“That is so friggin’ awesome,” Tess exclaimed, overjoyed. She threw her arms around Rokar without thinking...then froze when an avalanche of emotions blew through her. Unquenchable lust, love, terror, heartache, and then excruciating burning pain. Images of a raging storm flashed in her mind’s eye, holding her immobile in horror before she was released and staggered back.
“Jesus,” she gasped. Nausea swelled so sharply she barely had enough time to spin away and throw up. Again and again, until there was nothing left in her.
“Drink this.” He handed her a skin from behind when she finally got a hold of herself. “It will help soothe your stomach.”
“What is it?” she said hoarsely, leaning against a tree in exhaustion.
“Water with herbs that will help ease you.”
She nodded thanks and took a careful sip of the minty liquid, eying him as warily as he eyed her. “Did you feel that?” She swallowed hard. “See that?”
“Yes,” he said softly. “And while I cannot speak to most of it, I recognized a portion of the pain...that which burned so badly.”
Only then, as their eyes held, did she realize little wisps of smoke curled off his back.
“What the hell?” she whispered, going to him before she could stop herself. Her concern for him was so sharp another swell of nausea overwhelmed her, but she pushed past it. “What happened to you?”
“The Blade reacted to you.” His wary eyes remained on her. “Us.”
“What blade?”
Yet somehow she knew. Better yet, her dragon knew. He had been marked by something. Not just Skáld’s tattoo—a dragon that ended up on every Sigdir—but something more.
“It’s on your back,” she said with certainty. “Let me see it.” When he shook his head, her vision hazed red, and she growled, “Now, Rokar.”
His inner dragon flashed in his eyes and lingered on her in challenge before he finally relented and removed his fur cloak. He turned his back to her and lifted his jerkin. The moment her eyes landed on the dagger tattoo covering his shoulder blades, a shroud of darkness settled over her, and she mumbled ominous words that made no sense.
“The First Blade,” she whispered, understanding things she shouldn’t because she wasn’t here at the time. Still, she knew when this dagger appeared on Rokar's back, Leviathan had sensed the Sigdir dragons remaining on Múspellsheimr would come to their aid in the war. But there was so much more to it. Compelled, she touched the Blade, only to feel that same burning pain. Yet she felt it as if from a great distance. As though somewhat detached.
Almost as if from within one of her fiery ash trances.
“It’s a chance for them,” she murmured, totally out of it as she spoke ominous words. “But the end for us.”
Chapter Four
THE MOMENT TESS touched the blade tattooed on his back, a strange sensation blew over him, and the world seemed to grow lighter. Easier somehow. Almost as if a great weight had been lifted off of him.
“What did you do?” Rokar turned and caught her wrist. “And why did you say that?”
She shook her head, clearly confused before her expression flattened, and she pulled her wrist away. “Don’t touch me.” She kept shaking her head and stepped back, her eyes dead where moments before they had been full of life. “You lost that right the second you did what you did.”
He frowned, well aware she was not herself. “What did I do?”
“You know exactly what you did.” Fury turned to sadness before her eyes flashed with her inner dragon, then returned to normal. No, not normal but human. They remained flat and different than before when she met his frown. “What just happened?” Her brows furrowed. “One sec I was touching your tat the next...” She shook her head. “When did you turn around?”
“Do you remember mentioning the First Blade?” he asked. “Or anything you said after that?”
Because he’d swear, she thought he was someone else.
Someone from her past, she disliked greatly.
“No, I only remember Leviathan’s take on the blade and that I felt there was more to it.” She rubbed her arms as if chilled. “Then, I was compelled to touch it.” She shook her head. “Definitely not the broken dragon tat beneath it.”
“Broken dragon tattoo.” He frowned. “You mean Skáld’s mark?”
She shrugged, lackluster. “I guess so.”
