He was glad when her eyes darted back to Bjorn, their leader and alpha, though she didn’t look any less scared of him, and no wonder. The man was huge, his arms as wide as tundran tree trunks, every inch covered in ink from his ankles to his chin, and his black hair was a mix of loose strands and tight braids that somehow made him look even more masculine, more savage. At least twenty years older than her, and giving off a vibe that he was not to be fucked with. Helle inhaled a quick breath, her throat bobbing.
Valr’s sensitive vargr nose picked out the scent of her fear in the air and his mouth quirked up. They weren’t going to hurt her—the opposite, in fact. Especially Magnus, who was already panting and desperate to worship her. Guarding Little Miss Ragnarok, their Odin-given task, made them her protectors. As much as they could protect her in a maximum security prison built to contain children of gods and myth, anyway.
Bjorn signed a leaf of papers that handed custody of Helle Aven to them, and as the woman tried to back up a step, deciding the prison guard who’d escorted her in was safer than the three vargar, Bjorn took hold of her cuffed hands and gave her a smile as he tugged her closer. It wasn’t a comforting smile, more an exposing of teeth—in the time Valr had known the alpha, he’d never seen him give an easy, charming grin—and Helle shrank back. Refusing to budge from her spot near the door, however tightly it was sealed, however unlikely her escape from them was.
Valr smirked as she dug her heels in, satisfaction and amusement curling through him as she gave a last, panicked attempt at resistance. But she’d been sentenced to eternity in Asgard Penitentiary. Eternity, or until they deemed her safe for release. Valr’s smile deepened. She’d look even more scared of them when she found out that little tidbit.
“Stop fighting,” Bjorn commanded, his voice so full of ringing dominance that Valr winced, gritting his teeth as he fought to urge to drop to his knees and beg for mercy. Magnus wasn’t as strong; he ended up on the cold concrete floor, swearing at the thud of his knees on stone.
Helle … Helle didn’t drop to her knees at all. No, she blurted, “Make me,” and blushed like crazy. But she didn’t avert her eyes; she raised an eyebrow and cocked her chin defiantly at Bjorn.
Valr grinned widely, wishing he had snacks to watch the show with. Either Bjorn had met his match, or Little Miss Ragnarok was about to get her ass handed to her.
Bjorn’s face darkened. “I give orders; you follow them,” he bit out, his voice low and threaded with command. “You’ve been sentenced to eternity in Asgard Pentitentiary for murder and treason—”
“There wasn’t even a body!” she protested, albeit at a whisper, seeming to finally sense the power of the alpha. Or at least succumbing to his intimidation. “And treason? Where do you think we are, Henry VIII’s court?”
Bjorn’s mouth flattened into a thin line. “Where do you think you are now?”
Helle shrugged, something about the gesture vulnerable. Her shoulders looked small suddenly, and Valr felt bad about smirking at her fear. But she was nothing to him—why should he give a shit about her being afraid? And she was the one who’d dragged him out of his life to be her fucking prison guard. And she was a murderer on top of that. No, he’d show her no compassion.
Magnus scrambled up off the floor, his blonde hair wild around his face as he gave Helle a gentle smile. “You’re in Asgard, Mistress.”
“Magnus,” Bjorn warned in a growl.
Valr snorted loudly. Mistress? Magnus had fucking lost it.
Helle laughed abruptly, and then sobered all at once. “Oh great,” she breathed when she realised Magnus was serious. Everything she said was soft, diminished, Valr had noticed, no matter how sarcastic her retorts. “You’re all as mad as the judge. He thinks Odin and Thor are real.” Almost to herself she breathed, “This isn’t a Marvel film.”
Magnus laughed warmly, taking a step closer, his hands out before him like he was approaching a spooked horse. “No, Mistress, it isn’t.”
“Magnus, I won’t warn you again,” Bjorn rumbled.
Magnus just ignored him, his eyes on Helle. “We’ll protect you. Even if you are Ragnarok, you’re a vargr, too. You’re the Fenrir. You’re ours.”
