Viking's Ransom (Viking Ancestors: Rise of the Dragon, #4)

by Purington, Sky

  Sven’s eyes held her for an excruciatingly long moment before he finally spoke. “I honestly have no idea if it will work, Kenzie. But I do believe you are very much worth the effort so I will try my very best.”

  She pressed her lips together and nodded, seeing the blatant truth in his eyes but surprisingly grateful he had opted to sugar coat it a little in the end. Because honestly, she wasn’t quite ready to be told she’d be paralyzed for life. Just a bit more hope would do.

  But understanding better was good too.

  “It's because the damage was done to my dragon first, isn't it?” Her eyes remained with Sven’s. “That’s why this likely won’t work?”

  “No,” he said, surprising her. “It's because the damage was done in a world that is not my own therefore not as in tune with my magic.”

  “Oh, crap,” she whispered then sighed as her eyes went to Eirik. “I was protecting Dagr in Helheim.”

  “But,” Emily piped up, smiling warmly at Kenzie in reassurance. Definitely not one to give up. “Not only have Sven’s powers intensified since mating with me, but he’s bringing Eirik along through your healing process.” She gestured at Eirik. “A dragon more in touch with Helheim than any other on this planet.”

  “So true,” Shea echoed, dishing out a winning smile as well.

  “If anyone can do this it’s Sven and Eirik,” Sage agreed, her smile just as warm and supportive.

  “Okay then,” Kenzie replied, meeting all their eyes before she looked to Eirik then Sven. “It’s safe to say I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.”

  Good thing because they never could have foreseen what happened next.

  Most definitely the very last thing she or Eirik expected.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  EIRIK WAS NOT sure where he was at first as one reality swirled away to be replaced by another and Sven’s dragon stood beside him. Only then did he realize he was in dragon form as well and Kenzie’s dragon lay at his feet. He whimpered and nudged her, trying to understand why her head and wings were bent back at awkward angles.

  “That is how her dragon looked after it sacrificed itself to protect Dagr,” Sven’s dragon said into his mind. “You must hold her and remind her that it is not her permanent state. That she can return to being the dragon you love.”

  “But I love her no matter her state,” he keened, nudging her again before he lay beside her and pulled her close the best he could considering her broken body.

  “Talk to her,” Sven urged as he closed a wing over her as well. “Remind her of her strength as only you can.”

  Then he began chanting.

  While he did, Eirik spoke to her, reminded her. “Your body might have broken beneath the water, but never your mind, Gemini. Never the strength that is yours.”

  When she offered no response, he kept talking, reminding her of all the broken creatures she had saved. All she had done for others.

  “Now it is time to save your dragon,” he murmured, rubbing his cheek against hers as he cuddled even closer. As he held her in his dragon wings as he had recently held her in the furs.

  “Remember how strong you are, Kenzie,” he said. “Remember how strong we are together.” Then he said everything in his heart. “How much we want to hold each other again. To feel and touch and love.” He nuzzled her even more. “To remember everything we are supposed to remember. Our past and then the future ahead...”

  The moment those last words slipped from his mind into hers, his wing began to burn.

  “Something is happening,” Sven said, “A great shift...she is being helped.”

  He kept chanting and urged Eirik to keep talking.

  Though confused and frightened for her, he trusted Sven without question so kept murmuring into Kenzie’s mind all he felt. How lucky he was to know her. To call her his mate. That he would stand by her always. He would walk when she walked. Then fly when she flew. Because she would do all of those things.

  Stand, walk, fly...

  “Not alone though,” came her far away whisper before the burning in his wing intensified.

  Moments later, much to his shock, two little transparent dragons manifested on his wing, leapt from him then vanished, one under each of her wings.

  Long, tortuous seconds ticked by as he waited. What were those dragons about? Would they make a difference? Were they here to help? He could only pray as he watched and waited some more. As he hoped she healed and found her way back to him.

