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

by Purington, Sky

  “Yes, I believe so.” Eirik's eyes turned to the others as he included them in the conversation. “So it seems two enemy dragons are here now.” He shook his head, referring to the current state of the sky, and how closely other worlds were skirting theirs. “How do we know if they’re the only ones though?”

  “We do not,” Sven said. “Based on the sky, the situation has changed dramatically, but our ultimate goal remains the same. We need to close the current rift before complete chaos erupts. Then we will deal with any extra dragons that got through.”

  Eirik and Kenzie nodded in agreement, well aware defeating Einnar was likely the key to closing the current rift. So he needed to be dealt with first and foremost.

  “Have you had any communication with Tess or Ava?” Kenzie asked her sisters before she filled them in about Tess being in touch with not just her but Eirik and Rokar.

  “Are we sure Tess isn’t here somewhere?” Shea asked. “And remember I was able to communicate briefly with Sage on her adventure.”

  “True,” Sage said. “But we still don’t know if that happened when you were in the twenty-first century or once you had already traveled back.”

  “I’d hazard to say it happened because she was in the process of heading back to the tenth century and you were around her destined mate at the time,” Emily reminded as her eyes went to Kenzie and Eirik. “So if we’re to go off that premise, then Tess is likely transitioning or already here and that Rokar is definitely her destined mate.”

  Kenzie didn’t miss her sisters' quickly repressed flinches and knew it was because they felt the same way as her about Tess being meant for Rokar. If anything, Soren might be able to handle their free spirited sister better with his upbeat attitude and easy flirtatious manner. Or maybe not, considering the gorgeous Viking woman who stopped at his side with a little boy around Dagr's age.

  “This is my son, Thorulf.” Soren grinned as the boy sat on his lap. Like his father, his hair was almost blue-black and his pale baby blue eyes daring as they locked on her.

  “You are a good fit for Uncle Eirik,” Thorulf declared in greeting, nodding once as he evidently summed her up in seconds. “Both strong and beautiful.”

  “Well, thank you.” She smiled. “And you are as charming and handsome as your father.” When the boy’s eyes narrowed, she was quick to add, “And clearly very strong.”

  He grinned and nodded again, approving of that assessment.

  “This is Thorulf’s mother, Agatha,” Soren said in introduction, gesturing at the woman loosely as he remained focused on his son.

  She said hello, noting that Agatha’s tight smile didn’t quite meet her eyes before she made her way to another table.

  “Wow, she’s pretty icy, huh?” she said into Eirik’s mind, aware that she and Soren had been married at one point.

  “She is strong willed,” Eirik replied. “Overly so at times. From the start, she and Soren have shared a very intense relationship. Either fighting or passionate. No middle ground. When Rokar’s son died, and Soren took to the sea more often, she decided to take other men to her bed.”

  “Ah, sounds like a really rocky love, hate relationship,” she replied. “So he broke it off with her for cheating?”

  “I believe it was mutual,” he replied. “There was not enough love between them to sustain him being gone...or even him being here.” He shrugged. “As to her cheating, I believe she declared she would take other men to her bed before he even left. Perhaps a threat laid in hopes of keeping him here.”

  “So why was she so icy to me?” she asked because clearly, the woman hadn't been all that thrilled to see her.

  “It’s hard to know with Agatha, but my guess is she knows one of your sisters is meant for Soren,” he said. “And as can often be the case with her, though she is not with him regularly, she does not want others with him either. Especially a destined mate, I would think.”

  She perked her brows at that. “So they still sleep together?”

  “That is what I have heard.”

  “Great,” she muttered, glancing at the woman again who now flirted and laughed with a handful of men. “Looks like Ava will have her hands full when this sort of thing is so much more up Tess’s alley. She could handle Agatha with no problem.”

  “Yet I sensed your thoughts earlier,” he said. “You suddenly doubted Tess might be a fit for Soren when Agatha and Thorulf arrived.”

  “Agatha’s not the issue. She wouldn’t stand a chance against Tess,” she replied. “I was thinking more of Thorulf. For as long as I can remember, Tess has steered clear of kids. They’re seriously not her thing.”

