“Who knows,” Ava murmured. “I might still be able to contact them from Múspellsheimr.”
Though he doubted it, it could not hurt to hope. “Perhaps.”
“I guess it’s time then.” Ava’s eyes swept over those who would be going with them to Múspellsheimr. “Halla, you’ll need to make those you’re related to invisible to the enemy whenever you can.” Her gaze went to Leviathan. “Because your bloodline is closer to theirs, I’m hoping those we need to get off Múspellsheimr will follow us more readily.”
He nodded, understanding that he may need to convince them in a very short amount of time. Halla nodded as well, clearly eager for another adventure. They had all hoped she wouldn't be needed on this final leg of the journey, but Soren knew she was. Invisibility was too valuable not to take advantage of against such a foe.
It seemed Pierce was of a similar mind when it came to Halla's safety. He wore a heavy frown, and his concerned gaze rarely left her. Soren felt for the man. He clearly didn’t know how to tell Halla that he was worried about her.
“Halla will be all right,” Tess said, evidently sensing Pierce’s distress as well. “We won’t let anything happen to her.”
That seemed to snap Halla out of her excitement long enough to realize Pierce cared. Something she addressed without shame. Her eyes flashed with adoration before she cupped his cheeks and kissed him so long and thoroughly that Soren finally pointed out that they did have a world to save. That, not surprisingly, did nothing to stop Halla. Pierce, however, had the presence of mind to end the kiss. Either that or he remembered she had two Viking cousins watching the display with enough weaponry to end his life in a second.
“I will be just fine,” Halla assured Pierce. It was the first time he had heard his cousin deal with a man without flirting. To care so much. Her eyes went from Vigdis and Magnus to Pierce. “Stay close to them. They will protect you.”
“I’ll be okay.” Pierce cast a wary glance at Magnus then looked at Halla again. “Don’t worry about me, just get there and get back.”
“You bet,” she said, sampling her twenty-first century lingo. She kissed him one last time then turned to them in anticipation. “I’m ready when you are.”
Ava pulled her blade free. “All right then.”
Soren knew she purposefully didn’t look his way because she wanted to remain focused and not get too emotional. She didn't want to acknowledge that they might not come out of this alive.
“There isn’t enough space to shift in here,” Ava said. “So I can only assume our dragons will take care of that somehow.”
Soren nodded, pulled his blade free as well, and moved closer to her. As it happened, their blades and the magic of the tree combined with their having mated and current company, started a process Níðhöggr had likely long anticipated.
The tree began sparkling, and the roots brightened. Vigdis’s eyes hazed over, and she began chanting, answering a call as old as time. She tapped into the magic of the seers’ home world Vanaheim, to activate the magic that had carried them here the day before.
A tunnel of roots that went as far as the eye could see.
A gateway that yanked them down its enlightening path.
Chapter Thirty-One
WHEN THEY JOURNEYED through Níðhöggr’s Ash before, Ava saw nothing of the pathway they traveled only their final destination. This time their tunnel of roots was very clear.
Not only that, but what lay beyond.
First Níðhöggr’s Realm as they swooped through the roots of his mighty ash then the Chalet in Maine as they traveled through those roots. Then they zipped past oily roots that must be Skáld’s Ash before ending up in an all-too-familiar world.
“That way,” Soren said following a light in all the smoky darkness. “Pierce’s magic is guiding us somewhere...more so, the elves.”
As she suspected might happen, they had been shifted into dragons.
“That’s our cave down there,” Tess exclaimed when the light led them that way. With everyone hot on their tails, she and Rokar flew toward the cave system that had been in Níðhöggr’s Realm on her sister’s adventure. “We’ll be safe there.”
“We will,” Soren agreed. “It’s connected to the elves somehow.”
Interestingly, when Halla cloaked her kin so they wouldn't be noticed, it included Ava and Tess as well.
“It’s the baby in you, Ava.” Halla grinned. “He is of my bloodline. What protects him protects you as well. Then through you, Tess.”
