by Logan Jacobs
“It’s beautiful,” I said as I reached out to touch the amulet.
My fingers grazed Preyna’s palm, and my stomach jumped in response. I saw her chest rise and fall quickly, too, and I smiled inwardly that my touch had affected her so.
“I made it specifically for you,” she explained. “You should wear it at all times.”
“What does it do?” I asked curiously, and I carefully picked up the stone and turned it over in my hand.
“It will light up when I need to speak with you,” Preyna said with a small smile.
“Oh.” I gulped and nodded. “Yes, this seems like it will be very handy in case I need to know some council business.”
“Right,” Preyna agreed, and she bit her lip for just a split second.
“Will it also allow me to alert you when I need to speak to you?” I asked.
“It will,” she said, and she reached to her neck and pulled an identical amulet out of her ample cleavage. “All you have to do is hold the stone and focus on me.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard,” I said before I could think of something less obvious.
“Why don’t you give it a try,” she suggested with a gesture to the amulet in my hand.
“Of course,” I agreed, and I pulled the chain over my neck and grasped the crystal with one hand.
I closed my eyes and focused on Preyna in my mind. It wasn’t difficult since she was just inches away from me, but it did nothing to help my accelerated heart rate. All I could think about was how incredibly beautiful she was, how her long golden hair would cover her breasts if she were naked, and how her perfect hourglass figure would fit up against my own body.
“It’s working,” she whispered, and I opened my eyes to see her amulet was now glowing with a bright goldish-white light.
“Incredible,” I breathed as I took in the sight of the glowing amulet against her chest. “Thank you very much.”
“It’s part of my job,” she chuckled. “I am the sorceress for the castle, after all.”
“Right,” I laughed. “But you’ve also taken on the task of assisting me with dismantling the dragon trade, and while I understand you’re doing it because you believe it to be the right thing--”
“It is the right thing,” Preyna cut me off. “It’s the only thing we can do.”
“I know.” I smiled softly at her. “I was just going to say I know the secrecy of it puts some strain on your relationship with Odin and your job as castle sorceress, so I appreciate your making me this amulet even more.”
“Oh, well, yes, I suppose it does.” She nodded and looked down.
“Are you alright?” I asked, and I so badly wanted to reach out and lift her chin so she would look at me, but I held my hands back.
“I’m fine,” Preyna said with a small smile, and her light-brown eyes met mine. “I was just thinking about the new little dragon you’ve found.”
“Svass,” I said. “I think she will fit in well.”
“Yes,” the golden-haired sorceress said. “She made me think about all the eggs we’ve accumulated over the years. I hope someday you can hatch them, and they can live a full life like Svass will get. I know they won’t have a mother, but we will all help take care of them.”
“I know you would,” I said. “I hope one day I can hatch them, too.”
“Soon,” she sighed, but then she looked up at me and smiled. “You said you all took out a dealer earlier today? You don’t look too bloody.”
“No,” I chuckled. “Kas used her magic to clean us up, but yes, we took out one of the smaller dealers.”
“I am always so incredibly impressed with you,” Preyna said, and her brown eyes narrowed as she looked me over. “You never asked for greatness, yet it appeared in your life anyways. You were destined for much larger things than you ever realized.”
“Isn’t that how it always is?” I laughed.
“Hardly,” the golden-haired sorceress said seriously. “From the time I was little, I showed such a control over my magic that I began training to take over as the castle sorceress when I was only twelve years old.”
“Oh.” My brow furrowed, and I cocked my head to the side as I saw Preyna in a new light. “I never knew that. It must have been a lot of pressure.”
“It was.” She smiled. “But it was well worth it. My point is, I, and many others who achieve high stations in life, have prepared for them for decades. You were a warrior, yes, but I checked into your history. You never once applied to be a leader, though you had all the right skills to do so.”
“I just never felt like it was for me.” I shrugged. “I was happy under Eira’s leadership.”
