Page 19 of Thorulf
Chapter Seven
JADE WASN’T SURE whatto do with herself when Thor walked in, and everyone fell to a knee then lowered their heads. So she said the first thought that came to mind.
“Sorry.” She grinned at him. “I suppose I should have done that when we first met, huh?”
He winked at her. “You did in your own unique way, troublemaker.”
She thought back on it, remembering how viciously she had flirted and the things she’d contemplated doing to him when they first met. Nope, definitely not the proper way to have greeted Thor. Loki, however? Absolutely.
“Rise, good Norsemen and Norsewomen,” Thor said to his loyal followers. “Share an ale with me,ja?”
“Ja,” came a wide rumble before all, with a flick of Thor's hand, had horns of ale. “Drink with me so that we might talk about what lies ahead.”
Jade could tell by the relief on Destiny’s and Leviathan’s faces that they were glad Thor had finally made an appearance. That he reallywouldbe standing by their side in the days ahead. Not only would it boost overall morale, but it would help squelch uprisings among the dragons. Specifically, ones led by Vicar and Torc. She had yet to meet Leviathan’s brother but knew he and Vicar were brothers-in-arms when it came to rallying dragons to fight now rather than waiting for the gods to help them.
“Looks like you and Thor are pretty chummy,” Maya mentioned when the men and Destiny joined Thor. She arched her brows at Jade. “Just how long have you known one another?” She tilted her head in question. “And why didn’t you let me know when we talked telepathically across time?”
“Beats me.” Jade arched her brows right back. “Why didn’t you tell me my memories were running around Thorulf’s lair?”
“I was going to.” Maya cleared her throat a little. A sure sign she knew she was in the wrong. “As soon as I saw you again.”
“Right,” Jade replied slowly, seeing the truth of things clearly enough in Maya’s guilty expression. “When you knew I couldn’t take off and cause more havoc when I realized how connected I really was to this place.” She gestured haphazardly at Thorulf. “How connected to a single male dragon I was, and possibly doomed to mate for all eternity.”
“Well...yeah.” Maya sighed and shook her head. “Sorry, but can you blame me?” She gestured at Thorulf, too, then the slew of men still eyeing Jade hungrily despite Thor’s humbling presence. “About the last thing you would ever want is to be destined for one dragon, and you know it. It’d be a death sentence for you.”
She had a point, and normally Jade would agree, but now...now what? Damn it. She raised her horn and toasted Thor when everyone else did, then took several long swigs of her warm, bitter ale. She needed to get her head on straight and ignore the little spark of interest blossoming in her dragon. Its intrigue at the possibility of monogamy. Of the love that it would require. An emotion she sure as hell didn't feel toward men. Like them? All the time. Lust? You bet. Love? Not her thing. Her gut had always told her nothing good came of it, so she'd steered clear.
“Possibilities of monogamy and love, my ass,” she muttered, then nodded her head firmly at her sister. “You’re right.”Wasshe, though? “I would’ve run in the opposite direction if you’d told me about Thorulf’s lair.” Or maybe walked briskly. “I would’ve unleashed pure hell on Winter Harbor.” Or simply had one last night of fun with as many hot men as she could. “Best you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m glad you agree,” Maya replied, an annoying glitter of amusement in her eyes.
Jade frowned. “What?”
“You’re my sister,” Maya flat-out grinned this time, “so I don’t need to be in your head to have a good idea what you’re thinking.” She leaned over and whispered like a co-conspirator letting her know it was okay to shun everything that made life worth living. “It’s not so bad mating with one dragon. In fact, it’s pretty—”
“Enough.” Jade tossed Vicar a flirtatious look for her sister’s benefit then scowled at Maya. “I’ll never commit to one guy, and that’s that. There could be no more boring-as-hell fate to doom me with, and you know it.”