“That’s good news.”
Welcome news actually because though Ava didn’t show it, could not show it when she needed to stay strong, she was already terrified for the little one inside her. While she had to come here, had to do this, knowing another life was at stake didn’t help any. Especially a life she was so attached to already. She knew that happened with dragons, but experiencing it firsthand really drove it home.
Ava flared her nostrils at the pungent sulfuric scent of their home world. Just as it had been in their memories, molten lava ran every which way, and sparks drifted on a hot wind.
“This way.” Tess’s dragon ducked into the cave. “Follow me.”
They ended up going down a long tunnel to another cave where a monstrous waterfall gushed foul smelling water.
“It smells like the ocean we saw on Earth at the beginning,” Ava commented.
“I don’t remember it smelling so foul when we were here before.” Tess winked at Rokar. “But then I had others things on my mind at the time.”
“The scent is part of what Skáld is doing to get off this world,” came a voice from the darkness before three dragons appeared. Two Ava knew right away as Heidrek and Bjorn. It didn’t matter that she had only seen them in human form, she never could have mistaken them. The third smaller transparent dragon had to be Bjorn’s deceased daughter, Dahlia.
Ava and Tess held back as Soren and Rokar went to their cousin, saddened at the lifetime they had missed with her but glad to see her regardless. To know she still existed somewhere. She, in turn, seemed just as happy yet equally sad. It was a hard thing to watch but touching at the same time. They rubbed against each other the best they could considering they couldn’t actually touch. Still, she knew they felt one another’s essences, which could be just as powerful for dragons.
Soren went to his father next, who was still in Heidrek’s body. He rubbed his neck against his, overwhelmed with emotion and glad to see him.
“You have done well in my absence, Son,” Heidrek said. “You have stayed true to your path and led when you should.”
“Nothing held me back.” Soren repeated his father’s words from back when this all started. “Not even myself.” He narrowed his eyes, suddenly understanding. “You referred to my former incarnate’s influence on me. That I, in essence, might stand in my own way, therefore not being true to myself.” His brows arched. “That was a very convoluted way to get your point across.”
“With the possibility of Skáld overhearing it had to be.” Heidrek considered him. “I feared that you might not accept your former dragon as you should. As you needed to in order to truly connect with Ava.”
“Because my former dragon was so opposite from my current nature.”
“In some ways, yes,” he said. “In others, as you saw during his ultimate sacrifice, no.” His father nodded once with approval. “All that matters is that you found your way back to yourself by accepting who you were and who you are.” His eyes went to Ava. “A soul that has found completion now.”
When Soren glanced at her, she knew what he was thinking. A good deal of his acceptance had come during intimacy. When he allowed his inner beast to surface and embraced his animalistic side in a way he hadn’t even when lying with other dragons. In a strange way, he had held his dragon back just as much as she had hers. Maybe because he feared hurting others or because he simply needed the approval only his mate could give him.
They also realized how much it had, in a
way, affected him during turbulent times in his life. Why he took to the sea when Bjárr died rather than stay and help his father oversee a mourning community. Because who he once was couldn’t handle another loss. So he fled, seeking freedom from memories buried deep down inside. Memories of a previous life that forever eluded him.
His father was right to have sent Soren that message not once but twice because his son could definitely stand in his own way. Seen clearly when he left years ago under the unknowing influence of his former dragon, when who he is now would have wanted to stay.
“Now you know you are worthy of leading,” Ava said into his mind. “You just needed to find your way back to you.”
“You mean to you.” His internal voice was tender. “Because I am not truly me without my other half.”
Their eyes lingered on one another for a moment before Soren finally introduced her to his father.
“Welcome, Ava, mate to my son,” Heidrek said kindly. His warm eyes went to her womb. “Mother of my grandson.”
Funny, a few days ago she would have been mortified at meeting Soren’s father like this, already pregnant and all, but now it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Being around all of them in dragon form felt right. Comfortable. Where she was meant to be.