“Ah, yes.” Preyna pursed her lips and looked down. “How is it working with her?”
I sensed a bit of jealousy in her response, and I couldn’t help the smile that came over my face.
“She’s very valuable to my team,” I said honestly. “Thank you for suggesting she come with us.”
“Anything to help the cause,” Preyna said with a small nod.
“Speaking of that,” I said. “We should probably get going soon. Kas and Asta are alone in Alfheim, and I don’t want to leave them past dark.”
“Mm, yes, I think it’s best if you get back to them,” the golden-haired woman agreed. “They are fierce, but they are not warriors like you are.”
“Not yet, anyway,” I chuckled and stood up.
“Be sure to use that amulet when you need to,” she told me as we walked out of her chambers and down the hallway to where Rinbar, Beyer, and Eira all stood and chatted.
“I will,” I assured her. “Eira, I think it’s time we get back to Kas and Asta.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” the redhead said as she turned to me. “It’s nearly dark.”
Blar ran over to me, licked his lips, and flew up on my shoulder.
“Yes,” I laughed. “We’ll get you some dinner. I’m sure Kas has made something delicious.”
The little blue dragon wrinkled his nose, but I just chuckled and shook my head.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” Preyna offered.
“Oh, thank you,” I said, and I followed her swaying hips to the double doors across the great hall.
Once we got to the doors, Preyna opened them so Eira and I could step through.
“You two be careful,” the sorceress said.
“We will,” I told her with a smile, and then I turned around to head down the stairs.
“Oh, and Rath,” Preyna called after me.
I turned back toward the council member, but as I did, she grabbed hold of my tunic and pulled me to her to capture my mouth with hers.
I didn’t know what I’d expected, but it certainly wasn’t that.
Chapter 3
Preyna’s lips were pillow soft as she pressed them against mine, and I couldn’t help but move my hands to her waist.
Just as I grabbed onto her, though, she pushed me away, and our lips made a soft popping noise as they parted.
“I’ll see you soon.” She looked at me with intense brown eyes, and then she was gone, and I was left standing outside the castle door with my hands outstretched and my hips pressed against a waist that was no longer there.
“Well,” Eira laughed.
“Oh, I…” I turned to the redhead and blinked, but I couldn’t think of what to say. I hadn’t intended for that kiss to happen, and I certainly hadn’t intended for Eira to see it.
“It’s alright,” she chuckled. “Preyna clearly surprised you with that one.”
“Yes, she did.” I nodded and looked back at the door the sorceress had just disappeared through.
“Come on,” Eira said, and she grabbed my hand and pulled me down the steps. “We need to get back to Alfheim.”
“I know, you’re right,” I agreed, even though my head was still spinning.
Blar suddenly perked up on my shoulder and reminded me he was there and had witnessed the entire kiss with Preyna.
&
nbsp; Eira didn’t say anything else as we walked around the castle to the woods out back, which was good, because all I could think about was the kiss Preyna had just sprung on me. Her lips were so soft, and she tasted floral and sweet, like flower nectar or tea with honey. I wanted more of her, and I knew she wanted more of me.
Once we were far enough away from the castle, Blar opened a portal for us and brought us back to Alfheim only a few hundred yards away from our campsite.
“Well done,” I told the little blue reptile, but he just smacked his lips, hopped off my shoulder, and flew over to the fire by Kas and Asta.
“Hey!” Asta called out to us. “Dinner’s ready!”
“Blar seems to have figured that out already,” Eira laughed.
“He always does,” I chuckled.
We walked over to the fire, and I could smell the aroma of Kas’ cooking. It smelled even better than the last time she’d cooked, so I figured that spell she’d looked up did its job. Otherwise, I probably would have been smelling more burning food than anything else.
“How did it go?” Kas asked as Eira and I approached.
“Preyna kissed Rath,” Eira said coolly, and she turned to flash me a half smile.
“Eira!” My eyes went wide, and I was shocked the warband leader would tell my business so freely.
