“I was hungry.”
“As a rule, dragons prefer meat to fish.”
“As a rule, dragons can shift too,” Leif countered. “But that does not seem to apply to me.”
“What else do you know of dragons?” Sven narrowed his eyes. “Because you are not like us.”
“What are you like?”
Leif’s expression never changed. His body language remained relaxed.
“You are not in a position to ask us questions, stranger,” Sven said. “We ask the questions.”
Their eyes held for a long moment as Leif weighed his options. In the end, of all people, Håkon came to his rescue.
“He is friend not foe,” he said softly. “We should not hurt him.”
When Sven frowned at her brother in question, Håkon gestured at his own tattoo. Amazingly enough, it was starting to display some color now too. “He’s here to protect me. I can feel it somehow.”
“Somehow?” Sven shook his head. “That’s not good enough.”
“But it’s true,” Emily whispered, stepping forward at last. “I can feel what Håkon feels.” Her eyes met Sven’s. “Leif means us no harm.”
Sven kept shaking his head, unconvinced.
“They are right,” Vigdis said softly, her voice different and her eyes vacant again as she approached and touched Håkon’s tattoo. “He is here to aid us. You must accept him, King Sven.”
Not happy, Sven’s eyes went to Kjar’s. The demi-god didn’t look overly pleased either. “If we allow him to live, we should keep him under close supervision at all times.”
Davyn nodded. “I agree.”
Sven’s brows lowered sharply as his eyes returned to Leif and held.
“He’s meant to be here, Sven,” Emily murmured into his mind. “There can be no question about that.”
“There can be actually,” he countered. “Considering we’re listening to a tattoo that was put there by the enemy.”
“So we assume.”
“So we know.”
“Well, Leif’s clearly affiliated with this place so he can’t be all that bad,” she argued.
“Can’t he?”
Yet she knew if anyone could get through to Sven it was her. Something soon proven when he finally nodded and grunted, “Kjar, you keep first watch.”
Emily breathed a sigh of relief as Sven, at last, sheathed his blade and everyone went about their business. For Leif, that evidently meant sitting back down and resuming fishing as Kjar stood nearby. Vigdis wasted no time returning to her lusty ways, this time pursuing Davyn when Emily warned her away from Håkon. Ordered away from Leif for now, Halla did her very best to entice him as she took a swim that bared more to the world than her kin wanted to see.
“Davyn’s roasting the game, and Leif’s obviously no threat,” she finally murmured to Sven. “So come join me for a little bit. I don’t want to bathe in front of our newcomer.”
Sven grunted his agreement, his mood still off as they walked along the lake.
“You know what I find curious?” he remarked, his brows furrowed.
She did but shook her head no anyway.
“Leif had no sexual response to you.” He cocked his head at her. “And you are in heat.”
“Maybe he did but was smart enough to keep quiet about it once he knew we were mated.”
“Yet our dragons are not mated,” he reminded, his tone as frustrated as the look in his eyes. “Something he knows based on the hesitation in his voice when he pretended to agree with me back there.” He shook his head. “There is something very off about him.” His eyes narrowed on her. “I’m shocked you’re defending him after what you experienced in your nightmare.”
“It was more of a dream—” she began before he cut her off.
“Emily.” He stopped and turned on her, upset but curious as he clearly tried to get through to her. “When he headed for Håkon in your nightmare, you were terrified for your brother. That was your gut instinct. Your dragon’s instinct.” He cupped her shoulders and searched her eyes. “Not only that but you ended up underwater after dreaming about him. You could have died!”
“But I didn’t,” she murmured. “And I understand where you’re coming from. I do. Still.” She shook her head. “Now I don’t feel threatened by him. Not at all. So we can only assume the dream was influenced by Níðhöggr. That Leif’s part of the plan somehow.”
She could tell by his worried, baffled expression that he wasn’t buying it.
“Níðhöggr,” he muttered as they continued on. “The reason for all this.” His troubled eyes swung back to her. “A beast that kept me from lying with you then once we did, barred our dragons from becoming mates like they should. It’s unnatural. We are meant to be together in all ways. You are my mate.”
