Page 7 of Soul of Fire

Arik cleared his throat emphatically, cutting off both dragons. As far as I understood our unique mental bond, Arik could only hear Baldur’s side of any conversation. But I had the sense that Baldur relayed a great deal of what Idunn said to us through mental images and emotions, if not words.

I smiled at the thought.

“Training resumes tomorrow. If not to get you wielding a weapon, then at least to give you greater stamina when flying.” He kissed my pointed ear again. “And other things.”

“I thought you were trying to be a gentleman?”

Arik laughed and stood to shuck his trousers off. He was very clearlynotin a gentlemanly mood. “Even I have limits. Move over.”

I yelped as he stepped into the tub behind me and tried to make myself as small as possible. “There’s no room!”

Arik grunted as he managed to squeeze his body into the water, then pulled me so I was sitting between his thighs, my back flush against his chest. Certain body parts pressed hard against my lower back, and Idunn was entirely too pleased about it. “You took my bath. There’s no time to draw a second one. And the viewismagnificent.”

I elbowed him in the chest as he brushed his beard against my neck and nipped at my pulse. “What happened to ‘none of that’?”

“There’s definitely not enough room forthat,“ he agreed, pulling me closer as he ran his hands down my thighs. He squeezed, and I groaned again in pleasure as his length twitched against my lower back. “This is better than sex, remember?”

Idunn purred contentedly as I felt Arik’s heat pour into me, and I had half a mind to drag him out of this tub while there was still time. “You’ll make me regret saying that, won’t you?”

Arik pressed another kiss to my neck that was all promise and fire and heat.

Undoubtedly.

Therainbeganpeltingdown on us about two hours into the flight. If it hadn’t been for the fact that I was safely nestled in Idunn’s consciousness, I would have been freezing. As it happened, I was perfectly warm as we flew across the countryside, following the line of the winding river that stretched from the sea.

It was like the peaceful, non-evil twin of the Rift, and I couldn’t help but wonder how Ironholm fared in our absence.

Arik had left Revna in charge while we answered his father’s summons, and she had been none too thrilled about being left behind. We were overdue to check in with her.

Have you spoken to Revna?

Arik’s reply was as clear as if he were speaking into my ear.No. Baldur would let me know if there was a problem.

I rolled my eyes. I knew that he was right, and that we could trust Revna completely, but it didn’t stop worry from nagging at me.

Feel free, Kjære.Arik rumbled, my concern obvious to him.I’m curious if you can reach Kindra from this distance.

I took a breath and sought the golden thread that led to Revna’s dragon. It took longer than it had in Ironholm, but it was there, shimmering in the background of my mind.

Everything alright?

There was a long pause, and I thought for a moment that perhaps it hadn’t worked.

But then a band of warm gold wrapped around my mind like an embrace, the sensation wholly different from Baldur’s or Idunn’s thoughts.

All is well, Drekadrottning. My human asks after your quest.

Drekadrottning. I shook my head in disbelief. Idunn was the dragon queen, but somehow the dragons decided the title applied to me as well.

Almost to Stormhold,I replied, peering out of Idunn’s eyes at the countryside rapidly passing beneath us as we flew. The little thatched roofs of villages and farms passing under us in a blur reminded me of how much was at stake if we didn’t close the Rift.We’ll look for the Book while we’re there, and go to Sigrid in a few days.

There was a pause as Kindra relayed my reply to Revna. I couldn’t speak to other drage directly, but the fact that I could speak to all of the dragons still made communication faster than for other drage.

You’re welcome,Idunn rumbled around me, her now-familiar voice laced with amusement.There are sheep below. Can I eat one?

You can’t steal someone’s sheep,I protested.And Arik made me eat a huge breakfast.How can you possibly be hungry again?

Four sausages are not enough for a dragon,she sniffed haughtily.