Page 37 of Bred By Fafnir

“You could’ve beenkilled, merciless Valkyra.” Fafnir snarls. When I glance at him, a dangerous, painful hope blooms in my chest. His eyes are red, but there’s brown, just a little of it. The others notice too. I watch as brows furrow and they shift uneasily.

I wonder just how hard it is… what Fafnir is doing.

If it’s ever been done before.

“Your eyes—" the elder female starts, looking visibly shaken.

“I am not so far gone.” He snarls in response.

“Lies!” My guard calls from the back. “His eyes were completely overcome; it has been days. The entire time, he has been no more than a bral'qorn. A beast lost to his rage! How many has he killed? How many wounded?!”

“You took my mate, you are blessed I did not kill more!”

The room goes silent. All our heads snapping to him in unison.

Mate?

“Impossible, there has not been a recognition in—"

“Come, human, let me see your palms.”

My palms?

I lift them, looking at the bloody covered rings. My eyes go to Fafnir, his long gray hair mangled around his horns, dirty with blood as he nods. Brown swirling red. I’m breathing hard as I wipe them on my pants, clearing the filth, but it doesn’t do much but smear it. When I reach the woman seated on a large wooden bench, she gasps.

My eyes are wide on hers.

“They can be faked!” My guard yells, making me shoot him daggers. “He is without honor; he only wishes to avoid a wandering. No one is above the end, not even the most valiant of us. We all meet our war—"

“Silence. The guards reported a searing from his horns. I had assumed it was because of his illness. I- I hadn’t thought it was possible…”

They argue, the room erupting in loud, booming voices as I turn to Fafnir, where he pants in his chains. His eyes are tormented. “You arehurt,” he offers, and I can’t stand the defeated, broken sound of his voice.

I run for him. My knees knock the ground roughly as I skid, wrapping my arms around his broad neck. The first of a few wayward sobs escape me as his warm skin presses against mine. The room is silent again, but I don’t care. When they try to pull him back, I ignore the devilish growl that leaves him. “Hush, just breathe. Show them you’re still you.” I whisper, peppering kisses on his dirty chin. “I’m your mate. W-why didn’t you tell me, you stupid male?”

“I hadn’t thought it would be well received.”

“Stupid.” I smile, clinging to him harder.

“He is not attacking her.” Another warrior states, baffled.

“Of course not.” Fafnir spits.

“Drop his chains.” She orders, but they hesitate. My guard again opening his mouth. All these long days he’s had nothing to say and now suddenly he can’t seem to shut up.

“You cannot be serious, you—"

“I am the reigning elder. Do you wish to question me again?”

“He is your son, perhaps your favor is—" his words cut off in a grunt.

I turn my head, making Fafnir growl as he tries to keep me tucked tightly under his chin. The enigmatic older female’s horns are long while other females keep theirs short, a sign of her status. She’s standing now, my pregnancy pen gripped in her hand. When I turn my attention to the guard, he’s grinding his teeth so hard I worry they’ll snap, a small blade sticking out of his left arm.

Oh shit.

“Ogarrex, you are dismissed. Release Fafnir,now.”

The chains slap to the ground loudly, but not loud enough to miss the way his flesh squelches when they pull the spears free. He doesn’t hesitate, gathering me in his arms. Lording over me as if to keep the others at bay. I give him a watery smile. “It’s going to be alright.”

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