Then takes up my hands, as he stares deep into my eyes.
Baldur’s ancient, galaxy-like gaze holds me as I feel a massive wave of light burst from him. Stepping in, he threads his fingers through mine, pulling me to him by our hands. It’s the gentlest touch; but living, cosmic fire pours through me now as his power caresses me, battling Mikkel’s darkness back.
“Feel no despair,” Baldur whispers as he eases his lips over mine. “Somehow, we will prevail…”
Light crashes through me as he kisses me.
And I kiss him back, hard.
Needing it with every last breath of my soul.
21
TRASH
Igasp like I’ve come back from the brink of death as Baldur’s powerful light floods me. I’m grateful for him as I shudder in relief now, letting him hold me for a long moment.
Because just from that one powerful kiss, Baldur reminded me of who I am and why I’m here. He reminded me that every one of my drakes came into this relationship with their eyes wide open, knowing what might be in store for them.
Completely.
As I have the searing clarity that we will get through this, or die trying, Bjorn steps to my back. He wraps his big arms around me and my world floods with strength, because Bjorn has always been that for me, with his towering righteousness and stalwart rage.
Stepping to my side, Ström takes my hand. He threads our fingers together, and as I glance at him, the powerful vibrance of his emerald-brimstone eyes gives me renewed purpose. Because Ström’s my best friend. Out of all my drakes, I know he’ll stand with me through anything.
No matter how much shit keeps hitting the fan.
“We all would.” Ström reads my mind easily through our bond, sinceI’m no longer trying to block my emotions from my drakes, thanks to Baldur’s all-illuminating light. “No matter what hell we need to go through, Rikyava, we’re here beside you. To free Mikkel, to fuck up the False Council… even to stop the Black Dragon itself. We’re here for you.”
“Always.” Bjorn is gentle but fierce as he rumbles by my cheek now. “We’ll go through hell and back, drakaina, for you. Because no hell is worse than not being with you. You know that.”
“I do and I don’t.” I give a wry smile now as I glance at Bjorn. “I know you’ll go through hell with me… but what if we don’t come back, any of us?”
“It’s a chance we’ll take.” Baldur stares deep into my eyes. “One in a million, if the odds come to that. But feeling you here in our arms… is a one in a million sensation. It’s a feeling I’d take to my grave—and die happy to have battled alongside your ferocious spirit, to the end.”
I gaze up at Baldur’s utterly honest blue eyes now, and everything I’ve been missing roars back inside me a hundredfold. A bright clarity fills me; and it’s not just Baldur’s magic filling me now.
It’s my own bright drakaina and even my darker drake, surging up together into the scorching fierceness of my Bloodwalker dragon. As those two energies come together inside me now, united and ready to fuck some shit up, I feel a sudden wash of scales blossom out all over my chest and forearms in a fierce half-shift.
These scales aren’t black like my Bone Magic, nor are they crimson like my Blood Magic. They’re crimson, white, and gold—just like Aesa—as I watch them ripple out over my bare hands now.
As Aesa’s Truthstone thrums upon my chest, I feel her resonance fill me. Though most of her spirit has been drained from me now, I feel her understanding of what I am fill me, to my bones.
For you are the strongest Bloodwalker drakaina since my own scales roared across this land.Aesa’s sudden thought pushes through the strange inky darkness that still surrounds me in the Void.
I know it’s her, though, rather than some other voice, as herTruthstone flares hard on my chest, filling me with her light. But it’s mine, and it’s Baldur’s, too, even Bjorn’s and Ström’s, as I feel that strong goodness fill me now.
Only Mikkel lies separate from us, as I feel a sudden scream rip through me, and a shudder from him as he’s pierced anew by his guards. It’s a dark, torturous dream Mikkel has revived in me, filled with danger, horror, and deceit.
But even as I gasp, breaking one hand from Baldur to grip my chest, Baldur whispers his lips over mine. The return of my heroism from not just him, but myself, at Mikkel’s torture, is like a star blazing through my system. Purpose makes me laser-focused now, shuddering with my need to shift into my full Bloodwalker drakaina.
And cast down all villains from the skies.
“Mikkel’s awake again. He doesn’t have a lot of time. We need to move,” I say now as everything inside me rushes with renewed energy, a star-bright fire hammering through my veins.
As Bjorn growls and Ström nods, Baldur holds my gaze, ready. We turn, breaking from our group as we move back to the dark passage.
Once again, Baldur steps in front of Bjorn, entering the passage first with his elegant briskness. Bjorn growls but he won’t pick a fight when we’re on a mission, as Ström comes to me, watching me with a deep concern as we walk.
