My shoulders relaxed fractionally. He might be pissed, but he still cared.
“Why didn’t you tell?—”
“I’m sorry I?—”
Our words collided and died. We sat in the wreckage of two incomplete sentences, neither willing to finish.
Mack dropped his head, and a sad smile ghosted across his lips. “You first.”
Buying myself time, I tried the potatoes first, then the rice. Both acceptable, though the spices set my nose running.
Sniffling, I forced myself to meet his eyes so he could see my sincerity. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Well, here’s your chance to rectify that.”
I huffed out a breath. “After I stole the bloodstone, the dragon started harassing my dreams. At first, I really did think they were just nightmares.”
He searched my face. “What are they, Zee?”
I shrugged, trying to make the next words sound less horrifying than they were. “He said he can find me in the dream world. Whenever he wants.”
Mack’s eyebrows shot up. Behind his brown eyes, his wolf surged forward, gold flickering through the irises. “What does he do to you in these dreams?”
The growl in his voice told me exactly what he was insinuating.
“Nothing like that,” I said quickly, putting my hand on his arm before his wolf could spiral. “He scared the shit out of me in his dragon form, then promised to kill everyone I know and love.” I took another bite and shrugged. “You know. Typical pissed-off dragon behavior.”
Mack shook his head, in what I assumed was disbelief of our entire situation. I was right there with him.
“The alpha said you told him where we are.”
I opened my mouth to explain the situation and beg him to take my side—if even only in words—but paused.
I had messed everything up. Mack was right to be mad at me, and maybe his anger was for the best. Maybe it would keep him from doing something stupid when I surrendered to the dragon.
“I did,” I said simply.
He watched me, waiting for more, but I focused on finishing my food. Then I handed over the empty shell and stood, stealthily snatching up the bloodstone and slipping it into my thigh sheath with my dagger.
“I should get back to work.”
“You’re not even gonna tell me why you did it?” he asked.
I took the mop in hand. “I did what I thought was best to protect the pack. The alpha has since reminded me that’s not my decision to make.”
Mack stood, his expression dark. “The alpha is wise.”
Then he took our shells and walked out the door.
HOW ALL NORSE CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT
Arioch
An awareness yanked at my consciousness, dragging me from a deep sleep. Daylight streamed in from the window, revealing a cream-colored room. The air smelled foreign, and my feet hung off the end of the inn’s too-short bed. Electricity hummed as cool air wafted out of vents near the ceiling.
I was safe. We had made it to Al Mukalla last night and secured safe lodging to sleep off the portal fatigue.
Nothing seemed amiss, yet something had woken me.