“That’s right, I am whether our dragons have accepted it or not,” she assured, saddened by the look in his eyes. Saddened by how being separated from him like this made her feel.
“This has nothing to do with our dragons’ wishes,” Sven ground out. “They’re pawns in some ancient vendetta.”
“Sven.” She stopped, took his hand and kept her eyes with his, making sure he understood how strongly she felt. “What matters is that we’re finally together the way we’re supposed to be.” She pressed her hand against his heart. “Me and you.” Her eyes never left his. “Vendetta or not, like our human halves, our dragons will come together when the time’s right. They will be together.” She shook her head. “Please don’t ever doubt that, okay?”
Their eyes held for a moment before he, at last, nodded and reeled her closer. When his lips brushed hers, she pulled away, grinned and shook her head. “Not here.” She pulled him after her until they arrived at a small inlet surrounded by plush grass, moss-covered rocks, and low hanging trees similar to weeping willows.
“Perfect,” she murmured as she made quick work of removing her clothes and waded in. “Time to wash off all the dust from hiking.”
She barely had time to turn around before Sven was there, his dragon eyes flaring as he approached.
“I know why you brought me here, but you should take more time to heal,” he murmured, even as his eyes devoured her body. His muscles were tense with tightly wound restraint. He appeared poised to strike, and she so hoped he would.
“I’ve had plenty of time,” she said softly, drifting closer to him. “My discomfort now has nothing to do with losing my virginity, and you know it.”
All it took was one lick of her lips for any argument he might have had to flee and for him to yank her into his arms. Less than a breath later, he wrapped his hand in her hair, and his lips closed over hers. His touch was rougher than before, and she liked it. So much so that she wrapped her legs around him and flexed her hips in invitation.
She didn’t want to wait another second but have him right here right now.
In full agreement, he clutched her backside and steered her onto his thick, steely length. Groaning with approval, she sank onto him and shuddered when a climax hit her almost immediately. He tilted his head back slightly and watched her, fire burning in his eyes. Something might be keeping their dragons from claiming each other, but nothing kept them from enjoying their newfound intimacy.
Waiting her out, relishing the way her eyelids drifted and her mouth fell open as she clenched around him, Sven remained perfectly still. He stayed that way watching her, his muscles tighter than before until she took the lead and started moving again.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gyrated slowly, methodically, grinding as she teased him. The water heated around them and steam began to rise. When his lips found hers again, and he clutched her ass, squeezing her closer, a sharp jolt of pleasure spiked through her.
With a small, frantic cry she dug her nails into his back and started riding him faster. Taking her lead, he clutched her backside harder and met her thrusts. Water splashed and fog encased them as they moved. As they struggled to get closer and find their release.
One that might just unite their dragons.
“Oh, gods,” she groaned when he pressed deep, locked up and let go moments before release hit her hard. So hard that flashes of light filled her vision and the water itself seemed to meet her strong inner pulses.
Seconds later, the fog curled away, and Sven went perfectly still.
“What is it?” she whispered.
Though he kept her close, protecting her, he turned slowly so she could see what he was looking at.
“I don’t think the pulses we just felt in the water had anything to do with us,” he said softly. “But that.”
Ripples still fanned out in the water. Not just the inlet but the lake beyond sloshed about as though a mini-earthquake had shaken it. He wasn’t looking at that though. Rather, he was looking at Níðhöggr’s Ash in the distance.
Better yet, what it was doing.
Chapter Twenty-One
“WHAT DO YOU mean, Leif and Håkon took off for the tree?” Sven tried to rein in his fury. “How in Loki’s Hel did they get away from you, Kjar?” He scowled at the women and Davyn. “Any of you?”
He had tried to reach Håkon telepathically but had no luck. Furious with himself for not following his instincts when it came to Leif, he glanced at the tree again. Though it had looked like it was exploding with light after those strange pulses, it had returned to normal.