  “Something's definitely happening,” Sven murmured a moment or so later before, thank the gods, her dragon inhaled sharply then not just her head jerked but her wings. Before he understood the enormity of what was happening, he was yanked free from whatever spell Sven had cast them under to find her arms wrapped around him and her body trembling.

  She was no longer paralyzed.

  He closed his eyes, shaking in relief as he pulled her onto his lap and held her just as tightly.

  “Are you...” he finally managed, cupping her cheek before he rubbed her leg. “Can you feel that?”

  “Yes,” she said through a choked sob as she smiled at him then the others before nodding at Sven. “Thank you...thank you so much.”

  “It is not me you should be thanking,” he said softly, his eyes going from her to Eirik. “But your mate...” His eyes returned to her. “And the others.”

  “Others,” she whispered, blinking away tears before more fell. As she understood before he did the miracle of what had just happened. “There were two children in our previous life, weren’t there? Two little dragons?”

  “It seems possible,” Sven said before his eyes went to Eirik's arm. More specifically, what would have been his burning wing. Eager, she urged him to remove his fur then tunic before they saw something very promising.

  “It’s gone,” she whispered, her eyes returning to his. “Your tat’s gone!”

  “How awesome is that?” Sage exclaimed as her sisters embraced her in a group hug despite her being on his lap.

  “So where’s your new tat then, Sis?” Shea looked her over. “Nothing’s obvious, so I think you better start undressing.”

  “Not with Sven here,” Kenzie chastised, batting them away when they started poking around.

  “C’mon, Husband.” Emily pulled Sven after her, grinning over her shoulder at Kenzie. “I’m so glad you’re better, sweetie. Welcome to the family!”

  Eirik scowled at his sister, knowing full well that was too much too soon. But Kenzie didn’t seem fazed as she began yanking off her clothes and she and her sisters went tattoo hunting. After all, outside of Sven and Emily’s situation, when Skáld’s Mark vanished from his kin, another tattoo appeared on their mates in the form of a fiery, love tattoo symbolizing that they had mated.

  “What the hell?” Shea muttered, looking Kenzie over again. “Where is it?” She frowned at Eirik. “Yours is gone so where’s hers?”

  He shook his head, not sure what to say. “I lost my mark in a very unusual way, so perhaps she will gain her mark in an equally unusual way.”

  When Shea and Sage frowned at him, he elaborated. “Your mates lost their marks after you conquered what was standing in the way of you being together.” He shrugged. “So maybe Kenzie and I have not conquered everything we need to conquer yet.” He gave them a pointed look. “Did you and my kin not mate until after at least one or both of you had been to Múspellsheimr? After you recalled what had happened in your previous life?”

  “Yeah,” Shea replied. “But in both mine and Sage’s cases, our men’s tats stayed put until ours appeared.” She snapped her fingers. “Happened right away.”

  “True,” Kenzie said. “But then neither you nor Sage were dealing with the possibility of having children in a past life.”

  “Good point,” Sage said.

  “And how great is that,” Shea exclaimed, smiling widely as she embraced Kenzie. “I was a Cupid auntie!”

  Kenzie frowned at her. “You do realize we weren’t necess
arily related in that life. Not to mention how super creepy you sound being excited about long dead children that we can’t even remember.”

  “But,” Shea started, her hair and eyes sparkling for a moment before she frowned. “Sorry, for a second it felt like...” She shook her head. “I dunno...I meant no offense.”

  Though Shea was covering her tracks, there was no missing how much she seemed to care about those long lost children even if for a brief moment. As though they were as much hers to cherish as everyone else’s.

  “It’s fine,” Kenzie assured both Shea and Sage as she redressed in clothing his mother had left earlier. “Mind if I have a few moments alone with Eirik before we're out and about?”

  Because it was clear based on their hovering that they were eager for her to join them.

  “Oh, sure.” Sage grinned. “But make it snappy.” She winked at Eirik. “You’ve got the rest of your life to cozy down with this one.”

