Viking's Ransom (Viking Ancestors: Rise of the Dragon, #4)

by Purington, Sky

  Heat? What? Oh, no. Not here, not now. Please. Yet the timing was right, wasn’t it? She had been in heat before, so she knew when she was due. Unfortunately, only male dragons could detect the unique scent above and beyond what females typically put off when they were aroused.

  “Shit,” she muttered as she began pacing and focused on the tree, not Eirik. Because her dragon was all about what his dragon could offer hers. Her serpentine half was trying to take over by distracting her human half with images. Ones that would have her welcoming him inside her within minutes. Seconds if she weren’t careful.

  “You will not be traveling with us after all, Leviathan,” Eirik said through clenched teeth, struggling as much as the Ancient by the looks of it.

  “Yes, he will,” she was quick to counter as her eyes went to them. Though she suspected Leviathan could get away from Eirik, she realized he was staying put for her benefit until he got ahold of himself. “Like I said, I only go if he comes along.”

  While she wanted him along because she trusted him, there was more to it. He helped distract her human half from what her dragon so clearly wanted.

  “Leviathan can handle himself.” Her eyes met the Ancient’s. “Right?” She went after his pride again because she had no other choice. She needed him along to act as a buffer. “You’re strong enough, aren’t you?”

  “Strong enough for what?” came a familiar voice before a much welcome distraction arrived.

  One she prayed would turn Eirik and Leviathan's lustful dragon eyes elsewhere.

  Chapter Six

  EIRIK WASN’T SURE if this was a good thing or not as Shea embraced Kenzie, evidently catching her up on the details of her and Davyn’s adventure telepathically based on Kenzie’s exclamation.

  “Pierce is an elf!” She shook her head. “You’ve got to be kidding me?”

  “Half elf,” Shea corrected, grinning. “But yeah, our real estate agent turned friend is kickin’ it with elven blood.” She winked. “And I’m doing the same with a dash of elven magic thanks to protecting them in my previous life.”

  Kenzie nodded, impressed. “Very cool.”

  “I thought so,” Shea agreed.

  “And congrats on officially mating!” Kenzie grinned at Davyn and Shea. “Super happy for you guys.”

  “Me too.” Shea issued a sparkling smile. “There’s nothing like it, Sis. Totally amazing.”

  Kenzie only met her smile in return, clearly uncomfortable commenting on that considering Eirik’s proximity.

  Meanwhile, Davyn narrowed his eyes at Leviathan in warning before he took in the blade Eirik had to his neck. “I see you are getting ready to finish what I started, Cousin.”

  He didn’t answer but focused on Leviathan.

  “Are you under control yet, Ancient?” he asked, not about to release him until he said so. Leviathan could have put up a fight, but surprisingly enough, it seemed his former friend wanted to get ahold of himself first.

  “I am,” Leviathan replied, glaring at Davyn as Eirik let him go.

  Shea shook her head at Davyn, so he made no move toward the Ancient before she eyed Kenzie with concern. “So what was that all about?”

  “Nothing good,” Kenzie muttered, then introduced Leviathan to Shea. “Considering you didn’t see him in human form before.”

  “Right,” Shea said slowly looking between Davyn and Leviathan before she sauntered Davyn’s way and reminded him with a deep kiss that she was all his. The sort of kiss that might have stirred Leviathan up even more if he weren't so entirely focused on Kenzie.

  And Eirik didn't blame him.

  Though he had felt confident he might just have their situation under control, now he wasn’t so sure. Not after detecting the scent she put off. Her musky, sweet, exceedingly arousing scent. He still wasn’t sure how he had remained focused enough to stop Leviathan because he had never felt anything like this before. He’d never been so eager to take a woman. A sensation only accentuated by the fact he could do so without her growing ill.

  “Um,” Shea murmured after she finished kissing Davyn and realized everyone was still tense. More so that Eirik and Leviathan’s sole focus was Kenzie. “You were saying, Sis...about nothing good happening before we arrived?”

  “No,” Kenzie said softly.

