Page 41 of Oath of Betrayal
Despite my worries, I slept like the dead until a presence in my dreams called me back to awareness, and I heard a quiet growl that made me shiver. I realised I was holding Orm’s pillow, and I clutched it to my chest even though his scent had long since faded, replaced by the smell of verbena.
The flowers filled a vase beside me, and the light of the dying flames in the fireplace lit the source of the noise. A man was sprawled on the chaise lounge, snoring lightly. I recognised the commander by the unruly hair hanging over the headrest, and I knew he would regret sleeping there later.
A tugging sensation in my chest diverted my attention from him. The presence that had—I now realised—woken me, pulsated and called for me. Vahin was here, too. He was unsettled, and in his distress, was calling for me. Murmuring a quiet spell, I attuned my eyes to the darkness, the translucent glow of swirling aether lighting my surroundings.
The chill floor made me gasp when my feet touched the stones. I wore only a nightgown, and I grabbed a woollen blanket from the end of the bed, wrapping it around my shoulders, clutching the quilted duvet with my other hand before going to where the pull led me.
I briefly stopped in front of Orm. I shouldn’t have missed him, but I had. With sleep easing the constant frown, his face looked so peaceful, softened by the flames in the fireplace. I reached out, stroking his cheek ever so slightly, resisting the urge to trail my finger along his lips.
He was a handsome man—and a kind one, despite his rough exterior. I wished I’d gone with him to the mines. I’d felt the call of the hunt burning inside me for some time, and it would have been the perfect opportunity. I was going to grill him to find out what happened during his investigation, but that could wait until tomorrow.
I carefully placed the quilt around him. ‘Shh … rest,’ I whispered, freezing when he murmured in his sleep, but when he didn’t wake, I left.
I wish I hadn’t given Agnes my boots to clean because now they were nowhere to be seen. I trembled each time my bare feet touched the polished stones of the corridor, but I kept walking, unable to resist the call of my Anchor. Endless dark passages lit by aether and the occasional torch led me down through the castle. With each step, the pull grew stronger, as if I was approaching the end of my journey.
Finally, I stood in front of a staircase. The steps disappeared into the darkness, looking more like a bottomless pit than an ordinary spiral stairwell, but I knew I had to go down. With a moment’s concentration, I conjured the pulsar light that swirled around and washed down into the depths, lighting my way, and I took that first difficult step, smiling when nothing grabbed me as I kept going.
The steps were so slippery that it had taken forever to get to the bottom. Now, in the belly of the beast, I couldn’t help smiling as the familiar pattern of Vahin’s scales moved before me. The dragon’s enormous head turned in my direction, and nothing could stop me from jumping forward and embracing him.
‘Vahin,’ I whispered, fighting back tears. My cheek rested next to his, and I breathed in the heavy metallic scent of his body. I knew that touching him would make me feel complete. Gods, it felt so good to be around him.
‘Hello, Little Flame. What are you doing here in the middle of the night? And how did you sneak past Orm? He was so frantic to see you.’ The deep voice, soft and rich like molasses, with a slight hiss that prolonged the last vowels, rumbled in the air.
‘I could feel your need, a pull on my soul. You called me,’ I said, feeling awestruck at hearing Vahin speak.
‘My dreams … they … I’m sorry, but the aether currents are strong tonight. It always sets me on edge.’ His vertical pupil narrowed, gazing at my feet. ‘You came here barefoot? You are shivering, come here.’ The commanding tone of his voice had me stepping closer until, with a gentle nudge from his snout, Vahin pushed me towards his leg. Then, with another, less gentle push, the dragon encouraged me to climb up.
‘It’s lucky you’re so beautiful,’ I mumbled, following his command.
‘Agnes took my boots to clean, and I wanted to see you,’ I said a little louder, nestling against his warm body. ‘Vahin, I’m sorry I made you my Anchor in such dire circumstances. I didn’t even ask whether you wanted to be bonded to me. Alaric said it was a punishing night because I refused to let you in. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry.’
I sighed with guilty pleasure as my feet warmed up. Vahin’s body felt like a polished rock heated by the sun, and I promptly snuggled in, trying to absorb as much warmth as possible. He watched me, and I felt his amusement radiating through the thought bond.
‘Don’t apologise. It was harder for you than it was for me. Plus, I’m delighted, Little Flame. The world is so much brighter with the light of your soul within mine. Would you like me to cover you?’ he asked, but before I could answer, my body was sheltered beneath the soft membrane of his wing. I shifted a little to get more comfortable before peeking over to look back at the dragon.
‘I was worried. Our bond shouldn’t have happened like that, but I didn’t have a choice. I’m so sorry I took away your decision.’ A deep rumble shook me and my snug perch.
‘Why do you think I regret it, Little Flame? I should thank you for bringing my voice back. For awakening the part of me I’d forgotten existed. You brought me back from my slumber, and I forbid you to ever apologise for it.’
I was confused, but Vahin seemed to be overjoyed at becoming my Anchor, so out of sheer curiosity I asked, ‘What do you mean by “awakening?”’
‘You gave a beast back his personality, his identity. Dragons live for millennia. I’ve seen many races rise and fall. I have witnessed the advancement of humanity. I’ve carried countless riders and have lost them all; one after another, they’ve passed through the streams of time. It is easier to be a beast—to not think, not remember. To only feel a little and soar through a sky where time doesn’t exist. When a rider dies, their dragon feels it all, and it breaks our hearts every single time. So we hide. We let our minds slumber and give control to the men on our backs, almost as if we were nothing more than winged horses. You touched the part of my soul that lay asleep for centuries, and it feels good to see the world in all its glory again.’
What Vahin said was surprising but made perfect sense. When I lost my Anchors, it almost killed me, and for years, I’d lived on as an empty shell. Now, it felt like a faded nightmare, most likely thanks to this wonderful being becoming my Anchor.
Had I, too, tried to hide all these years?Did bonding with Vahin finally bring me back to life? He must have lost untold riders. I could understand why he preferred not to feel or think.
I stroked the skin of Vahin’s wing, trying to comfort both him and myself. I needed to touch him, and I knew that no matter what, I would not sleep alone tonight. ‘I’m glad that I could help,’ I murmured, and his body rumbled again.
‘And I’m glad that I could help you. Now rest. I’m not letting you return barefoot and shivering—Orm would rip my scales off.’
Now, it was my turn to laugh, but I nodded sheepishly.
‘Pfft, no one could move me from here. I’m sleeping with you, and I don’t care what anyone thinks. For the record, I can’t believe the spectacular Vahin would ever tremble before the human commander,’ I teased, and the dragon laughed.
‘Wait until you see him angry;thenyou can make fun,’ he retorted, and I buried myself under his massive wing.
‘Do you know what happened after I Anchored you?’ I asked quietly.