  Which, upon consideration, made Rokar a better candidate because he didn’t have any children. Or so she assumed.

  “No, the son he lost was the only child he had,” Eirik said, following her thoughts. “But he was very good with him. We would like to think he will have more...that he would want more eventually.”

  “Understandable,” she replied, not sure what else to say. Maybe Tess would surprise them all in the end. Or so she hoped if she were meant for Rokar.

  “So are these enemy dragons you face still in Helheim?” Halla piped up. “Or are they here on Midgard?”

  Eirik shook his head. “It’s hard to know with any certainty though I think they remain in Helheim.”

  “With Hel and Dagr,” his mother murmured. Though she frowned, gratefulness lit her eyes as they flickered between Eirik and Kenzie. “Though I can only be grateful to the goddess for getting you here safely.”

  “Did you actually see Hel when she transported the ship here?” Kenzie asked as her eyes went to his. “Or Dagr?”

  He shook his head. “We merely shifted into Helheim briefly before we arrived here.”

  “But you are starting to see Dagr, yes, Son?” his father asked, hope in his eyes. “You saw him in Níðhöggr’s Realm?”

  “I did,” he confirmed, nodding before he looked her way and slipped his hand into hers. “Though I assume it’s because the veil between worlds is thinning so much, I remain hopeful we will see him more often.”

  Based on everyone’s curious but hopeful expressions as they eyed her, they had been filled in on her ability to not just see but touch Dagr.

  “I hope we see him more often too,” Kenzie agreed, her stomach doing that strange little flip thing again as her and Eirik's eyes held. “He’s a really great kid.”

  “We can’t wait to meet him,” Emily said, prompting nods of agreement from everyone. “I wish...”

  When she trailed off, Eirik glanced her way, but she shook her head.

  “I’m sorry,” she went on. “I understand why you kept him a secret...why you kept your relationship with Hel a secret.”

  “I would not have if things hadn’t gone the way they did,” he said softly. “If I thought there was any hope of being in your lives like I am now.”

  Emily blinked away tears and nodded. “I’m just so glad you are.” She offered a wobbly smile. “And that worst-case scenario we might at least get to visit with Dagr once a year.”

  As everyone nodded, it occurred to Kenzie that though it would be great for Dagr to get to know his family and vice versa, it would also cut into the small window of time Eirik got with his son.

  “It’s all right,” he assured into her mind. “He deserves it as do they.”

  She nodded, knowing he was right, but still. It was all so sad, regardless. Maybe it would be different once they mated. Or maybe after the war and all the changes taking places, Hel might be able to cross Dagr over easier. Assuming she had any say in it, to begin with.

  Almost as if Hel knew she was thinking about her, the goddess’s voice drifted through her mind.

  “I have very little say in how things transpire,” she said. “But you do.”

  The next thing she knew, colors sharpened and everyone faded replaced by Hel herself. Clear as day and whole now, she sat directly across from Kenzie. That in itself didn’t alarm her.


  The look in her eyes, however, certainly did.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  “LOKI’S BALLS,” EIRIK growled as Kenzie vanished from the seat beside him. “She’s in Helheim again.”

  Emily shook her head, as alarmed as the rest of them. “Why don’t you follow her, Brother?

  “Because I cannot access the part of Helheim she goes to.” He frowned and shook his head, more upset by the moment. “Not only that but over the past day or two, accessing where I usually go has become more difficult...harder to control.”

  “It must have to do with the thinning veil,” Sven murmured, disgruntled. “What of Hel? Can you not reach out to her?”

  “She is hard to track lately,” Eirik said. “Considering she is not always with Dagr, I believe she also suffers the effects of the shifting worlds.”

  He tried not to think too hard on that. On Dagr not always being under her protection.

  “Yet it seems when that happens, Brother,” Håkon said, following his thoughts, “Dagr is with Kenzie instead. And as we have all witnessed, she will defend him with her life if need be.”

