Page 27 of Oath of Betrayal
‘I think I understand now,’ he said, and I sniffed, rubbing my nose.
‘I doubt it. All you need to know is that I don’t want you in my bed because years ago I decided that I would walk the rest of this life alone; and I won’t let anything—not even my magic—force me to change that.’
‘You didn’t answer as to why you chose Zalesie,’ he said after a moment, and I shook my head. ‘That’s all I’m willing to share. The rest is my secret to keep,’ I said, and I felt the arms holding me tense again.
I felt surprisingly good in Orm’s company, and I was spilling my guts despite not knowing him well enough to bare my soul.
Wait …
Something was not quite right about this inner calm and the trust I showed Ormond.
‘Why aren’t I freaking out?’ I asked after a moment of silence. I’d forgotten I was sitting on a dragon’s back at high altitude without screaming my lungs out thanks to our heartfelt discussion.
‘It’s Vahin. That’s why you’re not riding in the basket. He assured me you would be fine on his back. Dragons can project their thoughts and feelings onto people they feel connected to,and right now, he wants you to feel happy and to trust he can keep you safe while you enjoy the ride. If you want, you can turn around and see the view. It is rare to see so many dragons flying in formation.’
Orm’s words explained my sudden trust in not only the dragon, but also his rider. The mind trick may have forced out a few unnecessary confessions, but I supposed it was a small price to pay for not losing my mind.
After a moment’s hesitation, I peeked out. ‘All right, I’ll try,’ I said, shuffling my rear, twisting and turning until I was facing towards Vahin’s head, thankful for Orm’s hands steadying me with a vice-like grip.
‘You have the spirit of a warrior, Ani. It is difficult to conquer such fears, even with Vahin’s help,’ he said, and I turned to look at him.
‘Spirit of a warrior? You think that because I can look down without passing out thanks to a dragon’s help, I am a warrior? I’m a battle mage. Not because I can sit on the top of a flying lizard, but because I fought and bled andearnedmy position,’ I said, daring to look down.
The view took my breath away.
We were at the rear of the formation, a sea-green dragon leading the way. Four dragons on each side protected more of the magnificent beasts, each with a basket attached, likely containing petrified women. With the sun lowering below the horizon, its rays reflecting on dragon scales, it felt like we were flying behind a rainbow.
‘Point taken. I meant no offence. I’m simply impressed that you’re willing to face your fears,’ Orm said, resting his chin on my shoulder as he pointed to the massive cliff on our left. ‘We should be home shortly. It took longer than normal because Vahin used updrafts to smooth the flight rather than using hismuscles since we didn’t want to cause you more distress than was necessary.’
‘How are you so calm, even when I snap at you?’ I asked. Orm was like the heart of a mountain: unmovable, no matter how hard I tried to shake him.
‘My anger was beaten out of me a very long time ago,’ he murmured.
I frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The reason only males of certain bloodlines can bond with dragons is the wild magic they carry. Some say the first riders were the descendants of dragons. Others say that they were dragons themselves who remained in human form. Nobody knows now, and the dragons haven’t confirmed either theory. All we know is that around the age of eight, a kernel of wild magic manifests in some of our male children. It causes violent outbursts, destructive behaviour, and possessiveness beyond measure,’ he explained.
‘Mine was discovered after I almost killed my cousin when I bashed his head against the castle wall because he had played with my wooden sword. If not controlled early on, the magic turns us into feral and dangerous beasts; and it can only be tamed by rigorous training and bonding with a dragon.’
I hadn’t known that.
‘When my magic manifested, my parents brought me to the Cave of Binding. They left me there, where I wailed—alone, with no food or bed—until Vahin heard my cry. I climbed on his back, and he took me to the training grounds. I spent a year there—living in a nightmare where the smallest sign of disobedience or aggression was punished with a whip, starvation, and isolation until I learned to control my feelings.’ Orm spoke without a hint of emotion as I stared at him in pure horror.
‘Gods, who would do that to a child? Is that why all riders are so calm and polite …?’ I whispered, and he nodded.
‘The day I lose my temper could be the day I kill us all,’ he said, his chin returning to my shoulder. ‘But you don’t have to worry about that because I know a certain mage won’t goad me just to see how long it takes before I snap,’ he said, and I rolled my eyes.
‘And you’re telling me thisnow? I can be quite vexing even to the people I like, and you … you’re not as bad as I thought you’d be, but you should let people know. Maybe wear a sign on your armour with “Don’t anger me,” or “I bite,” or something.’ I chuckled.
His lips quirked into a coy smile. ‘No, I’m not bad at all, and I don’t bite unless I’m asked … and even then, I prefer to nibble.’
I liked men who could appreciate my humour, and Orm, stern and domineering as he was, was also honest and straightforward. I could sense the mischief in those dark green eyes. As long as we weren’t fighting, I, too, enjoyed his company.
‘You are also not what I’d expected,’ he offered. I swatted his forearm with another chuckle as he looked down at me. ‘Do you like beasts that bite … like dragons?’ he asked, and the innuendo in his voice made me turn my head to avoid his eyes. As I did, a dark cloud on the horizon grabbed my attention.
‘What is that? Why is it drifting against the wind?’ I asked, pointing at the thing, gasping when Orm’s body stiffened.
‘Fuck. Spectrae,’ he muttered before shouting a command to his riders. ‘Brace for evasive manoeuvres. Fire on the perimeter. Spectrae are coming!’
