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“King Aurdyn?” He halts abruptly with his hand on the latch. “Be careful.”
His head snaps to mine. “I am a Dragon,” he growls low in his chest. “My kind are not easily killed.”
It’s easy to see I’ve insulted him. At first, I’m confused, but then I remember that I’ve heard many times that Dragons revere strength. “I just… no one is invincible and I—”
“I am a Dragon of the Ice Mountains. You’d do well to remember that.” He tips up his chin to stare down at me imperiously. “I am not a weak and pitiful human.”
My jaw drops, but I quickly snap it shut as my blood begins to boil at his arrogance. “I’ll have you know that humans are not—"
Before I can finish, he walks out into the storm, quickly sealing the door shut behind him.
Did he really just cut me off like that? And then leave?
Closing my eyes, I draw in a deep breath and rub at my temples, trying to calm the anger swirling inside me. I throw my head back, and I look up at the ceiling as I send a silent prayer to the gods. It seems they’ve decided to pair me with Aurdyn to teach me about patience.
While I wait for my grumpy, Dragon caretaker to return, I change into a pair of dusty, but otherwise warm and comfortable pair of leggings and a tunic before curling up next to the fire. I still do not understand why he’s helping me. He said I was his and we still haven’t discussed exactly what that means. If he thinks I’m going to be his servant, he is sorely mistaken.
Frustration and anger swirl deep within as I study the dancing flames in the hearth. I have several imagined conversations with him in my head: each of them spelling out in no uncertain terms that I refuse to serve him.
But as time ticks on, my eyelids grow heavy, and I struggle to stay awake. Closing my eyes, I allow myself to drift off, hovering in the place between sleep and wakefulness before finally succumbing to the beckoning oblivion.
I awakenfrom a deep sleep as an uncomfortable twinge in my lower abdomen tells me I need to empty my bladder. This is a one room cottage. There is no cleansing room here. I only hope there is at least an outhouse somewhere nearby.
I glance out the window, watching the heavy snowfall that blankets the landscape. When I look down at my feet, I grimace at the thought of having to walk. It was painful to even stand up earlier, and I doubt I’d make it very far in this condition. Sighing heavily, I look toward the door. It’s either wait for Aurdyn to come back and help me or try my best and figure it out myself. To be honest, I’m not sure which one I dread most.
Another pinch of urgency in my bladder makes the decision for me, and I cautiously push myself up to standing. It hurts, but not as much as it did earlier. Aurdyn is right. The salve is working quickly. It still aches, but at least I can walk a bit now.
I grab the overly large fur boots by the fireplace, and carefully slide my bandaged feet into them. Wrapping a blanket and fur tightly around me, I push open the door.
A blast of wind hits me immediately, the cold air burning my lungs. As much as I want to go back and sit near the fire in the hearth, I have to take care of this. I force myself to step out into the frigid wasteland. Snow falls in heavy sheets all around me, but I’m able to make out a structure off to the left that I pray is an outhouse.
As soon as I reach it, I make my way inside and quickly relieve myself. With that done, I tug the fur cloak tight around my body and step back outside. My boots crunch over the ice and snow as I make my way back to the cottage. I can’t believe the Dragon king went out in this weather, and with no clothes save his dark pants.
I’m well aware that Dragons are creatures of fire, but I had no idea they were so immune to the effects of this sort of cold. I suppose that’s why they are able to make their home in the Ice Mountains.
Movement catches the corner of my eye and I turn toward it, squinting against the dense snowfall as I search for the source. The forest is thick all around the cottage, the tree branches bowed and heavily laden with snow, and the entire landscape blanketed in a thick layer of white.
The sun is low on the horizon. Scattered beams of orange and gold reflect brightly off the snow and ice, making it difficult to see. Something tall and dark moves in the distance before disappearing behind a tree, and I still.
Goosebumps pebble my flesh as primitive instinct flares deep within. The compulsion to run is a fire in my veins, but I cannot move. Long tendrils of fear unfurl and wrap tight around my spine as a large shadow peels away from the trees and stalks toward me.
Its glowing red eyes blink in the distance, and my heart hammers in my chest. Whatever this is, it isn’t human. Alarm rushes through me. All-consuming fear overrides the pain in my legs and feet as I break into a run, heading for the safety of the cottage.
The shadowy figure races forward with inhuman speed and slams into me, throwing me against the outside wall of the cottage. The back of my head hits the stone and the world tilts and spins as darkness dances at the edge of my vision.
A large, muscular body pins me in place as I struggle to focus. Blood-red eyes glare at me from a sickly gray face. The cheeks and brows too sharp and pointed to appear anything but sinister. Dark lips pull back in a feral grin revealing, sharp yellow fangs as pale fingers tipped with long, black claws skim across my cheek. “I have been searching everywhere for you, Princess Freyja,” he says darkly. “Luria sent me. The Mages are desperate to have you returned to them.” His gaze drops to my chest. “Your heart anyway.” A sinister smile curves his lips. “That is the only bit they’re interested in.”
“Please,” I say shakily. “You don’t have to do this.”
He cocks his head to the side, studying me like a wolf that has cornered its prey. “I know. But it’s been several hours since I’ve eaten, and you look like an excellent meal.” Horror floods my veins. “Now, tell me: where is the Dragon?”
My first instinct is to look toward the forest, but fortunately my mind is working well enough that I force my gaze to remain locked on his. I will not give away Aurdyn’s location. “He’s gone.”
“You lie.” He leans in and sniffs at my collar. “His scent is still fresh.”
Dressed all in black, power radiates from this creature despite his tall and wiry form. His grip is strong and firm as he holds me in place. Whatever he is, he has no fear of Dragons, which means he’s extremely dangerous.
He blinks and his eyes turn pitch black. “Tell me where he is.” He wraps a hand around my throat. “Now.”
