by Kate Pearce
He laughed. “We’re gonna do something all right. You have no idea what you do to me. Do you need further evidence?”
“Oh, I can learn just fine on my own.” Boldly, she swept her hand down his chest to the belt holding up his trousers.
He stopped her hand. “I just wanted things to be clear between us. That I wanted for us to marry this winter like we were supposed to—with a ceremony, a beautiful dress for you. All the things a maiden looks forward to having.”
“None of that mattered to me. Only you.”
His eyes darkened, his lips lingering over hers.
“If you’re still bothered about this I could change my mind—I’ve got a good thing going with the Women of the Frost,” she said.
He chuckled and undid the buttons on her dress.
She kept going unable to stop a coy smile from spreading across her face. “They feed me. They have a never-ending supply of crystals—”
He kissed the bare skin along her neck, eliciting a long sigh from her.
She continued while he kept undressing her. “I don’t have to worry about raiders—”
“Invaders,” he added while running his hands down her waist. “You have to worry about those.” Before she could speak again he joined their lips together. His eager hands tugged up her dress, inch-by-inch until the chill in the air touched every part of her skin. There was no dim room to hide every imperfection from him, but he showed no sign of displeasure. His heated gaze roamed over her from her legs up to her eyes.
“I need you to warm me up again,” she whispered. “Touch me.”
“I’ll do that everywhere.” He picked her up and enclosed her in his cloak. The tent only blocked the wind, but he did as promised, stroking her skin until flames raked her body. Whatever she asked for he gave.
“You’re mine,” he breathed against her lips. His gaze locked with hers. Something about his eyes had changed though. They’d lightened—almost as if she was staring into Knurre’s light blue eyes. He continued to watch her as his head descended. He wanted her to see. To observe her reaction as he pleasured her. His lips closed over her nipple and she moaned softly. Swirl after swirl of his tongue danced over the pink tip. Flick after slow flick. Her hips bucked from the intoxicating pleasure.
She squirmed underneath him, impatient to remove his clothing. There’d be no more barriers between them. First came the gauntlets on his arms and legs. After she discarded his tunic, she didn’t hesitate to undo his belt and remove his trousers.
His member sprang forth, long and firm, but she wasn’t afraid. She was all the more eager to be with him. Body-to-body, his warmth folded over her, making her forget any chill.
After a long kiss, he still hadn’t shifted to between her legs. He lingered over her mouth, languishing in the pleasure of sampling her lips.
Her powers would be gone soon, but that didn’t matter as she drew his hips closer. His cock brushed against her core and she quivered from the sensation. All she needed was him and this moment. This place where no one could keep them apart.
He entered her slowly, stretching her body to accommodate his length.
He hissed long and hard. “Oh, my sweet, you’re so tight,” he whispered into her mouth.
The pain was blissfully short.
Drifa clung to him, breathless from the rising heat where their bodies joined together. His hips froze, holding her in place while his tongue continued to spear her mouth. His assault wasn’t fast, but sensuous and slow. A lazy dip of his tongue to brush against hers again and again. The delicious pace of his kissing forced a long moan from deep in her chest that raced down to her core.
“Don’t do that me, Dri.” His hips flexed. “I can’t control myself when you do that.”
“What did I do?” she whispered.
“You’re so tight around my cock. It feels so good.”
Her breath caught, and she fought the heat creeping into her cheeks from hearing him say those words.
The first pulse of his hips was tentative. A slow thrust that forced her to release the breath she held. “I’ve dreamt of this,” he said against her lips. Every kiss brought more heat. More passion. The pace of Steinn’s thrusts quickened. They rocked against the ground with a steady rhythm. “You lying beneath me like this with your legs wrapped around me while I’m inside you.”
Something built up inside her again. That delicious feeling similar to when he’d pleasured her with his tongue. Only this time she felt like flowing lava. Glowing and bubbling and ready to erupt.
He panted and pumped his hips faster until the waves of pleasure sucked her in, crashing down upon her until nothing was left but him and her. Above her his muscles turned to steel and his breath came out as a long hiss.
For a while he lay on top of her and she didn’t care. She welcomed his weight.
She’d left the sisters behind, and what she got in return was the love of her life. Drifa told herself that regrets would be a thing she’d face tomorrow instead of tonight.
***
Steinn didn’t want the moment to end. He was already getting hard again even though he’d just filled her with his seed. But he held himself still. She was wonderfully soft. Her skin smooth and sweet in the places where he ran his nose along her neckline. He could lie like this for a while and savor having her close to him.
They were paired now. Mated as man and woman. The Goddess Freya had blessed this union and answered his prayers.
He tasted her neck, savoring the sweetness he found there. Thoughts of the dangers they faced ahead faded away again and all he could think about was his contentment in being with her. The time they’d had apart hadn’t stopped him from loving her and now that he had her back he wouldn’t let her go. Even if he had to face the Women of the Frost again.
Her channel stretched and pulsed around his cock. Damn, that felt delightful. In response, he withdrew, only to push deep inside her wet warmth again.