  He didn’t miss the becoming blush on Kenzie’s cheeks as her sisters left and he pulled his jerkin back on. Was she still so shy then?

  “I imagine it’ll take a while for that to stop,” she murmured, covering flesh he would much rather remain bare as she redressed. “If it ever does.”

  She barely had her tunic down, before he pulled her into his arms, hoping ‘a while’ meant a very long time. Rather than ask, he cupped her cheeks and simply kissed her, so grateful she was all right. Grateful she was wrapping her arms around him like she never wanted to let go.

  “I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to do this again,” she murmured against his lips, referring to the tip-toes she stood on and the hand caressing the back of his neck.

  Though tempted to strip her pants away and hoist her against the support beam closest to them, he worried that she might not be ready. That he might hurt her.

  “Hurt me? No way.” She shook her head and pushed him back until he sat on the edge of the bed. Within the blink of an eye, he had his pants around his ankles and her mouth around a cock that could care less about how fragile she might be at the moment.

  He groaned and wrapped his hands in her hair, more than pleased with everything she offered. So pleased, in fact, that he didn’t last long but thrust and lost himself in one of the strongest releases of his life. She grinned and licked her lips before she promptly resumed dressing.

  All the while, he sat back and eyed her, not in any rush to move.

  “We should rest now,” he finally grunted, patting the bed. “Come lay with me, woman. Everyone will understand.”

  “I’m sure they would,” she agreed. “But it doesn’t feel right closeting myself in here after I just arrived. After how kind everyone’s been to me.”

  She stopped in front of him, so adorable in Viking garb and furry boots that he wasn’t sure he had it in him not to take her here and now.

  “It’s time to introduce me to the rest of your family. Your people. And to spend much needed time with them yourself.” Her eyes wandered around his lodge taking in the various weapons, and round shields hung on the walls before returning to him. “After that, I’d really like to come back here and let you have me all over this lodge—”

  She didn’t get another word out before he yanked her onto the bed, flipped her beneath him and kissed her hard. Kissed her with all the fear and worry he had felt since she went missing back at the whirlpool.

  Since he thought the enemy had gotten her.

  Though she might be determined to spend time with his kin, she also seemed to understand at that moment how deep his grief had gone. How well he had hidden it.

  “It’s okay,” she murmured into his mind as their tongues wrapped and tangled. “I’m okay.”

  Rather than remove them physically, he chanted away their pants, pulled her thighs apart and thrust as hard and deep as he could go. He buried himself until she felt a part of him and him of her. She released a shuddered groan of pleasure as she wrapped her legs high and tight, urging him on.

  Far beyond merely desiring or needing her, he began thrusting, losing himself in her sweet heat, driving himself into her so hard that he knew his dragon was claiming her. To its way of thinking, trying to ensure she never left him like that again.

  Never scared him so much.

  Though he meant to draw it out, to pleasure her until she was in tears, he lost control far too soon, pressing deep and holding on tight as he spent himself. Within seconds, she released a long, low, strangled moan and began milking his cock, holding him just as tightly as she found her own release.

  He wanted to stay this way the whole night. Deep inside her. Feeling all she had to offer.

  Unfortunately, however, he wasn't going to get that lucky. So said the last thing he wanted to hear when a long, deep reverberating horn resounded in the distance.

  “What is that?” Kenzie managed, her eyes still half-mast. “It sounds like a foghorn.”

  “It means trouble.” He pulled her up and dressed her with a chant before he began pulling weapons off the wall. “It means the Fortress is under attack.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  KENZIE’S JAW DROPPED as Eirik pulled her after him through the village. While she recognized the blues and greens shimmering overhead in the night sky as the aurora borealis, everything else she witnessed was definitely not of this world. Dragons flew overhead as well as a variety of other creatures. Some so bright she couldn’t even look at them.

  When Sven waved them into the largest lodge of them all, it was to find everyone relatively calm.