  Sage frowned at Håkon—likely because of Kenzie risking her life—but then nodded in agreement as her eyes went to Eirik. “She would. It’s clear my sister loves Dagr.”

  He nodded and was about to speak but stopped when Floyd hopped onto the table, plunked down with his backside to where Kenzie had been sitting, perked his ears forward and became statue-like as he stared at Emily.

  “Okay,” Emily said slowly, eying the cat. “Why's Floyd aiming that death glare at me?”

  “He is protecting Kenzie,” he murmured, sure of it moments before he actually sensed her. “She still sits beside me though we cannot see her.” His eyes drifted to Emily. “And someone else sits there.” Seconds later he knew who. “Hel.”

  No sooner did he put voice to it, then everyone faded, and he saw what Floyd could see. Kenzie was once again by his side and the goddess across from her. Or at least what he could see of her. For she was no longer whole but shimmering black and slightly disjointed.

  “It is much different, my dragon, is it not?” she said softly, her eyes meeting his. “Seeing me as those on Midgard do.”

  Her sadness washed over him.

  “This is temporary, yes?” he said, sad as well. “Because the veil has thinned too much and worlds are crossing over into each other?”

  “It is what it is,” she murmured, remaining vague.

  When his eyes went to Kenzie, he realized how much things had really changed. “You see her clearly now, yes?”

  Kenzie nodded. “As clear as day.” She put her hand over his. “I also see someone else.”

  He glanced around, eager before he saw a shimmering little shadow next to Hel.

  “Dagr is here,” he said, both relieved and elated that he could see a small portion of him. He blinked several times as that sank in.

  He saw less of Hel and more of Dagr. What did that mean?

  “It means you are growing very close to remembering what you forgot.” Hel’s eyes went from Kenzie and settled on him. “And equally close to your final confrontation with Einnar.” Her image became more blurry. “When you do, you must fight with your head, not your heart. You must work together not apart.” She shook her head. “Never apart again.”

  “Can’t you just tell us what is about to happen?” he pleaded. “Rather than remain so cryptic?”

  “It is not for me to tell,” she murmured, fading even more. “But for you to remember.” Her eyes shot to the corner as if she were looking at something in the distance. “He is coming. We must go.”

  A blink later, she was gone, and everything returned to normal.

  “Dagr,” he managed hoarsely, looking at where his son had been so briefly.

  “He is getting closer now than he has ever been,” Vigdis murmured, having entered at some point. She stood in front of the fire, her liquid black eyes on Eirik as Níðhöggr possessed her. “You but have to remember, Hel’s Dragon.” Her eyes slowly shifted to Kenzie. “Then you will, at last, be the Gemini’s dragon.”

  “I wish to heck everyone would just be straight with us,” Kenzie muttered. “Considering they obviously remember what we don’t.”

  “It’s as much about the journey,” Sage said softly, “as it is about what you discover at the end.”

  Tired of her vanishing and again glad to know she was all right, Eirik wrapped his arm around Kenzie’s shoulder and tucked her against his side.

  “A journey that must end on my home world,” Níðhöggr said through Vigdis, his eyes still on Kenzie. “A world where the cage is left behind, and you once again become whole.”

  “Then we will head for Skáld’s Domain,” Eirik said firmly. “And enter through the roots of Skáld’s Ash.”

  “No,” Kenzie murmured as Vigdis leaned over, coughed out Ancient Matter then chanted it away.

  “What do you mean, no?” Shea eyed her sister. “And I can only assume you two just vanished into Helheim?”

  Eirik nodded then filled them in on what had happened before his eyes returned to Kenzie. “You know how we should get to Múspellsheimr then?”

  “Yes.” Her eyes went to the ceiling, better yet the sky beyond. “Because of what’s going on with the worlds, we can access our dragon’s home world from here.” Her eyes went from Shea and Davyn to Pierce. “With a little help and a whole lot of risk.” She shook her head. “A risk I’m afraid exists no matter where we travel from.”

  Sven frowned. “Yet the risk you speak of sounds like it puts our Fortress and all its inhabitants in great danger.”

