Page 23 of Thorulf
Thorulf was about to speak, to be honest that Loki had no way of knowing that, when Vicar, of all people, stopped him.
“He’s right, brother.” Though there was a similar dark cunning in Vicar’s eyes because his Múspellsheimr side was no doubt trying to break through, his Sigdir side still had the upper hand. “You’re accessing something none of us can. Something that could make all the difference in this war.” He nodded with approval, making it clear to his following where he stood, so they best back him. “I’m pleased to see you coming into your own. Proud to call you brother and ally.”
Surprised by the sentiment and rally of support, he nodded in response before he heard an unexpected growl from Jade. One she clearly hadn’t meant to make based on her mortified expression. Yet within that mortification was a clear-cut warning she couldn’t seem to suppress when her dragon eyes narrowed on his growing audience. One full of Múspellsheimr females taken with him now that Vicar had so openly supported him. He eyed one then another when they looped arms with him, eager to show him what his newfound status meant.
Truth told, even if Jade wasn’t here, he wouldn’t lie with them. Like any cold-blooded dragon, he enjoyed rough bedsport, but not their kind of rough. These women liked it one way and one way only. Violent all the time, every time.
“Then you might want to make that clear to them,”Dagr said into his mind, as surprised as Thorulf that his telepathic message finally came through.
He knew, without question, his powers coming into focus had to do with it. Not only that, but his and Jade's dragons were making it clearer and clearer where they stood. And it wasn’t apart. That made a difference. Lent unexpected strength and reopened channels to his kin. Almost as if something had kept them closed before. Closed to everyone but Vicar, he suspected, because he was blood and must possess Celtic godliness as well.
“I’d make where you stand clear soon too,”Maya went on, clearly relieved to get through to Thorulf as well.“Before my sister loses it.”She shook her head.“Because she’s in a fighting mood if I ever did see it, and now’s not the time. Especially among people she needs to remain allied to.”She looked at Thorulf in warning.“And trust me, Jade’s good. Really good. What you saw earlier when she held a blade to Vicar’s neck wasn’t a fluke. She’d take down a few of these women before they got the better of her, and nobody wants that.”
While a part of him was glad to see Jade so openly showing him anger now and would love to see her battle, another part, that same irritating part from earlier, feared any harm coming to her. And there were enough Múspellsheimr females here to do her a great deal of harm. To outright kill her.
Which suddenly made things crystal clear.
Not only did he need to make whatever he had done wrong to Jade right, he needed to make it clear where he stood whether she liked it or not. Because deep down, there was only one direction his dragon would allow him to go. One course of action to see through his part in all this.
“No.” He unhooked his arms from the women beside him and announced to everyone where he stood in a way every Ancient, Múspellsheimr, and Sigdir female dragon would understand. “I intend to do right by all of you. To be a true ally in this war and harness the power of Loki’s Forge.” If this made an enemy out of his brother, so be it. He looked at the dagger sheathed at Vicar’s waist before his gaze went to Jade. “And I intend to do it with Jade.”
Her eyes shot to him and narrowed, her words sharp and not all that unexpected, despite how jealous she’d been moments before.
“Like hell, you will,” she called back. She shook her head, making her stance just as clear. “I reject you, Thorulf Sigdir.” She gestured at the Múspellsheimr women, then Thorulf. “Please, ignore my dragon’s growls. He’s all yours.” Before anyone could respond, she made a come-hither motion at Vicar, spun on her heel, and headed for the gate, calling over her shoulder to his brother, “C’mon he-who-holds-the-dagger. Let’s go unravel a mystery and kick some purple dragon ass!”
“Well, that could have gone better,” Dagr commented.
“Unlikely,” Maya said dryly, sighing yet again before she shrugged at Thorulf and patted him on the shoulder. “Sorry, you definitely got the rambunctious sister.” She shook her head. “And whatever you did to her? It must’ve beenreallybad to anger herthismuch.”
“Though we applaud your effort in making things clear,” Destiny praised.
“Ja.” Leviathan gave him a sympathetic, perhaps even an empathetic look. “It seems you have even more of a battle ahead than Dagr and I had coming together with our mates.” He clasped him on the shoulder and looked at him with pride. “You’re doing well so far, though, Thorulf. Not only are you coming into your powers, but you stated clearly what you want.Whoyou want.”
“No doubt you did,” Dagr echoed, narrowing his eyes after Jade. “Yet I fear you must make it clearer still.”
Without question, he did, considering Jade was tucked firmly between Vicar and Loki as they headed over the drawbridge on a quest that belonged to Thorulf, not them.
“I must go.” He nodded at Destiny and Leviathan, assuring them all would be well. “I won’t let you down, my King and Queen. You have my word.”
With that, he strode after the others with Dagr and Maya in tow, determined as ever but also tentative. Especially when he felt the purple dragon’s pull only grow stronger with every step he took.