“Are we doing it again?” she asked softly. Her words stretched out with a cat-like purr.
“Would you like to do it again?” He kissed her lips. “Are you sore?”
She laughed a bit. “Very much so—but the pain isn’t that bad.”
He immediately withdrew. After waiting so long his eagerness to make love to her again had gotten the best of him.
“Don’t we have to go to Knurre and ride north?” she added.
“We have time.” He was willing to find the time to hear her come again.
Something hard bumped him on his back. Steinn twisted fast to see a white snout up close and personal. The dragon blinked and took them in. The tent had offered little privacy.
“Knurre!” he yelled.
“Oh!” she gasped and backed away.
“Did you call for me? I heard my name.” They heard a voice—most certainly not from Knurre. The lizard’s mouth hadn’t moved, yet the way Knurre stood there, its large lizard head checking them out, that strange smile it always presented, made Steinn believe it had actually spoken to them somehow.
“Oh dear,” that peculiar voice added, “what happened to your mating shaft? I’m sorry it’s so small.”
Had it really checked out his private bits?
“Over there!” Steinn pointed toward the field where the dragon had been resting before. “Go over there and wait for us.”
“If you say so, but you’re the one that called my name and not the other way around.” The dragon slowly turned and lumbered back to its spot. “Although I do find it amusing how many times the female called your name out not too long ago.”
By the time Knurre’s back was turned away from them, Steinn used his cloak to cover Drifa’s nakedness.
“What in the two moons just happened?” she murmured. Her gaze was fixed on Knurre.
“It has to be our pairing. I’ve never heard a voice coming from him before. Just growls and farts.”
“So the fact that we...” she tried to finished but didn’t.
“Made
love, yes.” When a deep flush reddened her face, he offered her her clothing and gave her a moment. “I’ll let you be shy now, woman, but I plan to make love to you many more times in the future.”
“Enough with the teasing.” She smiled. He’d enjoy calling her his woman from now on.
Giving her privacy, he faced Knurre and redressed. The dragon was in the middle of the field. Instead of sleeping it had rolled onto its back and it wiggled as if to scratch an itchy spot on its back. When he finally approached it, Knurre’s new talkative nature popped up again.
“I don’t know how you, Varmr-Líkami manage to wear dead animals on your body,” it said. “How do you scratch anything?”
“Varmr-Líkami?” The dragon had used the old tongue. The words meant ‘warm body.’ He gestured to scratch the dragon and Knurre eagerly offered its side.
“That is what my people call you. You are the scaleless so the name fits.”
“I see.” He kept scratching. Usually Knurre moved where he wanted him to go, but this time orders came.
“To the left. Right there. I think I have an ash tick or something. Could you pluck it out with your mouth?”
“Uh. No.” Their relationship had been much better when it couldn’t speak.
Thank goodness, Drifa appeared at his side. “I’m ready.”
“Where are we going?” Knurre asked.
“To the north. We must fly to intercept the invaders who are on the way to the Women of the Frost.”
“That won’t take long at all!” Knurre shifted for them to get on. Drifa approached the front, but Knurre stepped out of the way.
“I ride in the back,” Steinn said.
“That isn’t your place,” the lizard said firmly.
“What did you say to me—”
“She was meant for the back seat,” Knurre said. “Not you. I’m not sure if you haven’t noticed, but I hated it when you dug your grimly little heels into me when you rode there.” The beast angled himself for Drifa to get on the back and she obliged him with a grin.
“It’s nice to have my own seat,” she patted Knurre from her new spot. “I don’t have to hold onto someone else since there is a handle here.”
The dragon winked at her. “Ladies first.”
Steinn got on and couldn’t resist mumbling about damn fucking stubborn lizards. He had to admit though, his preference was solely based on experience. He’d always rode in the back. That seat was the larger of the two and more comfortable during battle.
He turned around to see Drifa give him a sly grin.
I get to ride in your spot, her expression said.
“I hope you keep smiling while you’re defending our asses.”
She patted his shoulder and winked. “How about you worry about where we’re going and I’ll handle myself just fine.”
12
Having the back seat on Knurre was worth it.
Even without the unencumbered view, the wind still flowed through her hair.
At first she held tight to the handle that protruded from the saddle, but as they flew higher she slowly let go. The northern air tasted sweet—different so much better than the south. A current in the air brushed against all the bare skin along her face and hands. Prickling sensations from different directions that she never noticed before. She stretched out her arms and felt the wind pushing underneath. The realization was exhilarating. She was a part of Knurre now.
She sensed Steinn stiffened in front of her when she released the handle, but she paid him no mind. Knurre didn’t need to be told where to go. Not anymore.
The snow-capped mountains grew again in the distance. She was returning to her previous home—not as a witch—but as a woman who had broken her vow.
“You two might want to hold on,” Knurre said. “I’m about to pick up a nice current here and we’re gonna pick up speed real fast.”
The dragon had never warned them before so she grabbed the handle and dug her heels into the stirrups. Steinn leaned forward and she did the same.