  He barely recognized his dragon’s primal satisfaction as her gaze didn’t go to the Ancient but lingered on Eirik before she dragged her eyes away and looked at her sister.

  “My dragon’s got piss-poor timing,” Kenzie continued. “Seems it thinks now’s a good time to go into heat.”

  “Aw, shit,” Shea exclaimed. There was no missing her quickly repressed grin as her eyes went from him and Leviathan to Kenzie. “And the Ancient’s with you why?” This time the corner of her mouth did inch up a little, and her hair began sparkling. “Are you going the way of Shea before I became a one dragon kind of Cupid?”

  Though disgruntled, Kenzie met her sister’s small smile and shook her head. “You really do have a dirty mind, Sis.”

  “Yes, she does,” Davyn praised, pulling Shea back against him before she could wander off. Not that she seemed all that inclined to. All the while, nobody missed the fact that her hair had become streaked with a mixture of Eirik’s dark brown and Kenzie’s red. Something Davyn wasted no time pointing out as he narrowed eyes at Leviathan but spoke to Eirik. “It’s good to see you have found your destined mate in Kenzie, Cousin.”

  “Stop glaring at Leviathan, Davyn,” Kenzie said, clearly ignoring Shea’s hair. “He’s here because I want him here. Because he’s my friend and maybe even lover on the side of whatever Eirik and I are supposed to have.”

  Shea snorted then chuckled, clearly pleased as she eyed Leviathan up and down then met her sister’s eyes. “Look at you go!” Then her eyes grew a little more serious. “Though I recommend being careful about that while you’re in heat unless you want little Ancient dragons flying around.”

  Eirik didn’t realize the sudden growl of distress he heard had come from him until everyone’s eyes turned his way.

  “Hell, Shea,” Kenzie muttered, her cheeks flaming.

  “I will give you offspring, woman,” Leviathan offered, his eyes still locked on Kenzie. “I would be honored.”

  “Not before your throat was slit,” Eirik growled, barely recognizing himself as uncharacteristic rage flared. Impulsive, driven to a degree he couldn’t control, he withdrew his ax and went at the Ancient only for Davyn to step between them, his fiery eyes locked on Eirik. “Though I would prefer you end him, you cannot.” He shook his head. “It is against the rules established between our people.”

  “Not to mention you’re friends,” Kenzie reminded

  “What are these rules, anyway?” Shea said. “Because it sounds like there’s a process when it comes to this sort of thing.”

  “There is,” Davyn enlightened. “If a female dragon is undecided about which male she wants and chooses not to have them at the same time, then a duel happens. The males formally challenge each other and battle in front of the Ancients. The winner gets to impregnate her.”

  “Sonofa,” Kenzie muttered as she plunked down on a rock and held her head in her hands, mumbling, “Just so we’re clear, no one is impregnating me.” Wary eyed, she frowned at Leviathan and Eirik. “Got it?”

  Though he sensed her conviction, he also sensed something else. Something that skirted through her mind so fast, he couldn’t catch it. But it had been there. Great sadness. But why?

  “Yes, we got it,” Eirik assured softly, suddenly of the mind to get the focus off of her. To give her a chance to breathe and gather herself.

  “It is all right, Cousin,” he said to Davyn as he stepped back and put his ax away. “I will not battle Leviathan right now.” His eyes went to the tree rather than to Kenzie. “Instead, we must focus on our next step.”

  But what was that? He had known what to do up until this point, but now his only goal was to steer clear of Hel and find a way to his e
nemy without his kin being the wiser. Kin that would likely abandon him after all was said and done. How could they not considering the betrayal he intended?

  Yet there was a greater goal.

  Someone they would not abandon if all went as it should.

  “You and Shea got here using your Gateway Magic,” Eirik murmured more to himself than anyone else because he knew it to be true as his eyes went to Davyn. “How did you know to come here? How did you know Kenzie was with me?”

  “Good question,” Shea piped up. “Considering your asshat Queen of the Dead girlfriend vanished with my sister around the same time as you.”

  “Hel is to be respected,” Eirik said evenly offering no other response as he acknowledged Shea but kept his eyes with Davyn. “Why here, Cousin?”

