Page 7 of Thorulf
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” When Jade glanced at him again, and her dragon eyes flared, he got a brief glimpse at how angry she really was. Or he thought he did before a flash later, her expression smoothed, and she morphed once again into the version Maya had claimed she’d become at the end of her and Dagr's journey. Calm and collected.
“Obviously, we need to figure some things out,” Jade went on, her tone gentle and curious. Deceptively kind. “But first,” she finally stepped away from the god and gestured at Elsie, “you need to unfreeze my aunt, Loki. I don’t like her stuck like that.”
Though he didn’t seem particularly pleased with the request, more so that Jade had shifted away, Loki gestured dismissively, and everything returned to normal.
Elsie blinked, caught off guard by Loki and Thorulf appearing out of nowhere before her worried gaze shot to Jade. “What happened?” Her eyes narrowed between the men before returning to her niece again. “Did they harm you?”
Though Jade shot Thorulf another look he swore flashed with anger, her expression remained aloof and her words level when she spoke. “These two?” She rolled her eyes. “Please.”
It was safe to say she reacted to Vikings and gods differently than most modern-day women. She had since the beginning from what he’d heard. Unlike her sisters, Jade relished the idea of Viking male dragons and, without doubt, Norse gods too.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t think Thorulf would harm you.” Elsie nodded kindly at him, clearly grateful for him taking care of Maya the last time he’d been here. Yet her gaze turned wary when it swung Loki’s way. “You, however...” She cocked her head, trying to figure him out. “You aren’t dragon, but you’re dangerous indeed.”
“I would hope.” Loki grinned. “Iamthe God of Chaos, after all.”
“Yes, you are, aren’t you,” Elsie murmured, looking at him oddly now. Almost as if she were trying to place him. “Have we met before?”
“Not that I’m aware.”
Though Loki's tone and expression gave away nothing, Thorulf couldn’t help but wonder if that were true, and he wasn’t sure why. Then again, Loki had a big hand in the sisters’ fate from the beginning, so it wasn’t such a far-fetched idea that he might have made contact with them far earlier than now. Perhaps even contact with Elsie. It would be easy enough for him to erase himself from their minds.
“So, what’s next?” Jade asked before Elsie could say more because it seemed she was tempted when it came to Loki. She perked a brow at the god. “Is it my turn to travel back in time? Do my part to help my sisters and humanity?”
“Are you really so sure you’re ready?” Worry tugged at the corners of Elsie's mouth. “You’ve been doing so...”
When Elsie trailed off, not wanting to offend her, Jade gave her a reassuring look. “It’s all right. You can say it. I’ve been on an even keel, and you’re afraid traveling back in time might throw me off my newfound, less-troublesome game.”
“I’ll admit, I’m worried,” Elsie conceded. She rested a hand over Jade’s on the island. “I like seeing you at ease. Less consumed by all the negative energy you’ve had to filter and release for your sisters over the years.”
Thorulf had heard that was the reason for Jade’s supposed wild ways but hadn’t put much stock in it until now. Until he sensed something brimming just beneath her calm demeanor. An indefinable tension. One that went deeper than most could sense. But not him. He understood it in a way that felt kindred. As though they might have had long conversations about it.
“I wasn’t allthatbad before Maya leveled us out.” Jade waved away her aunt's concern and issued Elsie a warm smile that both aroused him and made him wary.
“Thanks to Maya, I’m better than ever now, Auntie,” Jade went on. “You've seen it yourself.” She tossed Thorulf an unexpected smile that about dropped him to his knees before looking at Elsie again. “Besides, I know you were impressed with Thorulf the last time he was here, so what better Viking to send me off with?”
He’d intended to tell Jade she was wrong about him, then seek out Raven to see if she might be his destined mate but realized he needed to make things right with this sister first. He needed to understand what had happened between them and who the purple dragon was. It didn't matter if Jade was pretending to be level—and shewaspretending—he still needed to figure this out. Another one of those smiles wouldn't be so bad either.
“Thorulf has the dagger now,” Elsie pointed out to Jade. She glanced from Loki’s Dagger sheathed at his waist back to her niece. “You’re aware of that, yes? What it likely means if you’re the one to leave with him?”
“Yes,” Jade said without hesitation. “Which I imagine you’re okay with, right?” She gestured at Thorulf and gave her aunt a wounded look. One that said even reformed troublemakers deserved to find their fated mates. “You were impressed with him before,” she reminded, “so what better dragon to take the potential leap with?”
A mereleap? Is that how she viewed becoming fated mates?
“Thorulfisa good dragon,” Elsie relented, sighing. Her wary gaze softened on Jade. “Never doubt for a moment that I don’t think you deserve as much happiness as your sisters.” She squeezed Jade’s shoulder and gave her a knowing yet curious look, not as fooled as Jade might have hoped. “That aside, committing to one man isn’t your style, so you understand my hesitation when it comes to your eagerness to take off with Thorulf.”
“True, I've never been the monogamous type,” Jade conceded, shrugging. “And I still might not be, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do my part in all this.” She glanced from Thorulf to Elsie. “Seeing how Thorulf seems set on bringing me back, he’s the one I should start my journey with, wouldn't you say?” This time she glanced from Loki to Elsie. “Add to that, the god overseeing all this sought me out, so surely I’m up next.”
“Is she right, then?” Elsie looked back and forth between Loki and Thorulf. “Are you both here for her? Do you feel Jade’s supposed to travel back now?”
“Ja.” Thorulf nodded. “Without question.”
“You sound so certain.” Elsie's eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because she’s been summoned by the gods.” Loki’s gaze never left Jade, his curiosity sparked. It seemed he’d figured out things the rest of them hadn't yet. “Summoned by both Thor and myself.” He nodded with reassurance at Elsie. “Jade is needed now.”
Elsie’s brows shot up. “Thor?”
“Yes, Auntie, Thor.” Jade gave her an apologetic look. “I didn’t want to say anything and worry you, but he’s been in touch. He’s...a friend.”