What was the matter with her? He wanted the Tess he had initially met back. The flirtatious, fun woman he should have enjoyed when he had the chance. While somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew things were off—most especially his behavior—he couldn’t help but try to reel her in close again. To feel her against him despite all the havoc and pain it caused before. Heartache that went every bit as deep as what he’d felt when he lost his son and wife.
“What are you doing?” She shook her head and pulled free of him before he could bring her close. “I get that we probably need to mate to save the world, but I’m just not feeling it right now.” She shook her head. “Not at all.” Confusion lit her eyes while she peered at him. “And as far as I could tell as of a few minutes ago you were on the same page.”
He had been, hadn’t he? But why when such a beautiful dragon was mere feet from him? It had been too long since he felt the sweet heat of a woman. Since he buried his cock and filled a female with his seed.
Her eyes widened a little as if she caught those thoughts, which she very likely did. “I don’t think so, buddy.” She shook her head. “Way too fast, sweetheart.”
“But I was under the impression you liked that.” He dished out a smile that used to work very well on women. “Did you not like me flirting across time?”
“Something you said you didn’t do, remember?” She crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him with uncertainty. “Yet here you are charming as ever. A practiced flirt if ever I saw one.”
“And here you are, the very opposite,” he returned, confused but not overly put off. He winked. “For now.”
“I don’t think you’re hearing me.” Her brows snapped together. “I’m not feeling this. Not right now.”
“Perhaps soon then?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
“Because.” She shrugged. “The timing’s not good.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve just come out of something shitty,” she began before she trailed off, confusion warring with anger on her face before her expression deadened once again. “Didn’t you say we had somewhere to be?”
While he knew he should be more concerned that Skáld's mark was broken and Tess had clearly been talking to someone else after touching the First Blade, he was too caught up in how different he felt. Free in a way he hadn’t been in a long time. Bjárr and Helga would want this. They would want him to let go of the terrible burden he carried.
Now, just like that, he had.
Thanks to Tess.
“Come.” He pulled her after him. “I will show you my lair. Where my dragon spent a great deal of time growing up.”
“Uh...okay,” she replied, less than interested. “I can’t seem to reach out to my sisters telepathically. Can you? Maybe we can skip the lair and have Sage pick us up with her fiery tunnel...or Shea and Davyn with their Gateway Magic.”
“I remain uncertain if our enemy can track us in any of those.” He intended to reach out to Eirik soon. “We need someone with a better understanding of Helheim because that is where Skáld’s dragon is when he’s not here.”
“Will we be safe at your lair?”
“My dragon thinks it’s the best option for now.”
“Hmm,” she murmured. “Are you sure your dragon doesn’t have an ulterior motive?”
Rokar perked a brow at her over his shoulder and offered a lopsided grin he hadn’t worn in years. “I don’t need to be in my lair to take you, woman.” He gestured at the surrounding forest. “There are plenty of places right here.”
In fact, the idea of
having her against any number of these trees appealed greatly. So much so that he nearly lifted her against one in passing, confident she would give in to him in no time. That her tight sheath would welcome his girth, and their mutual pleasure would be profound.
She cleared her throat, catching his thoughts remarkably fast. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, dragon. I’ve got a mean bite.”
He could only imagine. “I look forward to it.”
“Do you really?” He could hear the frown in her voice as he led her down a tunnel that snaked its way to the Sigdir Lair’s main cave. “What happened to you, anyway? And could I have the other Rokar back?”
“You want him, then?” He shook his head, baffled she would want him to feel like that again. Act that way. “When you seemed so adverse to him?”
“I wouldn’t say adverse.” She eyed the wide expanse of the main cave when they entered. “Now that I look back on it, I kinda like how you were.”
“And I how you were.”
They looked at each other and frowned.
“Something beyond the obvious happened when I touched your tat, didn't it?” She shook her head, putting the pieces together along with him. “I probably should have known better after how I felt when I hugged you.”