“Oh, calm down,” the redhead said and rolled her eyes. “We’ve all had you before, they have a right to know.”
My cheeks flushed at her words.
“I knew she wanted you!” Kas said with a grin.
“Oh, definitely.” Asta nodded. “I’m surprised she didn’t do that sooner.”
“Am I the only one who was surprised by this?” I asked.
“Seems like it.” Kas shrugged and turned to Eira. “Did they say you could stay?”
“Of course,” the redhead said. “They said they would replace me indefinitely.”
“Oh, good,” Asta said, and her smile crinkled around her eyes.
“Oh, hey, what did Preyna want to talk to you about when we were there?” Eira asked as she turned back to me.
“It wasn’t about the kiss?” Kas teased.
“That came after,” Eira laughed, but then her eyes darted to my face. “Or did it? Did she kiss you in her chambers, too?”
“No.” I shook my head and sat down by the fire. “She gave me this amulet.”
I pulled the small crystal from under my tunic and held it out for the girls to see.
“How pretty!” Asta said, and she reached out and stroked the stone.
“What does it do?” Kas inquired.
“It lights up when she needs to speak to me,” I explained.
“And when you need to speak to her, too, I’m guessing?” the strawberry-blonde asked.
“That’s right.” I nodded.
“That will be nice to have around,” Kas said. “We’ve needed a way to tell when it’s time to update the council on things.”
“Are you sure she didn’t just give it to you so you’d think about her?” Eira joked.
“Pretty sure,” I retorted with a grin.
“Preyna is so pretty,” Kas sighed. “And she’s nice, too. I like her.”
“Doesn’t everybody?” Eira asked rhetorically.
The golden-haired sorceress had a reputation for being kind, and some even said her beauty rivaled Freya’s. To me, she was even more beautiful, but I certainly wouldn’t say that to the Queen of Asgard.
“Oh!” Asta gasped, and she bounced up and down on the log the girls had turned into a seat. “How did the council like the new baby dragon? I’m sure Svass loved the attention.”
“They loved her, of course,” I said with a smile, and I leaned over to see the little female still curled up around Eira’s neck.
She was so still and pristinely beautiful in her sleep that she almost looked like a golden necklace rather than a living creature.
“She seemed to like Beyer the best,” Eira added.
“Oh, yes, I can see that.” Kas nodded. “Beyer is very calm and soft spoken, I think it would make sense she would like him.”
“But Eira is neither of those things.” Asta tilted her head to the side. “And Svass likes her.”
“Well, shite,” Eira laughed. “I didn’t realize I was so crazy.”
“How could you not?” Asta asked seriously, and her eyebrows pulled together with concern since she didn’t realize Eira was kidding.
“I don’t know,” Eira joked. “I guess I just never noticed.”
Blar’s feet landed on my knee, and when I looked down at him, he nodded to the pot over the fire and then looked back at me.
“Yes, I see it,” I told him, and I reached down to scratch his chin. “I suppose it’s time for dinner.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Kas said, and she quickly pulled the pot off the flames and started to dish up bowls.
The strawberry-blonde made bowls for Eira, Asta, and myself, and then she dished up four bowls of various sizes for the dragons and set them on the ground near the fire.
Blar ran over to his bowl and began to devour the food immediately. Little bits sprayed out around him as he chomped down, and his tail swished back and forth happily.
Inger was right behind him, and she ate with the same ferocity as her blue friend did. I could hear the two of them chewing loudly and gulping down bite after bite, and I chuckled and shook my head. Blar and Inger eating was not a pleasant sound, but it was one I was used to, and one I found somewhat amusing.
Uffe slowly made his way over to his bowl and started to take small, careful bites. The little red male looked around curiously as he ate, and I shook my head at the stark difference between him and the other two.
“Svass,” I said, and I reached over and gently stroked the small yellow dragon’s head. “Are you hungry?”
At the mention of food, the little dragon perked up immediately.
