Page 98 of Soul of Fire

Arne blinked, his scowl deepening. “Ah dinnae ken yer name.”

“Then you should probably ask.”

I smiled to myself as Arne’s face took on every shade of color between red and purple before settling back on pale as a sheet.

“Fine. Oh please, will ye tell me yer name?”

He asked with a voice that was clearly intended to mock, but I refused to take the bait. “Revna.”

“Revna.” I shivered hearing my name on his lips, and Kindra purred in approval, but if Arne noticed, he blessedly said nothing. He muttered to himself, and I was fairly certain I heard the words “presumptuous” and “busybody,” but he finally looked me straight in the eye and said, “Would yepleasehelp me get back into bed, Revna?”

“Certainly.” I smiled as sweetly as I was able to with my stomach collapsing in relief as I helped him back under the sheets. His skin was cool and clammy as he draped an arm over my shoulder to steady himself, and I made a mental note to fetch another bowl of broth.

I will ask Bryndis,Kindra said before I could stop her.

Now who’s a busybody.

She sniffed haughtily, fading into the back of my mind as she turned her attention to the other dragon.

Once he was settled back in the bed with a groan and more curses than I’d ever heard one man make in my life, I made my proposal.

“We will take you to Stormhold,” I said, my heart thumping with anxiety at the idea. “The three of us. Three dragons are more than enough backup, and it will be easier to fly in and out than to ride, and I’m fairly certain the farm boy stole your horse, anyway.”

Arne blinked at me, as if not understanding. “What?”

I sighed irritably. “You will stay and rest for one more day, and then we will fly you back to Stormhold. It’s a single day’s flight. You’ll be saving at least a week of time, and you won’t have to kill yourself trying to get back to Østrheim.”

“Aye, I understood you,” Arne said warily. “But what’s in it for you three?”

I hesitated, trying to think of a convincing lie. “The Book.” I practically blurted it out, but it was the perfect cover. “We still need the Book of Chaos. Arik wants us to try to get it.”

“They didnae get the book?” Arne closed his eyes, letting his head drop to his pillow. “It was a fucking trap.”

“Probably.” We had no idea how the king had known what Eisa and Branka were up to, but it seemed more than likely. “So you get your sister, we get the Book, and then we leave.”

“And go where?” Arne’s face had taken on a grayish pallor, and I went to the sideboard to fetch a damp cloth. The water was tepid, but it couldn’t hurt.

Arne grabbed my wrist with surprising strength as I leaned over him with the cloth. My whole arm prickled when his fingers met my skin, but he didn’t seem to notice. “What in the name of all the gods’ great backsides are ye doing?”

I almost laughed, despite my disappointment. Could he be my mate—future mate—if he didn’t feel the connection that Kindra clearly did? I shook off the thought. “Putting a damp cloth on your forehead. To stave off fever.”

Arne grunted, but acquiesced. My wrist felt cold as he released his grip.

“And to answer your question, wherever you like. We could fly you and Queen Ingrid back to Østrheim. It would take maybe three days. Four at most. But it would be far faster than the king’s men can travel, and you’d have time to bolster your defenses.”

And I’d return to Ironholm. The thought was sobering. On the one hand, Kindra balked at the idea of leaving this man—of not bringing him to Ironholm and hoarding him like treasure for ten years, or whenever the Rift next opened. But I barely knew him, and there was no way I could ask him to do such a thing without telling him the truth.

Arne looked at me, his gaze piercing and emerald green like the forests in the spring.

My favorite color, Kindra crooned.

You have to stop.

But irritating you is so fun.

I had to try very hard not to mentally strangle her.Check in with Asger. Make sure Viggo’s reirhold is returning to Ironholm. And check as see if Ingmar made it back safely.

Kindra snorted indignantly, but she didn’t argue.