Page 39 of Soul of Fire

She stepped back, keeping a firm hold on the fabric as she scowled at my mate.

“No offense, Dragehersker, and I mean this with sisterly affection, but sometimes a girl wants there to be alittlemystery in a relationship.“ Branka looked at me, frowning at the crimson water and my shivering form. “Dealing with the intimacies of one’s cycle is one of those mysteries.”

Arik looked at me, a brow raised in question and his jaw tight.What doyouwant, Kjære?

Honestly, I didn’t care who helped me. I was in so much pain I doubted I’d be able to stand on my own. But I could tell thatBranka needed to feel useful, so I nodded and shot her a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

Arik pressed a kiss to my temple and made for the door, still completely nude. Branka kept her eyes pointedly on me as he passed. “I’ll be right outside when you’re done.”

For the love of the Hearthmother, please put on some clothes,I begged as he closed the door behind him.

I heard his answering chuckle over our mental bridge.

“Right,” Branka said, placing her pile of linens on the counter and picking up a fluffy towel. “Let’s get you dry, shall we? And you can tell me what horrors I’m in for when my own cycle arrives in a few weeks.”

It took the better part of an hour to get me out of the tub and dry, what with the violent shivers that racked my body. But Branka was right—there were some things that I didn’t particularly need to share with my mate, and trying to stuff rags in my undergarments was one of those things.

It was like my body was evicting twelve years’ worth of blood that I hadn’t shed when I was beaten and starved by Henrik, and I supposed I should thank the Hearthmother that my body was well enough now to allow such a thing.

“I don’t understand why we even need to have a cycle if we can’t have children,” Branka groused as she pulled a clean nightgown over my head. I was perched on the lip of the tub, too shaky to stand, and it took some effort to shimmy the fabric over my thighs. “Bryndis says we should just stay in dragon form and avoid the whole thing.”

I laughed as much as I could through the throbbing pain, which was increasing the longer I was out of the heat of the bath. “Idunn says the same. I’m beginning to agree with her.”

“Jorgen says they’re less frequent than human cycles.” Branka rubbed my arms as she pulled a fur around me. “But he knows about as much as Arik does, which is to say, nothing.”

“I heard that.” Arik’s voice was only slightly muffled by the wooden door between us.

“Mates.” Branka rolled her eyes at me in a long-suffering way. “Revna might be right about us being the worst.”

“Thank you,” I said, catching her hands to stop her as she reached for the door.

She turned back to me, her brow furrowed. “For what?”

“For being here. Helping me.” I sucked in a pained breath, wincing as another bolt of agony lanced through me. “I’m sorry that I dragged you away from Jorgen.”

“Eisa.” Branka bent so her eyes were level with mine. “There’s literally no place I’d rather be. Or, rather,” she grimaced apologetically, “thereis, and it’s naked underneath my mate, but I’m happy to behere.With you. You’re my friend and my sister.”

“Oh gods, my mental eyes,” I protested, trying not to picture Jorgen in his makeshift loincloth.

Branka grinned and stood. “See, you’re already feeling better. Alright, guard dog, she’s all yours.”

Arik appeared before me, wearing trousers but nothing else, and scooped me into his arms. “Thank you, Branka.”

“You two. Youaremade for each other.“ Branka squeezed Arik’s shoulder as she passed. “The healer should be here within the hour. I’ll await your orders, Dragehersker.”

Still not used to that,Arik said as Branka left. The servants had come and gone, and the room was dark and peaceful as if nothing had happened.

I snuggled into the heat of Arik’s chest, wishing I could have him pressed against my lower back and my abdomen and every place that hurt.

Arik chuckled as he strode toward the bed, which had been made up with fresh sheets and blankets.We can arrange that, Kjære. But first, you need to eat something.

“Stop listening to my thoughts.” My voice sounded weak and raw, and my teeth were still chattering as Arik settled me back onto the pillows and tucked the furs up around my chin.

“Stop shouting them at me.” He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for a tray laden with steaming dishes on the table next to the bed. “Here. This will help.”

I took about four bites of the rather runny porridge before my stomach decided to rebel, twisting painfully as another cramp rocked me.

I shook my head and dropped it back on the pillow.Can you just hold me?