Helle was looking at him with pity now. “You’re deluded.”
“You’re the one that’s deluded,” Valr disagreed with a low laugh. “Here’s the deal, Little Miss Ragnarok,” he said stepping forward and drawing her full attention. “You think you’re human? Guess again. You’re not even an ordinary Asgardian. You’re Loki’s daughter. You’re a vargr—a wolf. And like it or not, you’re a killer.” She opened her mouth, no doubt to plead her case again, but Valr cut her off before she could begin. “The highest judge in our realm condemned you. You’re guilty. And you’re going to Asgard Pen. Get used to the idea or don’t—it makes no difference. You’ll be locked up anyway.”
Helle was breathing quickly, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Shit, if Valr had given her a panic attack… “This is all one big delusion,” she breathed, maybe to herself.
“I doubt you’ll be saying that when you shift for the first time,” Valr muttered, and her eyes flared with even more panic.
“Come on,” Bjorn cut in, tugging her closer by her wrists but catching her against his broad chest as she stumbled. “Valr is right, and it’ll be easier on you if you go willingly.”
“We’re your guards,” Magnus added gently, that soft smile still on his boyish face. “We’ll keep you safe.”
Valr rolled his eyes. “And keep Asgard safe from you.”
Magnus
Helle looked terrified, and Magnus wanted nothing more than to take her hand, pull her into his arms, and promise her that everything was going to be alright. His mate. Sentenced to eternity in Asgard’s worst prison.
His mate, the end of the world. But Magnus didn’t care about her being fated to bring about Ragnarok; he only cared that every jumping breath from her lips fired another arrow into his heart, every flood of fear in her eyes had him bristling with protectiveness.
She’d looked at him—at all of them—with that same fear, but Magnus would prove to her that she could trust him, that she could trust her whole pack. Because it was her pack, whether or not Bjorn or Valr wanted to admit it. She was their mate—theirs, not his. He knew they’d felt it, and she’d felt her bonds to all of them, too.
“You’ll be safe,” he promised Helle gently as they climbed out of the long, wooden boat that had piloted itself from mainland Asgard to the craggy island the penitentiary sat atop, looking more like a fairytale castle than a prison with its white towers and spires. “We’ll make sure of it.”
“That’s not very reassuring,” Helle whispered.
Magnus frowned deeply, but it was no wonder she didn’t trust them; she’d been pulled out of her human life, arrested for murder, put on trial for being the future slayer of Odin, and hauled off by three strangers to spend the rest of her life in prison.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, Mistress,” he whispered, ignoring the warnings Bjorn had given him about calling her so. She was the Fenrir, daughter of Loki, and his mate—of course she was his mistress. She was his everything. “I know we’ve only just met, but you’re my mate. I’ll devote my whole life to keeping you happy and safe.”
She gave him a sideways glance, an edge of pity in it that Magnus didn’t like. As if she thought he was wrong.
“Can’t you feel it?” he asked quietly as Bjorn and Valr secured the little boat to the shore. “The mating bond?” He brushed a mental hand against that luminous bridge spanning the distance between their souls, invisible and spiritual but incredibly there. Helle straightened, flashing him a wide-eyed look. “You can feel it,” he breathed, a smile splitting his face.
“I don’t see why it would make you … devoted to me,” Helle muttered, stiffening as Valr stalked closer, a scowl on his face as he regarded Magnus. He did this several times a minute, looking at Magnus like he was nothing more than a fuck
up. At first, Magnus had thought Valr was sneering at him because he was bisexual, but he’d long realised it wasn’t homophobia making Valr mean; he was just bitter and scowling and cruel. Whatever had made him that way, Magnus didn’t know. He wouldn’t bother asking; Valr would just bare his teeth.
“Whatever he’s saying to you,” Valr snarled at Helle, “just bear in mind that he’s a sentimental fool. He can’t make promises. None of us can. Bjorn’s our alpha—he’ll keep the worst of the inmates from you, but no promises about the rest of them.” For once, Valr didn’t smirk; he said it grimly. “Don’t fuck with the valkyries.”
