her differently. He was a full grown man with needs. The last thing on his mind at the time should have been waiting for her to grow up so he could lay with a woman.
“Though I would have understood, I’m glad you didn’t lie with him,” he finally murmured, cutting into the deafening silence. “And I’m sorry that my behavior led you to feel that way toward another man.” Silence fell again before he continued, surprising her yet again. “I have not lain with another woman since before you left and have not been with one since we last saw each other. Nor have I had any desire to.”
She didn’t realize she had been holding her breath until she exhaled. How many times had she wondered that? How often had she stared at the sea, just like the carving still tucked in her hand and hoped that he hadn’t? That the brief, startling kiss they had shared made him finally see her the way she hoped he would.
“Friends or not, it has always been you in my heart, Emily,” he said softly before he pulled something out of his pocket and tucked it in her free hand. “It will always be you and no other.”
What he put there was something he obviously put a great deal of time into. She could tell based on the intricate detail. It was something he clearly cherished and kept close. More than that? It was something that brought tears to her eyes and said more than words ever could.
Chapter Nine
WHEN HE WOKE Emily the next morning hours before sunrise, she had released the carving of her on the chalet’s back deck but held fast to the other one he had given her. He had carved it on his adventure in Scotland to keep her close. A likeness of her, it depicted how she had looked after their first kiss. The dewy, feminine beauty of her. A look he had put there and wished he could see again and again, so he had carved it.
He followed the memory and pulled her close once more via that carving.
Though it was hard to let it go, he realized she needed it more than he did. To understand how he looked at her. How he saw her. Not as merely a friend. Not for a long time. Yet he understood now that however he went about it back then, it wasn’t the way he should have. Things had gotten all turned around. To the point she nearly slept with Pierce because of it.
He scowled and tried to put thoughts of t
he man from his mind as she sat up, stretched and yawned. It had taken considerable strength to stay away from her in the twenty-first century. To watch her with Pierce then leave her with him to go to Scotland. He had never felt such raging jealousy. So much so he strongly considered confronting the man and telling him he would never have her. That she was taken.
Except she really wasn’t.
Not yet.
Nothing had ever been concrete between them. That they might be dragon mates was pure presumption. Something he realized he had taken for granted while he watched her and Pierce. When he saw the way the two looked at each other, it occurred to him how precarious the situation had become between he and Emily. How close he was to losing her. Yet he held back and gave her space. In the end, before he left for Scotland, he had to trust that the love between them would overcome any womanly interest she might have in the modern day man.
Leaving her had been the hardest thing he ever did. His every waking moment and even his dreams were filled with thoughts of her. Had he lost her? Was she wrapped up in another man's arms? In the end, based on their conversation the night before, he was glad he stayed away. That she had found what she was looking for within herself.
Mainly, he was glad he understood her better.
“The others are awake I take it?” she murmured, tying her unruly hair back. He had missed those wild curls. How sweet they smelled when she rested her head on his shoulder.
“Yes, the others are awake,” he confirmed, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he packed up. She was always especially lovely when she first woke. Her cheeks rosy and her eyes drowsy but always happy to see him. That hadn’t changed, and he was glad for it.
“So we’re good, right?” she said softly as she stood, and tucked the carving into her pocket along with her wolf.
He knew she would worry on the morn about how blunt she had been with him. Yet it was good she was. He wanted to cross this bridge that still stood between them. If that meant hearing about Pierce so be it. “Yes, we’re good.” He met her eyes. “I want you to feel free to tell me anything, Emily.” Though tempted to touch her cheek, he refrained. “I want to know this side of you that you found.”
And I want to make you mine, he almost said but knew better. At this point, she would have to come to him. It was the only way this could work. She knew where he stood. What he wanted.
She nodded. “Good.” Then she offered the sort of smile that made his heart leap. “I look forward to embracing our new friendship.”
So did he, actually. Because one way or another, it would only make it clearer to her that they were meant to be together. It could be no other way. Or so he hoped as he left the cave so she could change.
As the day wore on and they traveled through the Place of Seers, Sven like the rest of them grew more uneasy.
“There is an odd sense about things, is there not?” Håkon asked, eying the twisting branches far overhead. “As though everything is unsettled.”
Emily nodded, eying the branches as well. “Spirits don’t usually come near the Place of Seers, but I sense many are gathering close. That something has them in an uproar.”
When they stopped near the flat rocky plain that separated the Place of Seers from Mt. Galdhøpiggen’s peak, Kjar said, “I need to contact Aella before we go any further.”
Sven nodded, in full agreement as Kjar crossed his arms over his chest, closed his eyes and went into the semi-trance he embraced when reaching out to his wife. Meanwhile, Davyn eyed not the foliage overhead but the mountain itself with narrowed eyes. “I don’t think I have ever seen the seers’ mountain without clouds around it.” His eyes met Sven’s. “Though I assumed the seers did it on purpose to remain shrouded in mystery, there was more to it, yes?”
“Yes,” Kjar responded, as his eyes snapped open far sooner than expected. “The clouds contained moisture which as we all know, can confuse dragon magic. Though all dragons are trusted in these times, it has been a defense mechanism put in place since the first seer took up residence in the mountain. And it has since been kept in place by those still there.” His eyes went to Sven’s. “Until now.”
