“Fuck off, dog,” I mutter, picturing Finaan seeing her dragon again after so many centuries. “I’m getting us back on track. This is the way.”
He grabs my boot, tugging me with a snarl I can feel in my bones.
“I don’t give a fuck what you think,” I tell him, ripping my foot away from his teeth. “We’re going this way.”
And fuck if the bastard doesn’t listen to me. He plops down on his ass and watches me stride away, red eyes all I can see when I glance back toward him. After a few seconds, though, I hear his footsteps and then smell him approach. Finally, a little help from the fates, those bitches.
We’ve only gone a few hours when everything shifts. I feel Finaan’s surprise through our bond and realize she knows I’m in the caves.
Rider?Ruxi’s voice pierces my thoughts.We search for you.
Get away from these caves, I snarl back, struggling to stifle my emotions.Do not chase after me.
We must, they respond. And then they’re gone.
Listen to me, you twit. I have a plan and you’re going to fuck it up. Don’t follow me.
They’ve shut me out. The link I never wanted is silent.
Garmr rumbles, emotions I can’t hide telling him that something’s changed.
I grasp for the calm I need and continue striding down the cavern as I send my thoughts out toward that impossible beast. They’re gone, though. A rock forms in my gut and I have to struggle to keep my fists from clenching, my teeth from grinding out my frustration. For the first time in my miserable existence, I need to talk to them, and they refuse.
So I plan. It’s not much of a plan, but it’s all I’ve got. They’re coming faster than I’d like, and the best thing I can do is choose where we’ll meet. I don’t know what we’ll find in the caverns ahead of us, but as soon as we reach a space big enough for Ruxi to fly, I’ll make some excuse. That’ll give the dragon a chance to attack from the sky—their best option—and maybe escape if they decide to listen to me.
Not that they will, stubborn creature that they are. But one can hope.
They’re close, the bonds between us nearly vibrating with each step forward, when I find the space I want. It’s not huge, but it’s big enough.
“I need to piss and eat something,” I tell the dog. “We’ll stop here.”
He spins his head, red eyes narrowing as he watches me in silence, then lays down. I move slowly, delaying as much as Ican to give them a chance to get here, and try again to speak to the turnip beast.
I don’t know why the fuck you’re shutting me out, but I need you to listen to me.
Now you would speak with me?Their voice is amused, almost playful, and it pisses me off even more. What the fuck are they thinking, bringing Finaan into the shitstorm they’re about to create?
I told you to leave. Why won’t you do what I tell you? You’re going to get my mate killed.
She’s stronger than you know, the dragon responds with a huff.We follow our fate, not your fear.
Hel’s hound doesn’t give a shit about fate. We won’t defeat him. He’ll carry Finaan back to Helheim and we’ll all be fucked. Go to Panta. I’ll find you there.
Prepare, rider. We’ve arrived.
Garmr’s bark splits the air, bouncing off the walls as he races toward the largest tunnel leading into this cave. I chase after him, reaching for a branch I spotted earlier. It won’t be much against Garmr’s teeth and claws, but it’s better than nothing. I won’t go into this unarmed.
Ruxi soars into this cavern before Garmr gets to the tunnel, and I gust out a sigh of relief. At least we’ll be fighting him here, where they can fly around. Before I can launch myself at the dog, though, another creature slithers after the dragon, and my heart erupts from my chest.
I don’t remember her.
I’d swear I’ve never seen her before.
But I know her, perhaps better than I know my own beast.
Glow. The name fills my thoughts, and I’m as certain as I could possibly be that it’s correct. Even Wrath rumbles inside me, her presence drawing tendrils of his consciousness from the pit he’s been stuffed into. He thrashes, more desperate to break free than he’s ever been, but Hel’s hold is tight.
“Wregen!” Finaan’s scream pulls me from the memories I started to chase, and I see that even with the wyrm joining them, they’re as outmatched as I’d feared.