“I cannot explain it.” Kjar shook his head, just as upset as they set off in that direction. “One moment I was watching over him, the next fishing and waving goodbye after giving him a few of my weapons.”
“Waving goodbye? A few of your weapons?” Emily said incredulously, in a fit because like Sven, she couldn’t reach her brother. “So what are we thinking? That Leif ensorcelled all of you somehow?”
“There is no other way to explain it,” Vigdis said, far less lusty now than she was earlier. So was Halla for that matter. He would bet Leif’s absence had something to do with that. Because had their strange amorous behavior not started around the time of Emily’s nightmare? Her first connection with Leif?
“Stay beside me at all times,” he said to Emily. “Do not leave my side.” He squeezed her hand in reassurance however unsure he felt. “It will be all right. I’ll find Håkon.”
She nodded but said nothing. Yet her thoughts brushed his. Her stark fear and worry. More than that, her complete lack of trust now when it came to Leif.
“I think he might have ensorcelled me too,” she said, putting voice to her thoughts. “I feel like I’ve been totally duped.” She met his eyes. “I’m so sorry. I was so convinced, wasn’t I?” She shook her head. “So convinced I didn’t listen to you.”
“You weren’t the only one,” he reminded, squeezing her hand again in reassurance. “Whatever Leif is, he’s powerful. You’re not to be blamed for that.”
Though they moved right along, descending the woodland alongside the various waterfalls that led to the next lake, they came across no sign of Håkon and Leif.
“They’re covering their tracks,” Sven muttered.
“Why though when they’re obviously heading for the tree?” Halla said.
“So we assume,” Vigdis murmured. “Maybe they are not.”
Sven had already thought about that, but his gut told him they were definitely heading for the ash. And this time he would listen to his instincts. From here on out, actually.
“Your tattoo has more color, Sven,” Vigdis remarked. “That is good.”
“Is it?” Emily scowled and shook her head. “Håkon’s tattoo started to show color and look what happened.” Her scowl deepened. “And sure, though Sven’s tattoo seems to promote some positive things, our dragons have still not connected like they should.”
“Yet they are drawn to only one another,” Vigdis said. “Like it has always been.”
Despite how they offered one another assurances on different occasions, Sven more than understood Emily’s grief and anger over their dragons. The pure aggravation because their inner beasts could not completely lay claim to each other. It was unnatural. Disconcerting.
Hours went by as they continued toward the tree. The forest was even denser along the larger lake at the center of Níðhöggr’s Realm. Unlike the other, this one was saltwater so that meant one of the lakes feeding into it must be as well. Completely surrounded by steep hills and waterfalls, its outer edges frothed with bubbles.
They were about three-quarters up the mountain leading to the ash when the woodland thinned out but not by much. Almost as if Níðhöggr’s Ash preferred its own space.
“Look,” Halla exclaimed, pointing ahead. “I think I see someone.”
Seconds later, Håkon came out of nowhere, roaring with rage as he swung his blade at Davyn.
“Loki’s Hel, Cousin,” Davyn exclaimed, ducking beneath his sword in the nick of time before spinning away. “What’s gotten into you?”
Håkon’s dragon eyes were wild and bright emerald green as he kept attacking with a ferociousness that made Emily release a broken sob of fear. Sven wrapped an arm around her mid-section and pulled her back when she tried to rush to him.
“He is possessed,” Vigdis murmured, her eyes trancelike again.
Seconds later, Leif rushed them, an ax swinging in one hand and a mace in the other. If he didn’t know better, he would say Håkon and Leif were working together.
“He’s mine,” Sven growled, handing Emily over to Kjar. “Protect her with your life, demi-god.”
He unsheathed his new blade and circled Leif, more than ready to end his life.
Like Håkon, Leif's expression was fierce and his eyes afire with his inner dragon. They didn’t dance long before they went at each other. When Leif swung his mace, Sven ducked and swung his sword. Leif leapt back, swirled then thrust his blade forward. Sven spun away this time, then whipped his dagger. It nicked Leif’s forearm but did no real damage.