Though he preferred the way he felt now, he knew she was right. “We need to speak with—”
“Me,” came a familiar voice before Leviathan appeared at another cave entrance followed by Eirik and Kenzie.
“There you are, Sis,” Kenzie exclaimed, closing the distance. “We wondered what happened to you!”
Tess remained stiff and distant when Kenzie embraced her.
“Ah, so things haven’t changed,” Kenzie said softly. She pulled away and eyed her sister with concern. “Still not yourself, then?”
“I’m totally myself and perfectly fine.” Yet Tess's tone was anything but. “Congrats by the way,” she gestured haphazardly between Kenzie and Eirik, “about the kids.”
Kenzie frowned before she understood what her sister referred to however underwhelmed she seemed. “Uh...thanks.”
When Kenzie glanced at him with concern, Rokar grinned, assuring her all would be well. “Tess will be just fine.” He winked. “Or at least she will be when I’m through with her.”
That earned him a startled look from everyone but Tess who only shook her head and frowned.
“What the?” Kenzie looked between them before her eyes went to Eirik. “Is it me, or are they going through something similar to what Håkon and Leif went through?”
“It looks to be somewhat similar,” Eirik confirmed. His eyes met Rokar’s. “Though we were under the impression Skáld’s mark controlled the crossing over of minds between the enemy and us Sigdirs, I believe the double-headed serpent is affecting you and your mate instead, Cousin.”
Tess kept with her frown. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, or something along those lines,” Leviathan responded instead of Eirik. “And my guess is it's happening because of the First Blade.” He looked between Tess and Rokar. “Something happened with it recently, yes?”
Rokar nodded, still giving Tess a look that said he was determined to cheer her up no matter what it took. Especially if it meant getting between her thighs.
“Did the Blade smoke again then?” Leviathan kept on. “And cause the Burn of Transition?”
“Yeah, it smoked,” Tess confirmed. She shook her head at Rokar and frowned at Leviathan. “What the hell’s the Burn of Transition?”
“It was what my parents and the original Ancients felt when they first came from Múspellsheimr to Midgard over forty-five thousand years ago,” Leviathan revealed. “The tattoo on Rokar's back signifies that transition. A doorway from one life to another. The blade down the middle divides us into what we were and what we became. A new kind of dragon...one with the ability to love.”
“I’ll be damned.” Tess looked from Rokar to Leviathan. “So what’s it doing on Rokar’s back? And does it have anything to do with the broken dragon beneath it?”
“Broken dragon?” Kenzie and Eirik said at the same time, their expressions equally alarmed. Not surprising considering Skáld’s mark typically filled with color as each couple grew closer but had never broken.
“Let me see it.” Leviathan gestured that Rokar show him. When he did, the Ancient’s eyes flared with his inner dragon. “The Blade has broken the dragon in half, separating your mark into what might symbolize the double-headed serpent himself.” His eyes returned to Rokar’s as he stepped away. “This, along with his influence over both of your minds, means you are more of a threat than most.” He shook his head. “You must proceed with great care.” His eyes flickered between them. “And you must find your way back to yourselves if there is any hope of finding your way to each other.”
“How do you know all this?” Rokar asked.
“Because I know my tribe’s lore,” Leviathan replied. “And the symbolism, both light and dark, affiliated with the First Blade. The monumental part it played getting us here to Midgard.”
“Yet your people know nothing of what led up to the First Blade,” Eirik murmured. “Is that not strange?”
“Not to us,” Leviathan said. “It is accepted as truth, bringing us a sense of peace in its own way. Peace that is burned into the hearts and souls of Ancients born on Midgard. Sort of a right of passage for dragons that were once from Múspellsheimr but now live here.”
“Doesn’t that mean all dragons should feel that sense of peace then?” Tess asked. “Because we all came from Múspellsheimr in one way or another.”
“It is in all of us,” Leviathan said. “Because I’m closely related to those who recently came here even if it was forty-five thousand years ago on the timeline, I’m far more conscious of it. Therefore, I feel what dragons that have descended many generations do not.”