Helle snorted, and then inhaled sharply at what she saw on Valr’s hard face. “Valkyries aren’t real,” she breathed, a shudder moving through her body. “They’re a myth.”
Valr’s mouth flicked up in amusement, but Magnus couldn’t stand the panicked look in Helle’s eyes; he pulled her into his arms and lowered his mouth to her ear. “Trust us.”
Helle shook her head.
“I promise,” Magnus swore, “I will keep you safe. I swear it on our bond.”
Helle looked up at him, stunned, maybe a little baffled, but still brimming with fear, and Magnus couldn’t hold back any longer. He slid a hand into her hair, cupped the back of her head, and laid a gentle kiss on her mouth, trying to convey all his affection, loyalty, and protectiveness.
Helle made a surprised sound in the back of her throat and jerked back, but while Magnus released her mouth, he kept cradling her head, caressing soothing circles on her scalp with his thumb. “You’re mine to protect,” he breathed, “and I’m yours to command.”
“Magnus,” Bjorn barked in the steely tone that got Magnus to do whatever he said.
Magnus laid a final kiss on Helle’s lips, having to fight like crazy against the command just to resist for a bare two seconds, and then scrambled away from Helle with an apologetic glance, wishing he could comfort her more. Wishing they weren’t escorting her into a prison. Wishing she believed him about them being her mates. But she hadn’t pulled away from him when he’d initially taken her into his arms. Maybe because she was so surprised, but still. Magnus took it as a positive sign.
His alpha’s command hooked into his chest, pressing down on his lungs, but Magnus was able to whisper, “Whatever you need, Mistress, I will provide.”
He’d do anything to keep her happy, indulge her every whim. And if she decided to take him into her bed, he’d be the happiest vargr alive.
Bjorn heaved a sigh. “Listen, Helle Aven.” Helle’s icy eyes darted to him, her body tense with fear. “Asgard Penitentiary is full of the most dangerous Asgardians, specially built to contain people with magic. If you want to survive it, if you want to stand a chance of earning your freedom, you need to listen to me. When I give you commands, it’s to ensure your safety.” His expression tightened, a muscle feathering in his broad jaw. “Like it or not, you are the Fenrir. You’re pack now, and I’m your alpha. Like Magnus says, we’ll offer you some protection from the guards and your fellow inmates. Some. I’m afforded a significant amount of power inside the prison, but ultimately the valkyries are in charge. Even I answer to them. Do you understand the position you’re in?”
Helle looked sick but, slowly, trembling head to toe, she nodded. “It’s … it’s not a trick is it? It’s not a hallucination?”
“No,” Bjorn replied, softer.
“I’m supposed to be human,” she breathed, and Magnus was horrified to see tears lining her eyes. As if sensing he was about to scoop her into his arms again, she brushed her tears away and held her bound hands out in front of herself. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” She sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than anything, and Magnus’s heart ached. His poor Fenrir. He couldn’t imagine how hard the transition from human to vargr must be.
“Well,” she breathed eventually, casting a glance around at the deserted shore. “I’m definitely not in Kansas anymore.” Her shoulders rounded, her head pulled back as she stood straighter, though she still shook.
Magnus smiled when she looked at him, trying to convey strength and confidence, sending it pouring down the luminous bridge between their souls to strengthen her. Bjorn gave her an approving nod, compassion in his eyes.
Valr made a sound in the back of his throat. “Done being dramatic?”
Helle’s confidence ebbed away. She shrank into herself, her ribbon-wrapped hands curling into fists, and Magnus could have torn out Valr’s throat. “I’m done,” she said quietly.
“Valr,” Bjorn said in a low growl.
Valr scoffed and headed toward a set of steps carved into the white rock that made up most of the island. “Just remember what we’re here to do—keep Little Miss Ragnarok here from killing Odin and make sure she serves time for her crimes. Not to fawn over her.”
