Page 40 of Soul of Fire

Arik frowned as he placed the bowl on the side table.Always, Kjære.

He slid into the bed behind me and pulled me close, my back flush with his chest and his hand cradling my low belly. The heat was glorious as I sank into him, the pain relenting slightly as he stroked the tender skin of my stomach.

This is nice.Idunn stretched sinuously in my mind.This is how it should be.

Like it was in the dark,Baldur agreed as his light twined around Idunn’s.

Sentimental creatures.Arik’s voice was a rough caress in my mind, a twin to the gentle thumb stroking over my skin.

They’re right, though.I closed my eyes, willing the peaceful oblivion of sleep to take my pain for a few hours at least.This is how it should be.

Chapter twelve

Arik

Thehealerhadcomeand gone, confirming that this did indeed appear to be a menstrual cycle, though she was unable to tell us anything useful about how long it might last or how frequently it would return.

I held Eisa late into the morning as she dozed fitfully, a thought nagging at my mind the entire time as I listened to Eisa’s even breaths.

I remembered where I had seen Sigrid’s necklace before.

It had occurred to me the previous night as I caressed Eisa’s scar, before I’d woken to her covered in blood, and I’d understandably been too distracted to think much of it since waking.

I cursed myself for not remembering sooner. For not remembering when I was right there drinking fucking tea in front of her fireplace.

I needed to speak to my mother again.

Baldur rumbled irritably, his voice apologetic as if he were as loath to leave his mate as I.It’s Sigurd. You are needed.

I watched Eisa a moment longer, her dark lashes fanning out against her pale cheeks in sleep.I’m needed here.

She sleeps,Baldur reasoned.Idunn will watch over her. We will be only a thought away.

I clenched my jaw. The sight of the bedsheets soaked in red would haunt me for a good long time. For a frantic moment, I had thought I would lose her. That somehow in the night, someone had entered our room without my knowing to steal her from me.

Baldur, as always, sensed my emotion.She is safe.

For now.I gave him a mental scratch over a brow ridge to temper the irritation in my voice. Leaving Eisa felt nearly impossible, as if something needy and possessive had awoken in me.

You were already needy and possessive,Baldur pointed out.

I shook my head. This felt like more.Did I do this to her?

You think making love somehow brought on her cycle?Baldur asked wryly.Your manhood does not possess that sort of magic, I fear.

Because you have so much experience with such things,I snapped irritably. Eisa stirred, and I clenched my jaw, realizing I’d been shouting across the mental bridge. I continued in a quieter hiss,I’d wager you know as much as I do. Less, actually, since dragons don’t seem to have such bodily needs.

The concept of childbearing makes little sense to me, but I do not think this is your fault.Baldur shrugged his great wings in my mind, his voice laced with amusement.It is gratifying to see you so anxious for our mate.

You did this to me.I ignored his chuckle as I carefully extricated my arm from beneath my mate, pressing a kiss to her cheek as I dragged myself from her side. I was wearing only the leather trousers I’d pulled on to spare Branka from my nudity, and it took several minutes to find the shirt I’d discarded the night before.

When Eisa had her mouth on me.

I banished the thought from my mind—now was really not the time.

I was perfectly rational before you brought her into our lives.

Rational and miserable,Baldur agreed, as I saw him curling protectively around Idunn in my mind’s eye as she slept.You are welcome.