Page 25 of Oath of Betrayal
I stared at Orm, knowing he didn’t realise the crippling effect his threat had on me.For him, it’s simply a tool to get what he wants,I thought bitterly.
‘If I fall and die, I will haunt you for eternity—both of you.’ I pointed my finger towards the dragon, who rumbled, presenting an impressive set of teeth in what I assumed was a smile.
‘When are we setting off?’
‘In a moment. Stay here, please. I have to ensure all the chosen women are properly secured, that their families are content with the arrangement, and that Zalesie’s town officials are satisfied with the ridiculous amount of money we poured into their pockets. Then we will leave.’
Orm headed towards the mayor and his cronies, and I leaned against the dragon’s shoulder, unsure of what to do. I was hungover, in casual clothes unsuitable for a journey, and worst of all, I knew as soon as we left the ground, my mind would blank out in sheer panic.
‘Ani? Are you all right?’ Katja asked, and I jerked in surprise. I was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I hadn’t seen her coming.
‘Yes, as well as I can be,’ I answered with a sigh, and she nodded. ‘I heard your conversation. I think everyone did. So I brought something for you, and later, if you wish, I can poison the bastard.’
‘What is it?’ I asked when she passed me a vial. ‘Your morning’s best friend. My famous hangover cure. You look like you were drinking all night again,’ she said, and I snatched the bottle from her hand.
‘You were sent by the gods themselves,’ I praised her after downing its contents. ‘I’ll still lose my mind when we fly, but at least I won’t puke on the dragon … hopefully.’ As if on command, the dragon behind me nudged me gently, and I yawned, blinking rapidly as I struggled to keep my eyes open.
‘Katja, what did you … fuck, what was in that …?’ I wondered, sliding to the ground as the world spun around me.
‘You were scaring the other girls. It’s just a sleeping draught, I promise. You’ll be fine,’ she said, observing me for a moment before walking away. I vaguely felt Vahin curling around me, his warm scales encircling me protectively while his body rumbled with a growly purr.
Katja’s elixirs were potent, and she hadn’t even diluted this one from the looks of it. I’d drunk it without a second thought. I was so done for now. If Orm decided to throw me around like a sack of turnips, I wouldn’t even be able to curse him, let alone argue.
Of course, it was too late to worry about it now. I was floating away on a cloud of welcome oblivion. Since Orm had proved he could throw me over his shoulder, he could handle my unconscious body during the flight.
‘What the fuck is going on here?’ The angry voice intruded on the lovely dream I was enjoying, and the rumble in Vahin’s body increased in volume.
‘What do you mean, she drank something? Who poisoned her? For fuck’s sake, unwrap yourself from around her, you big dolt. No, I will not punish her or her friend. Why would you think I’d do that?’
The one-sided conversation was bizarre, but it made me feel warm inside. Vahin cared for me; that was clear. I stroked his scales, feeling him slowly unfold. I almost fell on my face, not realising I’d still been leaning on the dragon, but Orm caught me.
‘You are so strong, and I’m your turnip,’ I muttered when I felt him brush the hair from my face. His face blurred, transforming into one from the past, and I raised my hand, stroking his cheek.
I’d always preferred Tal with a beard, but the slight roughness of his skin told me he’d shaved. That didn’t stop me from caressing him, though. When I slid my finger across his lips, they parted, and still not fully aware, I hooked my finger over his bottom teeth, using them to pull him to me.
The face before me swam into focus, and I grimaced in pain. ‘Whyare you so much like Tal? Gods, it hurts to be around you,’ I murmured.
Orm’s eyes widened, and for a moment, his lips closed on my finger. I smiled. It almost felt like a kiss. He grasped my wrist, tugging my hand away and placing it on my chest. ‘Focus, Ani. We need to go,’ he said, lifting me into his arms. I felt us moving until I suddenly landed astride Vahin’s back.
‘There you go, now wrap your arms and legs around me,’ he said, my vision filled with the vast expanse of his chest moments before I was pulled in closer. My thoughts were so sluggish that it took me a moment to realise I was facing Orm instead of the head of the dragon, and even as I tried to focus, the position felt unnatural.
‘I sat wrong,’ I muttered, but Orm pressed my head to his chest. ‘No, you sat right. It’s this or the basket. I told you I’d look after you. Now relax and hold on to me. You can even fall asleep if you want,’ the commander said, wrapping his cloak around us. I frowned when the world disappeared under a dark curtain thatsmelled of clove oil and musk. The potent scent, masculine and appealing, felt so welcoming as I trembled against him.
‘It’s all right, just trust me,’ he crooned, his cheek pressing to my temple. ‘Fuck, she feels so right,’ I heard him mutter, and the barely audible words made me smile again. I rested my head on his chest, focusing on the scent and the powerful arms holding me tight, but most of all, on the slow, steady beating of Orm’s heart that soon sent me into an uneasy sleep.
Idon’t know how long we’d been flying, but when my eyes fluttered open, I could feel the wind buffeting my back and knew it was far from over.
Whatever Katja had given me had worn off enough for my sluggish thoughts to latch onto that one fact—I was flying. I clutched Orm’s body, digging my fingernails into whatever part of him I was holding.
The moment I felt Vahin move beneath me, my legs spasmed, squeezing with every ounce of strength I possessed. With my mind screaming incoherently, I couldn’t understand why it was so quiet; then my chest started burning, and the panic worsened. I couldn’tbreathe.
‘Shhh, Ani, you’re safe. I have you. Concentrate on my voice and let yourself trust me. I promise, I’ll protect you. Do I really remind you of Tal? He must have been a remarkable man, I’m sure. Intelligent, talented, and I’m guessing incredibly handsome,’ Orm said.
The little joke and the amusement in his calm and reassuring voice distracted me, and the tightness slid away. I managed to draw breath, and I tried to convince myself that my sob was a laugh at Orm’s joke.
‘Yes, he was handsome and remarkable, a true paladin mage—but just because you’re both bossy and feel entitled to tell me what to do, doesn’t mean you’re the same. As for the intelligence, he was at least smart enough not to force me into a year of servitude,’ I snapped and felt his deep sigh.
‘I didn’t force you. I used persuasion to help you make the right decision,’ he deadpanned, and I huffed.