“Were you able to contact Aella?” Sven asked, not liking where this was going.
“Briefly.” Kjar shook his head, troubled. “Unprotected such as they are, the seers are going into hiding. We are not to go to the mountain but need to seek shelter in the Ancient’s Lair. Vigdis will meet us there.”
“Of all seers.” Halla shook her head and mouthed, “Watch out,” to Emily.
Not only was Vigdis head seer but she was overly fond of men. Especially dragons. And though she was reportedly somewhere around his parent’s age, she appeared eternally youthful.
“There’s more,” Kjar reported as he pulled his ax free and looked to the rock then the endless pine trees below. “Apparently both the spiritual and mortal worlds are riled up by what’s going on with this evil Yggdrasill. That means that any allied regions up this way are not necessarily allied anymore. Tribes are in an uproar and waging war with one another.” He gripped the hilt of his ax tighter, his expression grim. “So we’re to be prepared for battle.”
“Battle?” Halla made a flippant gesture. “All we need to do is shift, and they will flee in fear.” She nodded in assurance. “End of battle.”
“Because of those tattoos, we are not to shift or even use dragon magic until we learn more about our enemy,” he said. “It is far too risky. This new evil might be able to better track you or worse, our people.”
“But I don’t have a tattoo,” Halla began before Sven shook his head in warning and cut her off.
“It does not matter. You are connected with us,” he said. “If the seers have said as much and Kjar agrees, then we will heed their warning, do you understand?”
“But,” she began again before Davyn shook his head and frowned at her.
“You will listen to your king, Cousin,” he said. “Or put everyone you care about at risk.”
For a moment it seemed she might argue with him but backed down at the look in both his and Sven’s eyes.
She nodded and looked at Sven. “I understand.”
He could only hope she did because he had never seen Kjar more serious.
“Once we leave here, I’m going to try to contact Hel,” Emily said. “Maybe she’s learned something new.”
“That might not be as easy as you think,” Fenrir replied, appearing alongside her. His inner voice sounded strange which was alarming in itself. “She is currently...missing.”
“Missing?” Emily exclaimed.
“Yes, missing,” Fenrir confirmed. His hackles rose as his eyes went to the foliage above. “We should go. It is not wise to stay in this place much longer. Like the mortals of this land without their leaders, the spirits grow equally restless.”
Sven frowned at that, his unease growing by the moment as he realized what Fenrir meant. “Ours are not the only regions that have lost their king, no? And now the ruler of Helheim is missing as well.” He looked at Kjar, sharing what they had just learned from the wolf. “If that is the case, it’s only a matter of time before we lose our head seer too.”
“Where are they all going?” Emily shook her head, her expression tight as she tried to rein in her emotions. “And what of Eirik? Is he missing too?”
“I have not been able to locate him yet.” Compassion lit the wolf’s eyes. “But that could very well be because Helheim is in such chaos right now.”
“You should go look for him,” Sven said to Fenrir. “We will be all right.”
“I cannot do that.” Fenrir looked from Emily to Sven. “What is happening now is precisely the reason I exist. I will remain by Emily’s side to the best of my ability from here on out. I can be no other place.”
Sven’s chest tightened at the enormity of that statement. Fenrir’s sole purpose was to keep Emily safe, so that meant things had grown very dangerous. He filled the others in on what Fenrir had just shared
.
“The safest place for you dragons to be is at the Ancient’s Lair or out on the water,” Fenrir added.
The Ancient’s Lair had been around since the dawn of time on Midgard but was uninhabited until the dragon war that waged back when Emily first traveled back in time. That’s when they discovered ancient Sigdir dragons had been lying in wait in the future. After the war ended, the majority of them settled up this way. All but Vivienne and Kage who remained at the Fortress and Keep.
“We should go,” Kjar said. “I will lead. Sven, you take the rear.”
Sven nodded, understanding his reasoning. A demi-god should be in the front and of them all, Sven was the best fighter. Mainly because he had been raised in a kingdom ruled by his tyrannical stepfather and didn’t embrace his dragon until he was a teenager. That meant he grew up more Viking than dragon. Hand to hand combat was one of his strengths.
Not to say they all couldn’t fight well, they could. They were Viking, and it would be criminal if they didn’t know how to wield a blade. Nonetheless, some leaned more toward their dragon sides like Emily and Håkon.
“Let’s do this then,” Halla said, excitement in her eyes as she readied her ax and shield. As always, she worked to sound a little more modern, taking pride in her twenty-first century blood every bit as much as her Viking. She often said that would someday be her grand adventure. To go to the future and see what trouble she could find.
Davyn pulled his blade free as well, grinning despite their circumstances. In truth, peace had reigned for a long time, and they rarely got the opportunity to battle. Håkon and Emily pulled their blades out too, looking at one another in challenge. Even this, Sven surmised, would be a competition between them. But then, where they could endlessly compete, they also made a remarkable team when they put their minds to it.
Soon enough, they set out and left the Place of Seers behind as well as the sheer rock between them and the mountain. Though the way they had to take was steep and required them to travel single file, the thick forest offered more protection. Even so, he was relieved when Emily walked directly in front of him with Håkon ahead of her. Fenrir remained close, his ears perked and his eyes glued to their surroundings.
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