Page 12 of Thorulf
Chapter Four
“IKNOW HER,” Thorulfgrumbled, at last getting his blasted arousal under control. Touching Jade had been a mistake. Now he knew just what she was capable of. He scowled and shook his head at Dagr. “I can’t remember how, only that I know Jade well.”
Dagr nodded, not surprised to hear that, all things considered. “Your mind’s still closed off to me, though. Closed off to all your kin.” He frowned and sighed. “I had hoped that would change after you traveled to the future.”
It was an unusual thing for a dragon’s mind to be closed off from his family and more uncomfortable than Thorulf would admit. But ever since Dagr and Maya Forged in Fire and Thorulf took possession of Loki’s Dagger, all had gone silent. The only one he sensed now was Jade, and it was unnerving. Different. Their connection felt like fleeting memories that came and went so fast he couldn’t grab onto them. Couldn’t remember them clearly.
“She’s the one, though,” he muttered, reflecting on what they’d discussed days before. “Jade’s the female toying with me. Her dragon’s trying to cause havoc with mine. Pay me back for something I did. I’m sure of it.”
“Better Jade than a Celtic god,” Dagr said, reminding him what they had theorized about. He eyed Thorulf, not surprisingly guessing at his other revelation. “Yet there still might be a god involved, yes?”
“Perhaps,” he conceded. “A purple female dragon. One who evidently tried to kill Jade.”
Dagr’s brows shot up. “When?”
“I don’t know.” He shook his head as they headed under a portcullis. “We didn’t have much time to talk before—”
He stopped short when he spied Jade and Vicar.
“Thor’s thunder,” he cursed, seeing red. “Is she...? Are they...?”
And here he thought her flirting with Loki had been bad. Hell, if the troublesome woman wasn’tkissinghis damn brother now. To make matters worse, the two of them seemed to be enjoying it a bit too much.
Dagr stopped him before he drew his blade, the warning in his voice unmistakable. “Don’t do it. Not in front of so many people.”
He understood. Jade and Vicar might be sharing a nauseatingly too-soon kiss hello, but now was the time to appear united, not divided. Even so, the display was irksome. Infuriating. What was she thinking? What wasVicarthinking?
Then again, his brother’s thinking was chaotic at best lately.
If Vicar's Múspellsheimr side was out, which it was right now, doing something like this would come naturally. Jade was another story. Her mind was clear enough, her actions intentional. How could they not be after what had happened at the ash? After the intense sensual connection she and Thorulf had made? Afamiliarconnection?
“She’s still toying with me,” he murmured, certain he was right. Guilt slammed into him. Guilt that insinuated the purple dragon had played a bigger role in all of this than he would have liked. “I did something...hurt her...
“I wonder if it’s connected to what Maya and I witnessed at your lair when we closed Carman’s gateway.” Dagr visibly relaxed when he realized Thorulf wasn’t going to cut Vicar down.
Thorulf still didn't know what to think of Dagr and Maya’s discovery at his lair. It definitely insinuated a connection between him and Jade. How else could it be, considering they’d seen her memories there? Memories of her sisters at various ages. Recollections Thorulf had to have witnessed but didn't recall in the least. What Dagr didn’t mention, but worried about even more with good reason, was what else they had seen. Thorulf’s lair had been where they closed Celtic Goddess Carman’s gateway.