“We know all about you, Ava.” Heidrek’s eyes went between her and Tess. “You and your sister are famous in this world. Níðhöggr’s daughters who infiltrated the enemy and saved so many lives.” His gaze went to Soren and Rokar. “Aided by mates who risked everything to see things through.”
“Now you are back,” Bjorn went on. “And we have prepared those infected with love for your arrival. Everyone is ready.” He urged them to follow him. “Come see.”
“Oh wow,” Ava whispered when he led them into a monstrous, yet familiar cave full of dragons and even several demons. “It’s Níðhöggr’s lair.”
“Yes,” Heidrek said. “A lair protected from prying eyes, including his own soldiers who never became infected.” He gestured at those in the cave. “They have been waiting for all of you.” His eyes went to Leviathan. “Even you, Ancient.”
Surprise lit Leviathan’s eyes. “Me?”
“Yes,” Bjorn confirmed. “For within those who were infected after the Great Serpent met his end lies an inherent belief that someone would be sent to watch over them after they traveled to the new world. He who tends to the leaders of the future.”
“Lord, that sounds cryptic,” Tess commented.
“But makes sense considering what Hel said to Leviathan,” Soren reminded. “He was tasked with watching over Dagr and all those he considered close friends as time went on.” His eyes went to Ava’s stomach. “Not just Thorulf but all children born of this generation.”
“Why do infected dragons believe such of me?” Leviathan said. “I do not understand.”
“Nor do we,” Heidrek said. “We can only assume it was divine intervention. Someone looking over dragon love from the beyond.”
“Odin,” Ava murmured. “He’s the only one who could have done such a thing.” She shook her head. “Just look at all that came out of me breaking an oath to my father in my last life.” She frowned. “Which begs the question. What was the oath I broke?”
“A question I can help you with, dragon,” came a sizzling voice. A tall, human-shaped fiery figure stepped forward. “For the answer is in my memory.”
Soren went to step in front of Ava to protect her, but she stopped him. “It’s okay.”
“It is,” Tess agreed, sensing something. “You’re related to the fire demon that went to Midgard, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” it replied. “He was my grandfather.”
“Your grandfather?” she said, shocked. “I didn’t realize time went by that differently on our worlds.”
“It does for inhabitants of this world,” Bjorn said. “But does not seem to for those of us visiting.”
“Would you like to see the memory?” the demon asked. “Would you like to understand?”
“Yes,” Ava and Tess said at the same time.
The demon nodded and made a flourish with his hand. Seconds later, not only the cave vanished but everyone except Ava, Soren, Rokar, and Tess.
“Look, over there.” Tess pointed through the burning trees to a group of female dragons. “That’s all of us, Ava!”
By all of us, she meant Ava, Tess, and their sisters. Kin in a former life.
They drew closer and listened, finally seeing the whole picture by going back to what would later be called the start of the beginning. The time period before infection first sparked on Múspellsheimr when love did not exist.
“Approaching the fire demons is a foolish idea,” Sage’s dragon said. “One Níðhöggr already said could not be done.” She shook her head. “Should never be done.”
“Yet it must be done,” Ava’s dragon said. “If we’ve any hope of winning this war.”
“She is right,” Tess’s dragon kicked in. “Skáld’s allies grow by the day. He has all the fire giants now.” Disgusted, she huffed smoke. “All we have are our fellow dragons, and we are not enough.”
“We will have to suffice with what we have,” Kenzie said. “We must not risk this.”
“Perhaps I could figure out a way to approach the elves without being blinded,” Shea’s dragon said. “There might be hope there, and Níðhöggr will not care. He thinks less of elves than we do.”
“But he will care if we approach the fire demons,” Sage warned. “They are our mortal enemies.” She shook her head. “Hated by all, including Níðhöggr.” Her eyes narrowed on Ava. “So hated, in fact, that he made each of us swear an oath we would not approach them. That we would never show such weakness.”
