Page 10 of Thorulf

“No,” she growled, fighting his allure, reminding herself. Determined not to be cast under his spell like she knew she had been before.

Yet, for all that determination, she needed to keep her eye on the ball. Keep with her master plan. And that meant playing nice.

For now, anyway.

If she didn’t, he might turn away before she got her revenge. Because there was something in the way he looked at her right now that told her they’d been down this road before. That something had happened to make him just as angry at her. But what? What could possibly be worse than him casting her aside for another?

“Tell me,” he growled back, following her thoughts alarmingly fast. “What did you do, Jade? Who are you to me? Who am I to you?”

He made it clear if he wanted to kiss her, he would. His fiery gaze fell to her lips, his lust as obvious as his internal struggle. He felt it too, didn't he? Not just the chemistry between them, but something more. History that had left them wary of each other. Angry and hurt.

“We were right, Dagr,” Maya said, pulling them from the volatile yet intensely lustful place they’d been heading. “Thorulf wouldn’t be able to help himself. He had to seek out Jade.”

They had arrived in Norway, year nine hundred and sixty.

While tempted to shove Thorulf away, Jade had no intention of showing him that much negative emotion. Not quite yet. She would rather let him think he had half a chance. That, even if it had been a little rocky, they shared forgotten history. Unparalleled chemistry. It would be all that much sweeter when she crushed him. So she relaxed, smoothed her expression into friendly curiosity, and looked around at where they'd ended up, genuinely impressed by her surroundings. Not just by the monstrous golden ash they were leaning against but the kick-ass Gothic dragon castle nearby.

“Hey, sis.” She smiled at Maya and took in her handsome mate with approval. “Nice to finally meet you in person, Dagr.”

When she caught Thorulf's ever-so-brief flare of jealousy, she nailed down the first part of her payback scheme. Any male dragon here as hot as Dagr was fair game. She eyed the horizon with a slow, womanly smile, noting the abundance of male dragons already circling in curiosity. Oh yes, she’d hit the make-Thorulf-jealous jackpot here.

Dagr nodded at her in return and looked at Thorulf with amusement. “Are you well, brother?”

Though cousins, these two had always considered one another siblings.

“I’ve been better,” Thorulf grunted. He nudged her away. “Go with your sister. I will seek you out later.”

Though tempted to say ‘no need,’ therewasa need. The more he was around her, the more trouble she could cause him. She bit back a triumphant smile, noting she was well on her way. His dragon magic wasn’t helping any with his undoubtedly uncomfortable erection. Hence him sending her on her way.

“Sounds like a plan,” she replied to Thorulf, sure to dish out a winning smile. Then for good measure. “Looking forward to it.”

She really was too. There was great fun to be had. Sinful revenge.

Jade offered Dagr a wink in passing when he opted to wait for Thorulf and embraced Maya, congratulating her on her pregnancy before they started for the castle or Keep as they called it.

“And here I thought you’d leveled out some,” Maya said under her breath. She eyed Jade with a mix of gratefulness and wariness. “While I’m glad you’ve been behaving well for Aunt Elsie, I see it was all a show.”

Their dragons were too connected to hide much from her sister.

“Notalla show.” Jade eyed the sky and castle, downright giddy. “Ihaveimproved some.” She shrugged. “Maybe not one hundred percent, but I’d say that’s Thorulf’s fault more than anything.”

Maya stopped and narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on, Jade?” Her gaze narrowed further still, as though she'd just picked up on something. “You were lying to me the whole time, weren’t you? You know exactly what games Thorulf’s been playing.” She tilted her head, still contemplating Jade in that big sister way of hers. “When did you meet him? How do you know him? Was it in dreams like I suspected? Because obviously, you two have some kind of deep connection.”

True, but why did Maya look so certain of that? Granted, her dragon had clearly grown stronger, was super powerful now, but somehow Jade knew the degree of how deep their connection might be wasn’t known. Not by them until lately and certainly not by others.

“What do you know?” She frowned at her sister, then smiled and waved when a male dragon flew over especially low, showing off his impressive wings. “What haven’t you told me?”

“I'll fill you in but not right now.” Maya gestured that she follow when thunder rumbled in the distance. “Chances are good that’s a godly storm, so let’s get to the Keep where you’ll be safe.”

“Agreed.” Not to say she wasn’t eager to witness the gods battling up close. She could only imagine fighting alongside them. Finally putting her skills to good use. “You and Dagr are safe in godly storms now, though, right?”

“We are,” Maya confirmed. “But that doesn’t mean I’m eager to be out in one again. Not until the warring’s brought to the ground and I’m fighting alongside the gods.”

“And when do we think that’ll be?” She perked a brow at Maya, duly impressed. “I was under the impression that with the power of Helheim behind you, it would be now. What you and Dagr picked up power-wise Forging was just what the dragons here needed, right?”

“So I was told,” Maya replied. “But we need to wait for Loki and Thor.” She shook her head. “There’s no way we’re doing anything until they’re leading the charge.”

The way Maya looked at her out of the corner of her eye told Jade she suspected she’d already made contact with both gods.