  “This started around the time you and Kenzie began your journey,” Emily explained as she urged them to sit at a banquet table near a fire. “Sit, and eat. We’ll catch you up.”

  “What of the horn?” Eirik exclaimed as he and Kenzie sat together. “Are we not under attack then?”

  “That horn is not of this world,” Sven revealed. “But of another. We do not know which one. Only that it seems to stir the worlds into a frenzy before all calms eventually.”

  “So what?” Kenzie frowned at the others before looking at Eirik. “Does this have to do with the thinning veil between Helheim and Earth? I mean Midgard?”

  “We assume so,” his father Matthew answered, smiling warmly at them as someone handed them horns of ale. “The rift that opened before you came together seems far more widespread and volatile than those before it.”

  “You make it sound so dire, Uncle, when this will all likely end soon enough,” a handsome man with long dark hair chided before issuing her a grin and wink. “We missed each other when you were here with Hel. Nice to meet you, Kenzie. I am Soren, cousin to Eirik.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she replied, getting why Shea liked him so much. He not only had Sigdir good looks but brimmed with charm to boot.

  “Am I not charming then?” Eirik murmured into her mind, amusement in his eyes as they met hers.

  Her stomach flipped in a good way, and her heart sped up at the flirtatious tone in his inner voice. Or was it just from looking at him in general lately? Hard to know. Whatever it was, she could barely catch her breath around him.

  “We both know you’ve got some work to do when it comes to charm,” she replied, so lost in his gaze she already wanted to head back to his lodge. Back to bed. Or against a wall. Or on a chair. Or across a table. She blushed at the numerous sexual possibilities and tried to focus on responding. “Then again, I’m not really in it to find Mr. Charming.”

  Just you, she thought.

  This.

  The feeling she felt whenever she was around him.

  His knowing eyes lingered on hers for another moment before he urged her to drink then turned his attention to his kin. A smile that made her breath catch blossomed on his face as he looked at them.

  “I cannot tell you how good it is to be amongst you again.” He lifted his horn to them. “Without making you ill.”

  Everyone raised their horns and cheered, his mother and sister teary as they nodded and mouthed, �
�Welcome home.’

  This is what she had been talking to him about days ago. How could she ever expect him to leave this behind and travel to the twenty-first century? She wouldn’t. Simple as that. There was nothing like watching the transformation in him as he enjoyed being among his people again. As his already handsome face became hard to look away from as he smiled and laughed.

  He proceeded to make introductions that included his cousins Kaðlín and Halla, who sat next to Pierce.

  “Good to see you safe,” she said to Pierce. And because she couldn’t help herself. “Go elven blood!”

  He chuckled and shrugged. “Who knew?”

  “I suspected,” Halla kicked in, stars in her eyes as she smiled at him.

  “No, you didn't,” Davyn grumbled, about to say more before Shea elbowed him playfully and said, “Leave ‘em alone already, beast.”

  Davyn grumbled something under his breath about Halla always flirting with Pierce before he grinned at Shea, clearly smitten and willing to do anything she asked.

  “Where is Rokar?” Kenzie asked as food was set down on wooden platters. Her eyes shot to Eirik as she realized how delayed she was in asking. “I’m sorry, I should’ve asked sooner. I just got caught up in everything. Is he all right?”

  “Yes.” He proceeded to fill her in not only on everything she had missed but things she had forgotten until he brought it up now.

  Then it all came rushing back.

  “My God, there was another dragon,” she whispered. “And by the sounds of it, Rokar kept him from killing me.”

  “Yes,” Eirik confirmed. “Though I fear he blames himself for your state afterward. That he did not get to you soon enough.”

  “Because he had been battling that awful dragon beforehand?” She shook her head. “He shouldn’t blame himself for any of it. Not only was he caught in some weird dreamlike limbo, but underwater! In the ocean where he lost his family. If anything, he should praise himself for being able to push past his fear and loathing of the sea to pursue the enemy.” Her eyes leveled with his. “His enemy I assume, though it went after me?”