“Interesting,” Kenzie said. “It’s comforting in a strange way, knowing we’re all connected one way or another. Just like humans here on Earth.”
“What about the dragon enemies in the last war here on Midgard?” Rokar asked. “How could such evil have enjoyed the privilege of the First Blade?”
“Because they must have had the capacity to love at some point,” Leviathan said.
“How come dragons can’t just plain ol’ come to Earth?” Tess asked. “Like humans go to the moon?” She shrugged. “Or plan to head to Mars?”
“Many creatures from other worlds can come more easily to Midgard,” Leviathan explained. “Dragons, however, are hindered by Odin due to our inherently violent natures. Our home world’s dragons are truly foul beasts who crave only war, violence, and dissention. Who feel only hatred and darkness.”
“So sort of like God not letting demons here for lack of a better explanation?”
“Yes,” the Ancient confirmed, worldly enough thanks to his parents who had lived in the twenty-first century for a time during the previous war. “If our home planet and its inhabitants could be compared to anything, it would be Christianity’s take on Hell.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Kenzie muttered. “So Odin allowed fire demons here at some point but not dragons?”
“I suspect the original fire demons that Magnus descends from have their own story that led them here,” Leviathan replied. “And though they are a vile bunch on Múspellsheimr, some might say they are not as bad as dragons.”
“Seriously.” Tess rolled her eyes. “We’re not that bad.”
“Not anymore,” Rokar said. “But our enemies still are.” He set aside flirting for the moment, so she understood how serious this was. “Keep that in mind, Tess. Big Red, as you call him, is truly vicious and without a heart. You felt that when he nearly killed Kenzie and Dagr, yes? His inherent hatred?”
She flinched and nodded. “Sure did.”
Good because she truly needed to understand the caliber of monsters they were dealing with.
“Though I could deny it all I want,” Tess focused on what lay
ahead, “it’s become pretty clear Rokar’s my fated mate which means we’ve gotta hook up to save the day, right?” Her less than thrilled eyes went to Leviathan. “So how are we supposed to do that if we don’t even like each other?”
“You might not now,” Kenzie said. “But based on your normal personality, Tess and how I think Rokar’s supposed to be, you might be more compatible than you think.”
Tess’s eyes met Rokar’s. “What’s your normal personality?”
He shrugged. “This.”
“Yes,” Eirik agreed. “At one time.”
“Or even recently for that matter,” Kenzie pointed out, her eyes on Tess. “When you spoke with Rokar across time you seemed really into him, remember? The flirtatious, upbeat guy that he was?”
“I don’t recall being that way, but I’m glad I was.” Rokar grinned at Tess. “Especially if you enjoyed it so much.”
“So where’d your grouchy side go?” Tess frowned at him. “Because I preferred it.”
“The real you wouldn’t.” Kenzie shot Rokar an apologetic look. “Sorry, the way you usually are probably wouldn’t be a great fit for Tess.”
“I beg to differ,” Tess muttered. She didn’t bother looking at Rokar but directed her attention Eirik’s way. “So what happened to him to change how he used to be? His flirtatious manner from the past that is.”
When Rokar shook his head, Eirik met his eyes and spoke telepathically. “You should tell her, Cousin.”
“Tell me what?” she said aloud, in his mind far too fast.
When Rokar only scowled at Eirik, his cousin evidently took that as permission to speak.
“The way Rokar is acting now is how he was before he lost his family.” Eirik’s eyes went from Rokar to Tess. “Which very likely means the personality you are displaying now must have been yours at some point too.”
“No way, for the most part, Tess has always been free-spirited and flirtatious...” Kenzie began but trailed off when she saw Tess’s expression. “Or so I thought.” She cocked her head, concerned by the stark sadness in her sister’s eyes. “When were you different, Tess? When...”
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