Ava met Soren’s eyes in surprised understanding.
This had to have been the oath she broke. The start of it all.
“Is it so weak to want to grow stronger?” Ava’s dragon countered. “Or is it better to die because of pride? Because that is what will happen. The slaughter that lies in wait for all of us if we do not do something soon.” Her gaze swept over her fellow dragons. “What say you? Do we approach the fire demons? Do we choose to stand a chance against Skáld?”
Each dragon considered it.
Sage spoke first. “It is far too risky.” Her eyes narrowed on Ava again. “You swore an oath to your father. If you break that oath, it will mean your life.”
“A life I am willing to forfeit if it gives all of you a fighting chance.”
“I vote against this as well,” Kenzie said. “The demons will kill you before your father even gets his hands on you. Such a waste. Every soldier is needed. Losing you will not help us win this war.”
“I think we should approach the demons.” Tess’s dragon nodded with approval at Ava’s. “I will go with you. We will rally them together to our cause.”
Ava looked at Shea, the deciding vote. “What say you, dragon?”
Shea looked between them all and hesitated before she huffed and shook her head. “I have to vote no. This idea risks two good soldiers. It is unwise.”
“I obviously didn’t listen though,” Ava murmured.
One scene sizzled away to be replaced by another.
Her dragon stood face to face with a fire demon, neither backing down.
“You do not belong here, dragon,” it sneered. “I should kill you where you stand.”
“Yet you will not because you are intrigued by my offer,” she growled. “The idea of getting revenge on Skáld for harnessing your female’s fire for his own nefarious uses is too good to refuse.”
They never heard what the demon said, but they didn’t need to as that scene swirled away and the true beginning of it all finally unraveled.
“Oh, shit,” Tess whispered, her pain for Ava palpable when they spied Ava's dragon being dragged through an all-too-familiar forest seemingly against its will.
Her dragon roared and clawed at the sooty, black ground and burnt leaves, but not
hing stopped the supernatural drag on her body. Nothing could stop the punishment she had coming for breaking an oath.
Especially an oath to the Great Serpent itself.
“There it is,” Soren said, keeping Ava against his side. Though it was clear his heart ached for her former dragon, he was helpless to do anything.
They drew closer to an all too familiar area as Ava's dragon was dragged there then flung down, clearly being offered up to something. For in this place there was no such thing as a trial. Only execution awaited her at the churning fiery pool of lava halfway down a mountain.
“It’s Hvergelmir’s Spring.” Soren's eyes rose to what was above it. “And so much more...”
“Holy...” Ava stopped short and looked up into an oily black root system. “Is that Skáld’s Ash?”
“It is part of all the ashes...all one tree,” Rokar murmured, seeing everything as clearly as they suddenly did. “The great and mighty Yggdrasill seen as Skáld’s Ash from this world.”
Níðhöggr, Great Serpent, and ultimate Punisher rose up out of the fiery Spring at the bottom of the roots of the Tree of Life, of all Nine Worlds, the Yggdrasill. Terrifying in his glory, he had but one mission given to him by Odin himself.
To punish those who sinned.
Ava’s former dragon, who had been roaring mad, found her dignity as she was forced before the Great Serpent to meet her end in his mighty jaws. She held herself tall and spoke calmly.
“Someday you will see there was no other way, Father.” Unwavering, she met his eyes. “You raised me to fight bravely. To recognize my own strength even though I was a mere female. To recognize myself as an equal when others did not.” She shook her head. “So I trusted my instincts, my intelligence, and did what needed to be done to defeat the enemy.”
Infuriated and baffled, he stared at her for a long moment before he finally roared, “You broke your oath, now you will be punished!”
Never a more frightening sight, he bared his long, deadly teeth in a vicious growl and lunged at her.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Viking's Crusade (Viking Ancestors: Rise of the Dragon, #6) Page 19