Page 20 of Soul of Fire

But Idunn’s icy fear made me suspect it was the former.

How much?I asked, pushing the vision aside, at least for now.

At least seven dragon-lengths. Perhaps more after today. We will measure again tomorrow.

It had been too much to hope that the Rift growing was a one-time phenomenon. Now we had to deal with the monsters that already roamed the Odemark, as well as new ones bursting up from the bowels of the earth.

What came through?Anything…unusual?I wasn’t sure what I expected Kindra to tell me, and I didn’t know how to explain that somethingelsewas waiting just out of sight within the Rift.

The darkness,Idunn rumbled darkly.

Several garmr. Huleskygge. The usual.Kindra flickered, her energy uncertain.Revna wishes to know exactly how long before you return?

I frowned. Revna was more than capable. The fact that she was so worried made my anxiety spike.Hopefully we will be back within the fortnight.How is Revna otherwise?

Bored,Kindra replied immediately.And also rather lonely, although she wishes me not to tell you this.

I felt a pang, at these words, and at the hollow emotion at the end of Kindra’s golden thread.

Unlike Branka and me, Revna didn’t have a mate to keep her company, and while she had always seemed rather disparaging of the whole idea, I knew that she had been disappointed that he or she had not appeared in this last Rifting.

Tell her we miss her too. Truly.

Kindra nodded her golden head.What are your orders, Drekadrottning?

I blinked, unsure what to reply. Baldur was Drakonungr—essentially the king of the dragons—and as far as I knew, the other dragons had always defaulted to his orders, a fact which hadrankled Einar to no end. I was still getting used to the idea that the dragons saw Idunn, and by extension, me, as their leader now.

Kindra’sgolden light pulsed.Can I suggest we continue patrols at one hour intervals for the next several hours? And monitor the Scar for changes over the next week?

Idunn responded with a draconic shrug.Whatever Baldur says.

Such a mighty queen,I teased, giving her eye ridges a mental scratch.

If you have forgotten, I flew several hundred miles over the last two days,Idunn replied irritably.I am tired.

I shall ask Baldur,Kindra replied solemnly, her head bowing respectfully in my mind’s eyes.Rest well, Drekadrottning.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I let Kindra’s golden thread of connection fall away. Maintaining a conversation from such a great distance was harder than I’d realized, and I felt a warm trickle of something wet slip over my lip before I tasted the iron.

“You’re bleeding again.”

I looked over my shoulder to see Arik leaning against the door to the bathing room, a towel slung low around his hips.

My mouth dried out a little at the sight of him, all scarred skin and runic tattoos across a muscular expanse of chest. He was beautiful. Deadly.

Mine.The thought came to me unbidden, and I wasn’t sure if the words were mine or Idunn’s.

Definitely yours,yawned Idunn.But I concur.

“I’m fine,” I replied aloud, lifting my hand to my nose. The linen nightgown that had been left out by the palace servants was a gaudy, frilly mess of lace and ruffles, and I didn’t think they’d appreciate me leaving bloodstains all over the white fabric. “Just speaking to Kindra. The Scar is growing.”

“I heard.” Arik dropped down naked beside me and held his towel up to my face. “Speaking to her hasn’t made you bleed before.”

“You’re more worried about my nosebleed than the growing Rift between worlds?” I asked incredulously.

“I am. There’s nothing I can do about the Rift while I’m stuck in this godsforsaken castle,” he grumbled, wiping the blood from my face with a gentle hand. “But Icantake care of you.”

His eyes met mine, and Idunn raised her head in keen interest.