“Go eat,” Eira said, and she pointed to the bowls.
Svass looked at the bowls, then at Eira, then me, then the bowls again. After a moment of deliberation, she laid her head back down on Eira and let out a little sigh.
“I see.” I nodded and stood up so I could retrieve Uffe and Svass’ bowls.
The little red dragon followed me over to the opposite side of the fire, and I set his bowl down and then put Svass’ bowl just a few feet away.
“How’s that?” I asked the little yellow dragon, and she nodded and scurried down Eira’s arm to the log and then the ground.
She quickly made her way over to her bowl, and Uffe turned to smile at her before he continued to eat.
Svass sniffed her food before she took a small bite. Once that bite hit her tongue, though, her head perked up, and she thrust her tiny head into the bowl to devour her food as she hopped up and down happily.
I understood Inger and Blar intimidated her, but she looked like she’d fit right in on their side of the fire.
“At least she likes it,” Kas laughed.
“I guess that means the spell worked,” Asta chuckled.
“Hey, if it means the food tastes better, then why not?” the strawberry-blonde snickered.
“You are a sorceress.” Eira shrugged. “May as well put those powers to good use.”
“Exactly.” Kas smiled and handed us our bowls.
I breathed in the scent of the stew and closed my eyes as I let out a small sigh. It smelled delicious. I didn’t care if it had a spell cast on it or not, Kas had done a good job.
The stew consisted of some fish, cabbage, carrots, peppers, and broth. I could smell some spices in there, too, and when I took a sip of the broth, I was pleasantly surprised by how rich and hearty it was.
“Mmm, this is good,” I told Kas.
“I’m glad you like it.” She smiled and took a bite from her bowl.
As I ate my stew, I watched Svass eat hers, and I wondered if she would have powers like the other three dragons. I supposed all dragons had powers to some extent, but most
didn’t have as much power as Blar, Inger, and Uffe did. Twin dragons were especially powerful, and they were said to all have complimentary powers, like Inger and Uffe’s air and earth powers.
The little girl hadn’t left Eira’s side, and we’d only had her a few hours, so I hadn’t seen any indication of special powers.
“Oh, Rath, are you trying to see through her eyes?” Kas asked, and she leaned forward in her seat with a huge grin on her face.
“What?” My eyebrows pinched together. “No, I was just thinking about whether or not she’ll have powers.”
“Oh, hm,” the strawberry-blonde mused, and she pursed her lips. “I hadn’t really thought about that. Can you control her like the other dragons? Since you didn’t hatch her, I mean.”
“I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to,” I said, but I grew concerned all the same.
“You can’t control Nidhug, though, right?” Asta asked.
“That’s true,” I chuckled. “But Nidhug is ancient.”
“Right,” Kas laughed. “I doubt he qualifies as a dragon anymore. He’s more like a god or something.”
“You should give it a try,” Eira said with a nod at the Svass. “Try to make her do something.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “What should I have her do?”
“Make her spin in a circle!” Asta gasped, and she clapped her hands together quickly.
“Circle it is.” I focused on the little girl. “Svass, spin around for me, please.”
The little girl quickly spun in a circle, and she continued to chew her food the whole time.
“That was good,” Kas said.
“At least we know that works,” Asta said. “She’s so cute.”
“She is,” I agreed with a smile.
“What about seeing through her eyes?” Kas pushed.
“I haven’t tried,” I said. “I’ve only really done it in my dreams.”
“Yeah, and it was difficult when you tried to do it with Blar,” the strawberry-blonde agreed. “But you hadn’t had your power very long then. And besides, I think it would be better to try with a dragon you aren’t so attached to.”
“Why is that?” Eira inquired.
“I guess I don’t know anything in particular that would make me think that.” Kas pursed her lips. “My gut just tells me it would be easier to connect with a dragon you don’t know very well. Knowing the dragon might make it so you’re less open since you’re expecting them to behave or feel a certain way.”