Page 36 of Oath of Betrayal
I didn’t know what to do with Orm’s confession and certainly didn’t want to tell him how I felt about it. I was too tired to deal with it now, but one thing I most definitely had to correct was that ‘life debt’ nonsense.
‘I appreciate your words, but I hope you remember that I was in danger, just the same as everyone else during the skirmish. If Vahin had fallen from the sky, I would have died there, so I was just saving my own sorry arse. You don’t owe me anything, Orm.’
He looked at me with amusement glinting in his eyes.
‘My dear Annika, it is my decision on how I feel about my life debt and your actions. For you, it may not have been much, but having my riders and their dragons safe here at the fortress instead of injured, or worse—dead at the bottom of the mountain—is more than I could have ever hoped for. You may think you were saving yourself, but you saved my squadron and the women from the village. You almost died in the process. Thatis why, my sweet Nivale, I will decide how I feel, and there is nothing you can do about it.’
He looked at me with such intensity that I felt naked, even with the covers.
A slight draft from the window caused the candles to flicker as it brushed over my skin and made me shiver. I pulled my arms together for warmth, looking down to see goosebumps on my skin. With a slight frown, I lifted the cover and looked under the blanket.
I was completely naked.
My clothes were gone, and Orm’s calloused hands had been resting on my body the entire night, warming my skin. At the same time, I’d ripped his shirt open in my delirium to cuddle his heartbeat. That was something that needed explaining. Right now.
At least now I understand why he appears so confident and casual.
‘Care to tell me who did this?’ I pointed towards my body while pulling the blankets tighter around me. I was sure I knew, but I wanted to hear it from him.
‘That was me,’ he answered, so nonchalantly that I grabbed the nearest pillow and smacked him across the head. My hit landed perfectly, but the next thing I knew, he’d grabbed my wrist and pried the pillow out of my hand.
‘Let me go,’ I said, but he only raised his eyebrow. ‘I’m tempted to answer “make me” just to challenge you and see where it takes us. I enjoy touching you, and I certainly enjoy a woman who is not afraid to stand up to me,’ he said with a voice so raspy and low that I gasped. ‘Do you want this, Nivale? Do you want to make me let go of your hand?’
I bit my lip, fighting the flood of arousal before relaxing my hand and diverting my gaze.
He enjoyed a challenge?I wondered how he’d like me acting like a docile lady from court.
‘Could you please release me and explain? Please also accept my sincere apologies for the unwarranted attack, my lord.’
Orm burst into laughter but let me go.
‘You are impossible. I should be offended; do you so dislike my touch that you’ll really resort to demurely submitting like a courtly noblewoman? It was amusing to watch, but you don’t have it in you, Ani. You wouldn’t submit to a man just because he is stronger. Gods, I wish we weren’t facing war; I’d show you just how I like strength and courage—with that delicious dose of mischief. Alas, I will leave you to your rest. We can talk later,’ he finished with a kind smile.
Orm was back to being in complete control, and the tension disappeared from the air. I couldn’t help but smile back, even if I was still angry with him for my present state. ‘Don’t leave just yet, please. I need to know more,’ I said, and Orm slowly exhaled before nodding in agreement.
‘Very well. Your mind rejected the bond with Vahin, and you weren’t able to control the dragon fire. Alaric was able to help you, but we needed to cool you down before he could devise a spell. The fire was consuming you from the inside, Ani, and only I could touch you because of my connection with Vahin. I couldn’t let the servants get hurt worrying about your modesty.’
‘Right … Just tell me one thing: did I Anchor you, too? Or Alaric? Is that why you’re acting like we … are more than casual acquaintances forced to work together? Because we haven’t … we didn’t, did we?’ I heard the sharp edge of panic in my voice, and he must have noticed it, too, because Orm instinctively raised his arms in a calming gesture. Still, I couldn’t think straight, frantically searching for Orm’s Anchor in my soul.
‘No, nothing like that happened. I only undressed you, and Alaric helped you accept Vahin. I wouldn’t take you or Anchoryou without your consent, and I wouldn’t let anyone, even my best friend, do that either. I’m sorry if all this frightened you, but we couldn’t let you die.’
‘Thank you,’ I murmured, still shaking. Orm smiled crookedly, but I didn’t miss the frown flitting across his features. ‘You shouldn’t thank me, Ani. I did what needed to be done. Alaric’s the one you should thank.’
The lack of emotion in Orm’s voice confused me for a moment, but whatever was happening, he clearly didn’t want to share it right now. With pursed lips, I looked away but turned back when the commander covered me with extra blankets and mumbled something to himself.
Heat blossomed across my cheeks, and I hoped the blush wasn’t too noticeable. Nothing had happened. Orm was right. I didn’t feel tethered to him. I could sense Vahin, but no one else, and that instantly calmed me down. Somehow, Anchoring the dragon steadied my unpredictable magic, and I could touch the tempting man without dire consequences.
‘At least my magic is no longer trying to tie you to me,’ I offered cheerfully. I reached out and touched his forearm, keeping my hand still for a few moments to test the theory. Orm observed me quietly, then he placed his hand over mine.
‘I know what you are afraid of, and while I liked the touch of your magic … I don’t feel it anymore. Would you believe me if I said that if I had felt the pull, I wouldn’t have stayed the night?’
‘Strangely enough, yes.’ I removed my hand before shaking my head. ‘Still, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m naked in your bed. That’s exactly theoppositeof what we had agreed to. I don’t intend to renegotiate my position here, so please show me the way to my room. I promise I will eat and sleep as much as you want, but … this is wrong.’
‘What is so wrong about it? If you’re afraid of gossip, I can ensure the servants won’t say a word.’
‘What? No, I don’t care about gossip,’ I scoffed, and he frowned as if struggling to understand my reasoning. ‘I don’t want to grow attached, and being around you makes it difficult to remember that. Somehow, even if I’m angry, you make me smile. This was just supposed to be a contract, a year of my life given to the man who holds my geas. I don’t want to like you. I don’t trust easily, and … I don’t really know you, and I want to keep it that way. So please, let’s not make this awkward.’
As soon as the words had left my mouth, I saw Orm’s eyes darken, their mossy green becoming so dark they were almost black, but I didn’t regret what I’d said. My attraction to him, the comfort of his embrace, made little sense. I might have had a near-death experience, and he may be a handsome man, but he was also the one who could always command my obedience.