  “Danger that it’s clearly already in, Grandson,” came Elder Naðr’s voice as he and Megan entered and he introduced himself to Kenzie. King to their tribe for thirty winters before Heidrek reigned, he was renowned for providing wise counsel to those who ruled after him. “All that seemingly protects our people now is a foghorn which we know nothing about.” His eyes went to Kenzie’s. “Though I suspect you do now.”

  Kenzie nodded as her eyes met Eirik’s. “I had a chance to speak with Hel before you appeared. The horn we’re hearing is coming from the fire giants.” She shook her head. “And that’s definitely not a good thing.”

  He frowned. “They are not against Skáld like the fire demons then?”

  “Hel doesn’t think so,” she replied. “She gets the sense that they made some sort of deal with Skáld and now they’re allied to him and his kin.” Her eyes went to Sven. “The horn is a drill of sorts as the veil thins more and more between Midgard and Múspellsheimr.”

  Sven took her meaning immediately. “It’s a horn for both giants and dragons to attack once the veil is thin enough that they can break through.”

  “Yes,” she confirmed. “And we're running out of time.” Her eyes met Eirik’s. “We need to go tonight before the worlds fade from view.” Then she looked at Shea, Davyn, and Pierce again. “We’ll need the power of your Gateway Magic and both Pierce and Shea’s connection to elves for added protection.”

  They nodded as Shea said, “We’ve got your back.”

  Kenzie’s eyes flickered between Pierce, who had actual elven blood and Shea, who had inherited some elven magic. “Will the elves help as well if need be?”

  Both nodded before Pierce spoke. “They’ll help any way they can but have to tread carefully near Múspellsheimr.”

  Kenzie nodded before her eyes went to Vigdis. “What about Magnus? Can you reach out to him? Will the fire demons help if necessary?”

  “I will ask,” she replied. “I am sure his ancestral minions will come to your aid as they did Shea and Davyn’s.”

  “And do not forget my sister, Dahlia is there as well,” Davyn reminded. “As well as Father and Uncle Heidrek.” His eyes went to Shea’s. “We could go along as well.”

  She nodded as Sven shook his head. “With the worlds as they are we need all the protection we can get right here.” He looked at Eirik
with confidence. “My brother and Kenzie must see through their journey as we all have. I do not doubt for a moment that they will succeed and become mated as we all hope they will.”

  “I second that,” came an unexpected female voice from the backdoor. “But first, you guys might want to come check something out...something that’s seriously gonna blow your mind.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “TESS!” KENZIE EXCLAIMED as everyone headed her way, eager to see what she was staring at as she stepped back out the door and gawked up at the sky.

  “Holy hell will you look at that!” Shea said, as shocked as the rest of them as they gazed up at the underside of the Maine Ash then the chalet beyond. “It’s like being under this world when we were in Múspellsheimr.” She narrowed her eyes. “Is that Ava I see standing on the deck?”

  “Yep,” Tess confirmed. “One sec I was standing beside the tree the next moment...” she gazed around before her eyes locked on Soren and Leviathan, “somewhere far better by the looks of it.”

  “Oh, you have no idea,” Shea began before Sage shook her head and cut her off. “Now’s not the time, Sis.” Her worried eyes met Kenzie’s. “I’d say you’re definitely limited on time at this point.”

  Kenzie nodded, in full agreement. Because if Tess was here that meant Ava was all alone in a maelstrom of worlds crossing over. They needed to get the rift closed immediately.

  “At least she has my animals with her,” she began before a familiar woof caught her attention.

  It seemed Tess hadn’t traveled here alone.

  “Harley,” she cried, crouching as he bounded into her arms followed by Pink who hopped on her shoulder. “I’m so glad to see you two!”

  Harley licked her cheeks, smiling away before he plunked down beside Eirik.

  “I see things haven’t changed any,” Tess remarked, eying Kenzie and Eirik with a sex radar nearly as sharp as Shea’s. “Wait, I take that back, things have changed, haven’t they?”