“Let’s see what you can do, dragon!” Steinn said with a lively chuckle.
Knurre tucked his body in and dived hard—only to soar hard to left and catch the wind. The force hit her hard in the face, a shrill whistle filling her ears. All she could do was blink rapidly and hold onto the handle. Knurre leveled out a bit, but their speed, which had once been comfortable, was no longer dizzying.
She couldn’t stop the laughter bubbling at the back of her throat as they flew. The trip took no time at all for them to reach the fortress for the Women of the Frost. Just seeing the imposing two-story castle made her insides quiver. Since no one ever attacked them, not a single defensive structure stood between them and the invaders. No walls. No towers. Compared to the Gates to the Frost, this place practically beckoned the invaders to raid the crystal storage field right behind it.
Knurre touched down without difficulty on a landing on the second floor. She was relieved to see the other red dragons waiting for them. It was Brimir who emerged from indoors first. She waited to see the other witches join him, but she never came out.
That made her all the more afraid to face them in her condition.
Brimir grunted. “What took you so long, boy?”
Steinn’s right eyebrow rose. “After my mount bucked me off I had to chase after him.”
Thankfully, he didn’t mention specifically why they’d been detained.
“How long until they arrive?” Steinn asked.
“Half a day. Maybe less than that.”
Steinn faced the south and nodded. He’d looked about and had most likely noticed what she had. That this place was utterly defenseless.
“Have you had any luck in the preparations?” Steinn asked him.
“Aye. They got a bunch of sticks—if you’d call that anything. What they did give us is an advantage. Once Oddr spots them creeping up close those ladies will bring about the storm of a lifetime.”
Calling a storm was serious business. Only the high priestess could accomplish such and after the storm hit she’d no longer control it. The dragons would be flying in blind with winds meant to push snow south over a large area.
With their new connection, she sensed Knurre crowding the other red dragons out of the way for a comfortable spot against the wall. They hissed and snapped at him, but shrank away when he got close.
As she gazed in the direction Steinn looked, her heart sank. They had no choice but to trust in Knurre’s strength and the cover the witches could offer them.
13
Seeing the mighty power of the Women of the Frost was a sight to behold. A group of fifteen women, clad in white cloaks, marched out to the landing. The youngest woman in the front carried an urn burning with incense that stung Stein’s nostrils.
Drifa prostrated before them as they passed, but they ignored her. He grunted with displeasure. If the warriors didn’t need the witches’ magic right now, he’d show them what he really thought of their manipulative ways.
Once at the edge they gathered in a circle.
For the longest of time they stood there. Long enough for Steinn to wonder what they meant to do. All that time Drifa remained with her forehead on the cold stone. He should’ve made her stand, but he’d seen her eyes as the women entered. Longing was still there. Her three years with them wasn’t something she could so easily cast aside.
A chill drifted in, and with it, the first snowflakes fell from the sky. By the time the first one hit his palm, the women broke their circle and returned indoors.
Drifa followed them and he didn’t stop her. His place was out here and they’d talk later when this place was safe again.
The snow picked up and the wind stirred the snowdrifts along the ground. The lights from Heaven’s Claw stretched across the sky and created a haze that cast strange shadows across the mountains.
Under normal circumstances he couldn’t make out anything among the dark crags and crannies along the icy waters and mountains, but now tha
t he was linked to Knurre, what had been murky now was clear.
A bulky mass approached the fortress, a plume of smoke trailing from the top. And the only path it could take over the hilly landscape to reach the crystal storage cave would be through the witches’ home.
“What is that thing?” Knurre stretched out beside him and took in the view from the old fortress roof.
“Death from above.”
Brimir ran to his side. “Do you see something? I was about to send out Oddr.”
“They’re coming.”
The man chuckled. “About time. I was about to walk in circles and start talking to myself after inhaling all those fumes from those witches' urns.” He left Steinn’s side to speak to the others.
Knurre took a step toward the edge. “Whatever is coming for us smells strange.”
“You can smell that far away?”
“To my kin it smells foreign.” Against the white landscape the dragon blended in much better.
He turned to Knurre. The dragon’s perspective was a fascinating one. “How would you know that?”
“We speak to one another on the wind.” Knurre’s eyes closed and his wings fluttered. “Their voices are clearer now that I’m in my homeland. We converse, mostly on useless topics of discussion, like you and me, but we don’t require close proximity.”
He nodded, but he was curious about other things. “What are they saying?”
“Danger is coming and the scent is bad. They don’t like it.”
He took a deep breath to relief the tension building in his stomach. “And what do they smell?”
The dragon appeared pensive for a moment.
“They smell crystals and they’re all burning.”
***
Knurre was all too eager to set out into the snow. Even without flight. Dressed in warm clothing and armed with weapons, he prepared to leave—only to have Drifa try to follow him.
“I’m coming with you,” she said vehemently. She’d even armed herself with one of the toothpicks Brimir complained about.
“When you had your witch skills you were a force to be reckoned with, but right now you’re not prepared for hand-to-hand combat.”