  “Because now I am one step ahead of you,” Davyn replied, shooting him a look that reminded him how wary he and Shea had become at the end of their adventure because Eirik seemed to be leading them where he wanted them to go. “Or at least thanks to Shea and me lying together after becoming mates. It ensured our new magic was the strongest it could be. Now I can sense and follow you far easier.” His eyes flickered to Shea almost as if he couldn’t help it. “Though I look forward to getting back to the ‘lying together’ end of things.”

  “Me too, beast,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling wildly just for Davyn as she winked at him and whispered in awed repetition, “Me too.”

  Of all the couples they could have on their journey, these two would not have been his first choice. Mainly because they were so damn amorous and that was the last thing they needed with Kenzie in heat.

  “Right,” Kenzie grumbled into his mind, her eyes still on the tree.

  So Davyn and Shea could follow him with their enhanced Gateway Magic. He would have to keep that in mind. Not that he could change it unless, of course, he was in Helheim. Because he knew full well now that his cousin’s tattoo was gone, his connection to Hel’s realm was too. Nevertheless, that was the last place he should be right now. Not until he figured out exactly how he wanted to go about things.

  “We need to talk, Cousin.” Davyn gestured at one of several small tunnels leading away from their cave. “Now.”

  “We can talk right here,” he said, not about to leave Kenzie alone with Leviathan. “Though there is little to speak of.” He looked at him in question. “Unless you have news of my enemy?”

  “We do,” an unexpected voice came from the cave entrance. “News you’ll want to hear, Son.”

  He was surprised to see his siblings and parents though he shouldn’t be considering this was one of the few places they were slightly more comfortable around him.

  “Are you really so surprised to see us?” his mother Shannon asked following his thoughts easily in this place as her eyes went from the tree to him. “You’re the next Sigdir to go up against one of Skáld’s dragons and as we recently discovered involved with Hel in a way we never anticipated. So yes, we’re here to support you before you face whatever it is you’re getting ready to go up against.”

  “That's right,” his father Matthew agreed as they entered. “You’re not alone, Son.”

  He wasn’t sure what to make of their show of support other than it wasn’t needed. He had been handling things on his own for a long time. Håkon and Emily nodded at him, their expressions just as supportive. This, surprisingly enough, meant more to him than he could have anticipated. Then again, it also hurt in a way he fought hard to keep from them.

  Because the disappointment he would cause everyone, in the end, would be profound.

  “Hey, little brother,” Emily said before she closed the distance and hugged him. “It’s going to be all right.”

  He sighed and embraced her, accustomed to this when it came to his sister. Håkon and his affectionate slap on the back when Emily pulled away, however, was something he was still getting used to. His brother had grown wary of him over the years because of the amount of time he spent in Helheim, but now he understood why Eirik had done it. They all did.

  “All is well,” he assured everyone, certain that now wasn’t the time for a family reunion. “I will keep Kenzie safe until we defeat our enemy.”

  “We don’t doubt you will,” Emily said.

  “We are just concerned about one thing,” Håkon continued.

  “And what is that?” he asked, looking between them.

  “Goddess Hel, Son,” his mother said.

  “What about her?”

  “She came to visit us at the Fortress,” his father continued. “And shared something very interesting.”

  Eirik tensed, wondering just how much Hel had divulged. He was careful to keep his turbulent emotions buried deep as he remained expressionless.

  “Hel is worried about you, Son,” his father went on, concern in his eyes. “She said there is more than one enemy and that we should all be very wary.”

  More than one enemy was far too specific for his taste.

  “Then we will be vigilant,” he said, already knowing what he had to do. Sad that he had to set them on this path so soon. “Do not doubt that.”

  “She also said,” Emily began, but it was too late because Eirik chanted within his mind and shifted him, Kenzie and as promised, Leviathan, out of there.

  After all, there was a very good chance that Hel had told them everything and his family was there to stop him.

  Or better yet, there to save Kenzie before it was too late.