In the meantime, Davyn remained on the defense as Håkon kept at him. All the while, he tried to get through to his cousin, but nothing worked. It was as Vigdis said. He seemed completely possessed. Not only that, as Davyn muttered about, barely staying out of Håkon’s way, he was fighting better than ever. So well that Sven wasn’t sure how long Davyn could hold him off.
“Look at what’s in front of you, Brother,” Emily kept pleading. “See past whatever’s blocking you. Connect with your kin and put your blade down. We are not your enemy!”
Unfortunately, she was unable to get through to him, and he kept fighting as did Sven and Leif. Both seasoned warriors, they were well-matched as they came at each other with everything they had. Sometimes they used their blades, other times hand to fist.
“Watch out, Sven,” Emily warned seconds after he managed to drive Leif back with swordplay only to be pursued by Håkon. Thanks to Emily, Sven spun just in time to intercept Håkon’s blade. The second he did, tiny lightning bolts raced up and down his sword before thunder cracked overhead and Håkon staggered back.
His cousin blinked several times before his dragon eyes faded and he looked at Sven in confusion. Mystified, his eyes drifted to his blade before returning to Sven. “What happened?”
“Oh, thank the gods you’re back!” When Emily struggled to break free from Kjar’s grip, Sven shook his head at the demi-god. He didn’t want her anywhere near Håkon until he figured out what was going on.
“The same thing has happened to Leif,” Davyn reported as he approached the man warily with his weapons at the ready. Leif seemed just as confused as Håkon as his dragon eyes faded.
Still furious, Sven closed the distance ready to engage Leif again, but the man tossed his weapons aside and raised his hands in surrender. Still seeing red, Sven sheathed his sword, drove him back against a tree and held a dagger against his neck, grinding out, “What was that? What did you do to Håkon?”
“I did not do anything,” Leif managed as Sven wedged the blade so tightly that blood trickled down his neck. “But you did.” His eyes went to Sven’s sword.
“With that.”
“I do not think their attack was random,” Vigdis said softly, her eyes no longer glassy as they focused ahead. “I think we were getting too close and they were protecting someone.”
When the seer started walking toward a clearing through the forest everyone followed. Davyn kept a close eye on Håkon and Kjar remained with Emily as Sven kept his blade to Leif’s neck and forced him to walk.
As they soon learned, the clearing was much larger than expected. A large sweeping swath of verdant grass encompassed half of a monstrous tree trunk. Their eyes rose and rose as they finally saw Níðhöggr’s Ash up close. Nothing could compare to it with its massive branches and large, opulent leaves. It blew in the wind as if dancing, its very sound almost musical.
“Sage?” Emily said. “Is that you?”
A woman stood at the base of the tree with her back to them as she stared down at its roots in awe.
“Sage?” Emily repeated.
“Don’t let her approach, Kjar,” Sven growled, but it didn’t matter because the woman finally turned.
“Jessie?” Sven whispered, shocked before he saw that the woman’s eye color was different. This was Jessie’s twin sister. Identical twins by the looks of it. Except for their eye color that is. Interesting how that didn’t come through when he looked through Emily’s mind’s eye and witnessed what had happened in Maine. It was almost like Sage’s appearance had been fuzzy and he only just realized it now.
Sage blinked several times before her eyes went to Sven and she whispered, “I know you...of you.”
“Yes, when you connected with the memories of the house in Maine,” Sven concurred. “But also because I traveled with your sister, Jessie.” He kept his blade tucked against Leif’s neck. “She is with you as you have been with her within the mind. You have lent strength to one another though you’ve never met.”
Sage nodded slowly before her eyes drifted to Emily. “Hello, again.”
“Hey there.” Emily looked at Sven. “Let me go to her. Please.”
This time, his instincts told him everything was all right for now, so he nodded at Kjar to let her go. Emily headed Sage’s way, pulled a skin of mead out of her satchel and handed it to her. “Here. Drink. It will help calm you.”
Viking King's Vendetta (Viking Ancestors: Rise of the Dragon Book 1) Page 18