Magnus’s chest rumbled as his vargr made itself known, a low warning growl he let increase in volume.
“Stop it,” Helle said, her voice soft but strong. She met Magnus’s eyes, then Bjorn’s. “Stop … stop fighting over me.”
And without prompting, she started after Valr towards the stone steps. Towards the prison she’d be lucky to get out of for as long as she lived.
“Bjorn,” Magnus said worriedly, scuffing his shoes against the shore. “If she doesn’t like confrontation … how’s she going to survive in here?”
Bjorn didn’t respond.
He and Magnus followed Valr and Helle up the steps in silence. The closer they got to the prison on the crest of the cliff, the worse Magnus felt. Helle was his mate; if she spent the rest of her life in here, so would Magnus. That reality wrapped around his chest like a constricting band, making every breath tight and short.
He tipped his head back when he reached the top of the island mount, staring at the stars, drawing a deep breath. He wondered when he’d be able to do so again.
Helle was staring at the prison ahead of them with dread, her chest rising and falling quickly and her bound hands shaking. Or maybe she was staring at the guards arrayed around the fence, the wings on their silver helmets upswept and deadly sharp, their fur cloaks pinned with brooches shaped to resemble rainbow bridges. The expressions on their faces were stoic, fearsome. To a woman who’d always thought she was human, they must be utterly terrifying.
“You’ll stay with me?” she whispered, looking from Magnus to Bjorn to Valr, pleading and desperate. “The whole time?”
“The whole time,” Magnus promised, moving close enough to brush up against her side as the three of them led her inside.
The End
I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Helle and her vargar harem! Be sure to leave a review. Find more books by Leigh Kelsey at her website: http://www.leighkelsey.co.uk/
Helle’s full story is coming - for news on forthcoming books, you can join my reader group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/178009826319184/
Prefer emails to social media? You can join my mailing list: https://madmimi.com/signups/03d55060b9ad4e619393482b30bc1138/join
Or follow me on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/leigh-kelsey
About the Author
Leigh Kelsey is the author of sweet and steamy books for anyone with a soft spot for steely women and the tortured men who love them. No matter what stories she’s writing – vampires or shifters or rebels – they all share a common thread of romance, heart, and action. She is the author of the Lili Kazana series, the Vampire Game series, the Moonlight Inn series, and the Second Breath Academy series. Leigh also writes new adult and young adult books under the name Saruuh Kelsey.
Find these other books by Leigh Kelsey!
Once Upon A Fairy Tale Night (Fairy Tale Box Set)
Hearts of Darkness (Bully Romance Box Set)
Bound To Change (Shifter Romance Box Set)
Dead Space (RH Sci-Fi Stand-Alone)
Lili Kazana series
(complete series)
Complete Series Box Set (w/ exclus
ive epilogue!)
Cast From Heaven
Crowned By Hell
Called By Gods
Second Breath Academy series
How To Raise The Dead
How To Kill A Ghost (Coming soon!)
Vampire Game series
(complete series)
Complete Series Box Set
Vampire Game
Vampire Touch
Vampire Legacy
Moonlight Inn series
Books 1-3 Box Set
Mated
Empowered
Unlimited
Ascended
Bind his wings
Dana Lyons
Preface
On Draco Space Station, a dragon shifter wants to spread his wings …
on Earth.
Arcadian Savoy III hears a greater destiny calling him, calling him to the place he belongs, to a purpose worthy of his superiority … and his heart. Unfortunately, he’s chained to Draco Station for life unless he can find a way to get free.
Modified genetically by a gene editing cocktail, Arcadian is more than a dragon shifter, he’s a unique creature with abilities his creators didn’t imagine.
Getting free of Draco Station is only his first challenge.
In this short story prequel, step into a spin-off from the world of Dreya Love!
Chapter One
Draco Space Station Orbiting the planet Draco Prime
Hexes and Handcuffs: A Limited Edition Collection of Supernatural Prison Stories Page 35
