“I understand.”She had almost forgotten. God, the pain. The terrible grief.“His ashes will go with the setting sun.”
Hell. Could this day get any worse? Sure, they had won the war, but this didn’t feel like victory. It felt like the worst kind of defeat. Nevertheless, Emily and Sven were right. She and her son should be there.Theirson. Hers and Tor’s.
“Climb on,”she said to Cian.“I’ll bring you with us.”
“No.”He shook his head.“This flight is for you and your offspring. Revna will see me there.”
“I will.”The seer appeared out of a burst of flames and rested her hand on Raven’s other haunch.“Like Cian said, this is for you and your son as you take your first flight together. As you say goodbye together.”
This momentwasimportant. A moment Midgard dragons never experienced. For that matter, any dragon because most chose to have their children in human form.
“Go on,”Emily urged.“Sven and I will be right behind you. All of us will.”
It was going to be the hardest thing she had ever done, but like they said, it was important. Not just for her but their little one. He deserved to be by his father’s side. So she tucked the egg safely in her talon and made her way back out.
Where most baby dragons, even via their shell, would be excited to fly for the first time, her little one was too sad. Not just that, but angry. Not at her or Tor but at what had taken him from them in the first place.
Enraged at all that had been stolen from them.
“I know,”she whispered into his mind. She launched into the air and headed toward the Fortress like she had done it hundreds of times before.“More than you can possibly imagine.”
The flight was no less than bittersweet as they soared over the mountains together. Sailed toward the beginning of a future that would never be the same without Tor. It was a bonding moment of sorts, but without the joy it might have held. Especially when she spied her mate's great dragon lying on the shore of the Fortress.
Having come to pay their respects to the Sigdir, who had made the ultimate sacrifice to save everyone, dragons, humans, gods, seers, fire demons, and even ghosts, saturated the land. They lined the mountains and the Fortress as well as the shoreline, docks, and ships. Tor’s cousins and mates, plus Loki and Thor, formed a circle around him, allowing none too close.
Tor’s Viking ship had just been set to sea afire. Typically it would have contained his human body to see him safely into the afterlife, but because he had died in dragon form, it would instead be a beacon to light the way.
A means to draw him out of the darkness to which he had descended.
It didn't matter how powerful Raven had become, she was so shaken she barely managed to land. Fortunately, thanks to her sisters filling her with strength, she touched down safely, unable to do anything but stare at his dragon for a moment.
She could do this.
Hadto do this.
Even if Tor was too far away to sense them anymore, she and their son would be here for him. So she rested the egg in the nook between his wing and heart and went to hold them close, only to hesitate when Trinity and Vicar’s words whispered through her mind.
Never cover his face. He should be able to see.
While they were talking about Tor’s tattoo at the time, was that tat not part of their son? Would it not be prudent to still heed their advice? So she cuddled down beside them instead. Cuddled so she could rest the tip of her wing against the other side of the egg.
All fell silent, respecting the moment as the sun sank lower, drawing ever closer to the horizon. Drawing closer as it had during the Forge. During a moment that had shaped so many lives.
“Until we meet again, ghrá is mó,”she said softly, her dragon voice echoing in every mind.“My greatest love.”
She could only pray that wherever Tor was, he could hear her. Knew that she counted down the days until they reunited once more in another life. Counted down the hours until they could fall in love all over again.
The sun sank lower and lower, edging toward the inevitable moment Tor left them. It was pure torture. A wait that twisted her insides and seemed to rock her core until she started vibrating with fear and terrible sadness.
Or was that her?
It took a moment to figure out it was her wing vibrating. More specifically, the egg it touched. She lifted her head and looked at her son, but everything seemed still. Maybe she had imagined it?
No.
There it was again.
She peered closer, wondering if she should have it next to Tor. Was it in distress? Frightened of being so close when his father turned to ash? She was about to move it but paused when the unexpected happened.
