“So you’ve said,” I respond with a sigh. The pity that filled me when Wrath claimed Wregen for himself bubbles up again, but I squash it. I can’t let myself sympathize with this male who’s so thoroughly fucked up my life. “Why did you try to kill Ruxi?”
“That wasn’t me,” Wregen responds as he spins to glare at the purple beast. “Though I don’t care whether it lives or dies.” His voice lowers, growing gravelly, as he adds, “You don’t belong here. I’ll never ride you. Go back to your draikana.”
“I’ll go with you,” I suggest with a bright smile, reaching out to Panta as the solution bubbles up inside me.Can I come back to you with Ruxi? We’ll find a way to free you, together.
Panta purrs, her joy at the thought rippling through our bond. But then I feel her restraint settle in.My draikani and your mate will bond, she tells me in a voice that trembles.It won’t be easy, but it must happen.
Why? He doesn’t want it and he’s a miserable prick. I glare at said prick, who smirks in response.Ruxi can’t want him anyway.
I don’t know why, but he is the key to our future.
“You’ll go nowhere,” Wregen interjects, lifting his thumb to pull at my bottom lip and drag my attention to him.
Smacking his hand away, I step back, but I’m too close to the wall to go far. “Don’t touch me,” I snarl, turning toward Ruxi to put space between the asshole and me.
But he’s not done yet. He blocks my path, his chest nearly brushing against mine. “Have you not heard a single thing I said? You are mine. Not your dragon’s. Not Svend’s. Mine. You will never be free of me.”
“Have you heard nothing I said?” I growl, poking one finger into his chest. “I will never be yours. And I’m done talking about this.” Looking at the purple dragon, I repeat my suggestion, images of my beautiful silver dragon erupting in my thoughts. “We should go together. Please,” I add in a whisper. “I need Panta, more than I need air to breathe. Take me to her.”
Ruxi watches me for long seconds, grey eyes full of compassion. They give one slow shake of their head, and turn eyes that suddenly are flinty and cold to Wregen.
You must bring him with you, Panta tells me.My draikani can’t free me. He holds the key. He must be with us if we are to ever fly in the sun again.
Then you’re fucked, I tell her,because he’ll never give you that.
Still, we must try.
“All done?” Wregen demands, drawing my focus away from my dragon. “It’s been a long fucking day and I need to sleep. We’ll go back to the cavern and rest. And then, we will go to Helheim.” He spins to scowl at Ruxi. “Wrath sleeps now, but he’ll wake soon. If you’re still with us, he’ll shove his way out again and this time, he’ll kill you. Follow or not, but knowwhat fate awaits you if you’re nearby when he opens his eyes again.”
Turning, he stalks toward the water, leaving Ruxi and me to scamper behind him if we choose. But I don’t move. Not yet.
I don’t understand. Ruxi could bring me to you. Why don’t we try to escape together?
I cannot leave here, my rider, Panta tells me in a voice full of sorrow.My draikani alone has been able to cross the bridge between our prison and the rest of the world. In dreams, they’ve tasted hints of their fate, the Norns’ new weave in the wake of Ragnarök. The only path that leads to my escape starts with your mate. Stay with him. Embrace him or not. Ruxi cannot see your fate. But you can help the male and his beast accept my draikani, and you must.
I hate this, I grumble, as I resign myself to what she’s asking of me.
As do I, she tells me, her voice soft and gentle.We’ve survived this long, when we thought the other lost. We can survive this too.
I know she’s right. I may not like what she’s telling me, but I can’t deny it.You, my dear Panta, I murmur,are the wisest beast ever.
Perhaps, Panta tells me, the smile in her voice so clear, I can almost see her mouth tipping up at the corners.
Will I lose contact with you when I leave this cavern?
Our connection is shallow, even here. I think it will end when you walk away, although it may arise again.
I drop my chin to my chest, a hole in my gut opening at what I’m about to do. But then I throw back my shoulders and face my destiny.I love you, my lustrous beast.
And I you, my fierce rider.
“Don’t you dare give that to them.” Wregen’s snarl wakes me from a deep sleep.
For a moment, I have no idea where I am or why I’m lying on hard rock, curled in on myself, little bits of pebble digging into my side. One blissful moment. But then I open my eyes, and it all comes barreling back. Svend using his power to put me into a sleep deep enough for Wregen to carry me to the ocean. Jörmungandr trapping me and carrying all of us here. The lunacy that erupted once we arrived.
Still, I found Panta. I met her mate, a glorious purple dragon who is much too good for the bastard we’re both bound to. And they somehow convinced me to stay put and help Ruxi break Hel’s grip on Wregen.
It’s a futile task, but I’m going to try anyway.