  Chapter Seven

  “YOU DID IT again, didn’t you?” she murmured as everyone except Eirik and Leviathan vanished, and things shifted ever-so-slightly. The pine looked almost majestic with shimmering soft snow caking verdant needles. The cave walls sparkled, and the snowflakes were bright and multi-dimensional. “We’re in Helheim again.”

  “We are,” Eirik confirmed. “But we are still safe here.”

  “Why are we in Helheim?” Leviathan growled, his eyes flickering with fire. “I should not be here.” He unsheathed his weapon and stepped close to her, ready to protect. “Kenzie should not be here.”

  “But she is,” Eirik stated, his face unreadable as usual. “As are you, per her request, dragon.” His eyes didn’t narrow on Leviathan, but they didn’t have to. His biting tone said it all. “I suggest you tread carefully in this world.”

  Kenzie and Leviathan glanced at each other before they frowned at Eirik.

  “Why did you bring us here?” she asked, well aware of his need to get away from his family because she had sensed his thoughts. Would he be honest about it though? “Why did we shift over again?”

  He shook his head. “Because I felt danger closing in.”

  She narrowed her eyes, not buying that in the least. “So you abandoned your family and my sister?”

  “It is not danger that could have reached them,” he returned. “Not yet.”

  She crossed her arms and eyed him with as much wariness as Leviathan. Something wasn’t adding up here. “And what danger was that? Hel?” She cocked her head. “Or Skáld’s dragon?”

  “Both,” he replied, his eyes steady on hers.

  “Uh huh,” she murmured, not convinced. But heck, he was a practiced liar, wasn’t he? “I get you sensing Hel closing in but are you telling me you can feel the enemy too?” She eyed him curiously. “Which must mean, considering what I heard happened to the others, that your tat was just hurting? Because you didn’t seem like you were in much pain.”

  “I have a high tolerance to pain.”

  She looked at Leviathan, assuming a childhood friend could call his bluff. “Does he?”

  “Actually, he does,” the Ancient conceded before his eyes returned to Eirik. “I heard about these dragon tattoos you and your kin were marked with. Where is yours?”

  “On my arm,” Eirik said.

  “Any color in it yet?” she asked. Because that meant one of Skáld’s dragons definitely slipped through the gateway. Though she knew better considering she was in heat, and he cle
arly had to remove clothing to reveal it, she wanted proof of his tattoo. So strongly it surprised her. “I’d like to see it.”

  “It has color in it,” he assured.

  “I’d like to see it,” she repeated.

  “I do not think that’s wise right now,” he said. “Seeing me without my jerkin will arouse you and Leviathan will become a problem again.”

  Leviathan chuckled and slid Kenzie a look. “He is still as blunt as ever too.”

  “And a little high on himself,” she added, though in truth Eirik seemed the opposite. In fact, his statement had been said with unaffected logic based on his expressionless face.

  Though she knew he was probably right, she had to see his tattoo. “I need to see it, Eirik.”

  Their eyes held for a moment as he contemplated her request before he looked at Leviathan then the Ancient’s sheathed blade. “Do not let us near one another.” He shook his head. “No matter what.”

  Leviathan’s brows perked as he withdrew his blade. “What do you expect to happen?”

  “It’s hard to know.” When his eyes flickered over her, she got the fleeting sense that he imagined a variety of things. All of them sensual which would bring them closer and attract the enemy. “It is best to keep us apart for now.”

  “Are you sure we are safe here?” Leviathan’s eyes went to Kenzie in concern before returning to Eirik. “If we are in Helheim are we not far more vulnerable?”

  “Not near this tree,” Eirik said. “Whether on Midgard or Helheim it is a safety point for me.”

  “Why?” Kenzie asked, eying the tree before she looked at Eirik again. “I mean it’s obviously out of place in here but what makes it safe for you?”

  “It was not originally here but outside,” he replied, as matter-of-fact as ever. “And I was conceived beneath it.”

  Leviathan seemed as surprised by that nugget of information as she was.

  “Well, I didn’t see that coming,” she said, her eyes going between it and Eirik again. While tempted to ask precisely how the tree became a safety point after such a thing, she figured that was a question better left for later. Right now she just wanted to see his tat.