Page 81 of Soul of Fire

“What are you saying?” Eisa asked, eyes wide and pleading with mine.

I wanted so badly to carry this burden for her. My beautiful, beloved mate. But the burden was hers, and if I understood what the priestesses were saying, that burden was greater than either of us had anticipated.

I took her face between my palms and stroked my thumbs over her cheekbones, which had only just started to fill out from the starvation of her youth.

“You’re scaring me, Arik.”

“Don’t be scared. I’m with you, no matter what.” I pressed my forehead to hers, willing my strength into her. Praying that Idunn would ease her panic.

I would carry this burden with her. I would protect her until my dying breath, and there wasn’t a force on this or any other world that could tear me from her side.

“Your mother–you–are not Chaosborn, Kjære. I don’t know how it’s possible, but it explains everything.”

“But I bonded Idunn.” Eisa pulled back, her eyes glowing faintly blue with Idunn’s anger. At me, I expected, and my inability to get the words out. “What am I then, if I’m not Chaosborn?”

My chest felt tight with awe and terror for this woman–my mate–who I loved more fiercely than anything in this world and the next.

And there was a name for what she was. One so obscure, I’d only seen it written once, and immediately dismissed it as fantasy. A name that described the last woman who bonded a blue dragon.

A woman who had already tried and failed to close the Rift.

“You are Dragonborn, my love.”

Chapter twenty-six

Revna

“Explaintomeagain,”I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, “how neither of you realized there was mistletoe in the wine?”

“Fuck’s sake, Rev, you don’t need to belabor the point,” Jorgen grumbled irritably as he drained his flagon of ale. He was back in his leathers, now that Branka had the extra set I’d brought, and I already missed the flowery apron. “We let our fucking guard down. We’re sorry.”

We were sitting in the dining room of the small inn, trying to decide what to do next. If we returned to Ironholm, Eisa and Arik would be left without backup. But since early this morning, Kindra had been unable to get through to either of their dragons. I assumed Baldur was still under the influence of the mistletoe,but worry nagged at me about what might be keeping Idunn from reaching out to us.

If we couldn’t reach her, there was no way we could find her, either.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Branka murmured, giving Jorgen’s forearm a squeeze.

Jorgen sighed and placed his hand over Branka’s. His covered hers completely, and I felt an odd lurch of longing at the sight.

It will be soon,Kindra snapped irritably.Eat more food, please.

I’m trying. You’re a bottomless pit of need.I stuffed another roll in my mouth, earning a suggestive smirk from Ingmar. I shook my head at them, hoping my scowl conveyed what my full mouth could not.And what do you mean, ‘soon?’

The Norns are mysterious. It is a feeling. More soup now.

Hearthmother, save me. I attacked the soup viciously, uncertain how I felt about Kindra’s prediction. I decided ignoring it would be best.Any word from Idunn?

Kindra shook her head in my mind’s eye.Nothing. They must be somewhere with a great deal of iron. Unless Idunn has also succumbed to the mistletoe.

“Did Eisa drink any?” I asked aloud, interrupting Branka’s soothing of Jorgen’s bruised ego. Three sets of eyes turned to me in confusion, and I clarified, “The poisoned wine. Did Eisa drink it?”

Branka frowned. “No. Not that I saw anyway. Why?”

I shook my head, attempting to swallow the boiling soup. “Kindra still can’t reach Idunn.”

Branka’s scowl deepened, and her eyes went distant. I knew she must be asking Bryndis to confirm.

Ingmar cast me a wary look, their eyes glowing a faint orange as their dragon did the same. “Have you heard from the exiled reirhold? They should have made it to Kaldvik by now.”